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Shipping News

Shanghai scrambles to boost port capacity
SHANGHAI is racing ahead to bolster both sea and air transport facilities in anticipation of continued steady growth.
S'pore firm offering ship security training
ENHANCED maritime security required by the International Maritime Organisation from July 2004 prompted one local company to tap its Singapore Navy training expertise to share with the commercial shipping industry.
Pirate attacks hit record in Q1
PIRACY on the high seas hit record numbers in the first three months of 2003, but landmark decisions by courts in China and India to punish pirates with stiff prison sentences could help curb the menace, a maritime watchdog said yesterday.
Rates for very large gas tankers soar
FREIGHT tariffs for very large gas carriers, the biggest ships carrying liquefied petroleum gases , jumped to a two-year high this week on increased demand.
International status for 2 India ports
THE Indian government has allocated 75 billion rupees to accord international status to Nhava-Sheva and Kochi ports, which will operate on 'construct-use-and-handover' basis, Junior Minister for Shipping Dilip Gandhi announced.

Air and Land Transport

Australian govt backs Qantas-Air NZ alliance
THE Australian government yesterday gave its backing to the proposed alliance between Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand that was initially rejected by consumer watchdogs in both nations.
Air India may hire pilots from other airlines
Mysterious man bought tickets with cash: witnesses
US govt to axe 6,000 airport screeners
Air Canada plans to cut labour costs by C$770m
Court approves United's union concessions

Admiralty Casebook

Buyers to blame for seizure of cargo
THE buyers of a cargo of vacuum cargo oil had only themselves to blame for the confiscation of part of their cargo by Chinese authorities and could not now sue the sellers for their losses, the Singapore High Court has ruled.

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Shipping News

Shanghai scrambles to boost port capacity
SHANGHAI is racing ahead to bolster both sea and air transport facilities in anticipation of continued steady growth.
S'pore firm offering ship security training
ENHANCED maritime security required by the International Maritime Organisation from July 2004 prompted one local company to tap its Singapore Navy training expertise to share with the commercial shipping industry.
Pirate attacks hit record in Q1
PIRACY on the high seas hit record numbers in the first three months of 2003, but landmark decisions by courts in China and India to punish pirates with stiff prison sentences could help curb the menace, a maritime watchdog said yesterday.
Rates for very large gas tankers soar
FREIGHT tariffs for very large gas carriers, the biggest ships carrying liquefied petroleum gases , jumped to a two-year high this week on increased demand.
International status for 2 India ports
THE Indian government has allocated 75 billion rupees to accord international status to Nhava-Sheva and Kochi ports, which will operate on 'construct-use-and-handover' basis, Junior Minister for Shipping Dilip Gandhi announced.

Air and Land Transport

Australian govt backs Qantas-Air NZ alliance
THE Australian government yesterday gave its backing to the proposed alliance between Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand that was initially rejected by consumer watchdogs in both nations.
Air India may hire pilots from other airlines
Mysterious man bought tickets with cash: witnesses
US govt to axe 6,000 airport screeners
Air Canada plans to cut labour costs by C$770m
Court approves United's union concessions

Admiralty Casebook

Buyers to blame for seizure of cargo
THE buyers of a cargo of vacuum cargo oil had only themselves to blame for the confiscation of part of their cargo by Chinese authorities and could not now sue the sellers for their losses, the Singapore High Court has ruled.

web site

Shipping News

Shanghai scrambles to boost port capacity
SHANGHAI is racing ahead to bolster both sea and air transport facilities in anticipation of continued steady growth.
S'pore firm offering ship security training
ENHANCED maritime security required by the International Maritime Organisation from July 2004 prompted one local company to tap its Singapore Navy training expertise to share with the commercial shipping industry.
Pirate attacks hit record in Q1
PIRACY on the high seas hit record numbers in the first three months of 2003, but landmark decisions by courts in China and India to punish pirates with stiff prison sentences could help curb the menace, a maritime watchdog said yesterday.
Rates for very large gas tankers soar
FREIGHT tariffs for very large gas carriers, the biggest ships carrying liquefied petroleum gases , jumped to a two-year high this week on increased demand.
International status for 2 India ports
THE Indian government has allocated 75 billion rupees to accord international status to Nhava-Sheva and Kochi ports, which will operate on 'construct-use-and-handover' basis, Junior Minister for Shipping Dilip Gandhi announced.

Air and Land Transport

Australian govt backs Qantas-Air NZ alliance
THE Australian government yesterday gave its backing to the proposed alliance between Qantas Airways and Air New Zealand that was initially rejected by consumer watchdogs in both nations.
Air India may hire pilots from other airlines
Mysterious man bought tickets with cash: witnesses
US govt to axe 6,000 airport screeners
Air Canada plans to cut labour costs by C$770m
Court approves United's union concessions

Admiralty Casebook

Buyers to blame for seizure of cargo
THE buyers of a cargo of vacuum cargo oil had only themselves to blame for the confiscation of part of their cargo by Chinese authorities and could not now sue the sellers for their losses, the Singapore High Court has ruled.

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Canada Maritime to enter transpacific trade X-ray system speeds up customs inspection at JMCT Port of Oakland cargo handling up 18 per cent in Q1 Neptune Orient Lines to sell tanker unit to MISC Port of Tacoma credits record year to Asia Panama Canal tonnage rises safely in second quarter Hacis launches HEx upon air cargo customers Swiss to discontinue Iraq related security fee in May Schenker appointed IAAF event forwarder in Canada

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RBI relaxes forex norms to boost investment Separate data for services exports Sugar exports may total 2 m tonnes this year Low output has no effect on wheat exports Exim Bank targeting at business worth $ 25 bn by 2007 Revised format for SCI divestment ready Expert groups of international North-South Transport Corridor meet in Tehran OCS India wins coveted ISO 9001:2000 certification- 1st 'carrier-affiliated' Indian logistics co. to bag award VCTPL to commence operations from middle of June NSICT defers 'unidirectional' rule till May 15 Rlys freight traffic up by 25.9 m tonnes in 2002-03 AAI Bill gets Cabinet approval CONCOR posts Rs 277 cr. net profit in 2002-03 10-day truckers' strike costs global shipping lines $ 10 m in lost cargo revenue AIAI to hold seminar on VAT tomorrow Anand Mahindra assumes charge as CII President RBI's credit policy fails to tackle demand slump, says AIAI chief Fieo unhappy with credit policy

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MAY 1, 2003
Pacific Northwest quiet, tight avails in Seattle Crude prices extend gains, time to hedge? Slack Suez still suffering shortages Japanese holiday prompts premium on prices Quiet Istanbul firms slightly, business as usual today EIA predicts US oil imports will drop off in May Rotterdam little changed this morning Brazil bunker prices fall again

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MAY 1, 2003
Northrop Grumman gets CHSV contract To design and build Composite High Speed Vessel Alaska move to tax cruise ships Citizen's group hopes to get initiative on ballot

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MAY 1, 2003
TSA plans to cut back 6,000 airport screener positions MOL plans to build car carriers with new safety features included Corps set to reopen small locks in Ballard Coast Guard inks contracts for new National Security Cutter March sees increase in steel imports into US

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China boom drives box line service spree MAERSK Sealand, China Shipping, MOL, Norasia, CMA CGM, P&O Nedlloyd, and the New World Alliance are among a growing list of container lines or consortia introducing new container services in the coming weeks. P&O Cagliari calls hint at Grand Alliance switch CONTAINERSHIPS of P&O Nedlloyd have begun to call at the port of Cagliari in what is thought to be the precursor to the transfer of transhipment traffic to Sardinia by the five-member Grand Alliance. Port security 'a crime stopper' THE impact of US port security measures may finally be being felt in crime prevention, reports Lloyd's List DCN in Sydney. Pierce veil or face backlash OECD warns open registers THREATS of maritime terrorism could see "draconian" measures against some flags of convenience, a committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has warned. UK union backs equal pay for foreign crews UK ratings' union RMT has reiterated demands that shipping's exemption from parts of the Race Relations Act is scrapped despite a recent shipowner warning that such a move would see hundreds of vessels flag out, writes David Osler.

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MAY 1, 2003
Hutchison plans ISPS charges US ports take on dredgers CSL re-flags for Lakes growth Have your say! Tranz Rail cuts cost with charter Italian fund under investigation SARS rocks Indian cruise market AP Møller speaks out on ransom case NYK and K Line join 'ethical' index No end in sight for Israeli strike EU goes alone on single-hull safety Owners warn of port security cost Top five ambition for Korean class US inspections must be co-ordinated Two killed in Korean port accident UK revival still unfinished: Woods Russia opts for China pipeline Star might stay longer in Australia

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MAY 1, 2003
Customs plans more '24-hour' scrutiny The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection on Sunday will ratchet up its enforcement of the advance manifest filing rule. S. Korea to open China box routes Service to several Chinese cities is due to launch after getting the go-ahead from Seoul. Free trade can quell Muslim terror in SE Asia, says Singapore official BAX Global narrows loss CNS launches e-billing Congress mulls action in Dutch dredging tiff OOCL christens 8,000-TEU ship India-U.S., Europe rates going up Northwest expands freighter service to Osaka, Seoul Polar names Nuttall VP of sales MOL takes over Panama agency duties TPG names team for C. Europe expansion

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MAY 1, 2003
IMO stresses need for unanimity in the face of the terrorist threat The frontrunner in the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) three-way leadership race warned industry experts against unilateralism in the battle against terrorism yesterday. CSI and C-TPAT against terrorism in Hamburg Companies that do not become members of the Customs - Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), as required by the US in its fight against terrorism, are likely to face enormous problems when the agreement comes into force in June this year. More News FMM lobbies government to curb rising logistics costs Continuity for ANL as COZ becomes ACE Masan to add five container berths Tokyo Senpaku Kaisha revises Japan/Taiwan route Hutchison to levy security fee on port users worldwide

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MAY 1, 2003
Rich rounds the Cape Former Intertanko chair Du Moulin and partner sailing on pace for Hong Kong-New York record. Buzzards Bay fishermen still idled Cleanup continues in Bouchard barge's oil spill in Massachusetts. Tankers equally to blame for collision Judge finds both Haji-Ioannou and Dynacom vessels at fault. PDVSA pledges gas to US Company says Paraguana refinery will shoulder full burden in shipments to start by mid-May. Bourgas wins ferry order Bulgarian shipyard clinches deal for 1,500-passenger vessel for Lithuanian owner. London Club sticks to estimates Shipowner directors confirm supplementary calls. SARS hits Danish jamboree Huge Copenhagen shipping celebration postponed over disease fears. AP Moller pays off pirates Top Danish owner admits it paid ransom to save crew. Nenaco keeps a lid on costs Philippine ferry owner's first quarter profit boosted by firm grip on purse strings. Vela strikes as market slumps Saudi Arabian giant picks up VLCC tonnage for May shipments to US as rates hit new lows. Hijacking attempts rise higher IMB piracy report reveals 18% increase in attacks this year. Srab slips into the red Higher revenues not enough to improve Swedish tanker owner's bottom line in first quarter. State bolsters Croatian yards Massive package of loan guarantees announced to support vital domestic industry. Kyokuyo Shipyard inks SITC boxships Chinese feedership operator returns to specialist Japanese builder for additional tonnage. Three-month slide at Birka Line Finnish ferry and ro-ro owner gloomy about 2003 prospects after first quarter profit fall. Hanjin Heavy weighs in with hefty profit Korean shipbuilder confirms recovery by more than doubling its money in 2002. Icy conditions pay off at Fortum Finnish shipowner benefited from higher freight rates for its tankers in first quarter. Engine sales surge on boxship demand Large containership fever is having a knock on effect on machinery orders at Wartsila.

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MAY 1, 2003
OMI puts new 70,100 deadweight ton tanker under time charter Sinotrans shipping agency opens Arizona operations center MOL to establish shipping agency in Panama Sliding rates pushed Zim into red Mediterranean Shipping adds seperate Mediterranean/U.S. service Profit rebounds at Evergreen, Wan Hai in 1st quarter Clarification: Maersk Sealand to increase pacific capacity gradually CMA CGM adds anl to transpacific service MARAD opens visa enrollment for fiscal year 2004 U.S.-flag interests want Jones Act "loopholes" closed in dredging OOCL names its first 8,000-teu containership Maersk Sealand adds transpacific service Maersk Sealand commences direct North China/Med service MOL's car-carrier design targets reduced oil spill risks MOL, wan hai in joint Japan/China link Bax Global first-quarter earnings dip Impath signs one-year contract with Airnet CNS launches e-billing system for airlines U.S. air freight traffic up by 5.3% in March EC ends regulation of inland waterway fleet capacity Rail profits fall, terminal profits rise at CSX in 1st quarter EC approves France's intermodal subsidy program D.J. Powers names Austin CFO United Shipping to hold members meeting in Prague FMC reviews 12 OTI applications Castro named VP operations for consolidators international Freight transport association names Allan president China to administer Ast&l's transport and logistics certification exam U.S. sets 2003 tariff-rate quota for imported tuna GAO: government transportation research needs more coordination Compliance professional association takes root Alaskan transportation forum set for june 2 U.S. Chamber rallies for national transportation investments INTTRA introduces "rapid reservation" service Le Havre sets monthly container record in March New York-New Jersey ship-to-rail facility lays first tracks Panama canal traffic up 7% in January-March Coast guard investigates chemical spill on Mississippi