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Shipping News

Pirate attack on oil tanker heightens fears
AN oil tanker nearing the busy Singapore Straits sailed unmanned for nearly an hour early on Sunday after armed pirates tied up the crew, heightening fears that unchecked piracy will soon result in a maritime catastrophe.
Spain reopens border as ship sails from Gibraltar
SPAIN reopened its border with the British colony of Gibraltar on Monday after sealing it for the first time in nearly two decades after a cruise ship carrying tourists with a stomach infection docked there.
A milestone for Jurong Shipyard
SEMBCORP Marine's Jurong Shipyard christened its biggest ever container ship newbuild yesterday, the 2,500 TEU Thomas Mann, the first of six similar mid-sized liners on order which look set to carve a new Singapore marine niche.
One killed in Japan ship blast
ONE person was killed and four people injured by an explosion on a ship under construction in western Japan yesterday, police said.

Air and Land Transport

Boeing's new jet to use much less aluminum
BOEING Co on Monday said it would use lightweight, nonmetal materials to build half of its proposed new 7E7 jetliner, slashing the use of aluminum to cut fuel burn and maintenance costs.
Russia plans rocket-speed plane
Low-fare carriers make their mark on JFK
Swiss seeks to delay orders
Burbank Airport may be renamed after Bob Hope
Temporary inactivity

Strait Talk

Is quiet diplomacy enough?
IT is not much fun being a shipping industry representative these days.

web site

Shipping News

Pirate attack on oil tanker heightens fears
AN oil tanker nearing the busy Singapore Straits sailed unmanned for nearly an hour early on Sunday after armed pirates tied up the crew, heightening fears that unchecked piracy will soon result in a maritime catastrophe.
Spain reopens border as ship sails from Gibraltar
SPAIN reopened its border with the British colony of Gibraltar on Monday after sealing it for the first time in nearly two decades after a cruise ship carrying tourists with a stomach infection docked there.
A milestone for Jurong Shipyard
SEMBCORP Marine's Jurong Shipyard christened its biggest ever container ship newbuild yesterday, the 2,500 TEU Thomas Mann, the first of six similar mid-sized liners on order which look set to carve a new Singapore marine niche.
One killed in Japan ship blast
ONE person was killed and four people injured by an explosion on a ship under construction in western Japan yesterday, police said.

Air and Land Transport

Boeing's new jet to use much less aluminum
BOEING Co on Monday said it would use lightweight, nonmetal materials to build half of its proposed new 7E7 jetliner, slashing the use of aluminum to cut fuel burn and maintenance costs.
Russia plans rocket-speed plane
Low-fare carriers make their mark on JFK
Swiss seeks to delay orders
Burbank Airport may be renamed after Bob Hope
Temporary inactivity

Strait Talk

Is quiet diplomacy enough?
IT is not much fun being a shipping industry representative these days.

web site

Shipping News

Pirate attack on oil tanker heightens fears
AN oil tanker nearing the busy Singapore Straits sailed unmanned for nearly an hour early on Sunday after armed pirates tied up the crew, heightening fears that unchecked piracy will soon result in a maritime catastrophe.
Spain reopens border as ship sails from Gibraltar
SPAIN reopened its border with the British colony of Gibraltar on Monday after sealing it for the first time in nearly two decades after a cruise ship carrying tourists with a stomach infection docked there.
A milestone for Jurong Shipyard
SEMBCORP Marine's Jurong Shipyard christened its biggest ever container ship newbuild yesterday, the 2,500 TEU Thomas Mann, the first of six similar mid-sized liners on order which look set to carve a new Singapore marine niche.
One killed in Japan ship blast
ONE person was killed and four people injured by an explosion on a ship under construction in western Japan yesterday, police said.

Air and Land Transport

Boeing's new jet to use much less aluminum
BOEING Co on Monday said it would use lightweight, nonmetal materials to build half of its proposed new 7E7 jetliner, slashing the use of aluminum to cut fuel burn and maintenance costs.
Russia plans rocket-speed plane
Low-fare carriers make their mark on JFK
Swiss seeks to delay orders
Burbank Airport may be renamed after Bob Hope
Temporary inactivity

Strait Talk

Is quiet diplomacy enough?
IT is not much fun being a shipping industry representative these days.

	web site

Xiamen-Manila link launched Study forecasts further growth in HK-US shipments China's logistics sector grows while foreign firms hold sway U-Freight builds logistics base in Penang New post-panamax vessel joins Maersk fleet Senator Lines offers online container bookings Lufthansa removes booking levy Asia, Mid-East cargo blooms amid global slowdown Emirates increases cargo flights to New York Peter Yap to lead Asia sales drive for Volga-Dnepr United puts Martin White in charge of marketing

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Ro-ro short ferry service suitable for West coast, says expert South Indian tea producers aiming at exporting 10 million kg to pak UK to import 1 lakh cars from India Iran invites mining companies Funds for third phase of Malpe port released New mechanism to replace DEPB scheme soon Implementation of rules for SEZs deferred to Dec. 1 CII survey shows economy on growth trajectory Forex loans to finance exports spared of mandatory hedging Cotton procurement to start from Nov. 10 Ministry to seek more sops for textile sector New credit policy no big deal, says Fieo NCAER projects 7 pc GDP growth for this fiscal Crisil puts it a tad above Foreign Trade Analysis: Current Policy & Proceduress Europe urges clothing industry to brace for third world imports in post-quota regime Abhijit Sengupta is addl secy in charge of anti-dumping

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
US East Coast markets soften with crude & improved supply Crude continues slide as traders anticipate stock builds Suez: Supply stable, market mirrors Med Fujairah: Supplier plans major expansion of supply fleet Fujairah enjoys strong demand as prices go up, then down Singapore: 3-year bunker bribery probe coming to an end The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau in Singapore has finished its 3-year probe into the bunker bribery scandals that rocked the reputation of the port's bunkering industry. A total of 62 marine surveyors have been convicted for accepting bribes, and criminal charges have been brought against directors of four bunker supply companies. A fifth company implicated in the bribery scandal has not yet faced prosecution. Hong Kong and Taiwan on the rise following Singapore moves Rotterdam slightly softer with crude

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
Emirates SkyCargo new services and partnerships New manager for Port of Gothenburg ECT refurbishes gantries at Maasvlakte Rostock-Rotterdam land-bridge ready to open Kuehne & Nagel opens logistics centre near Milan

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
Finnish yards may merge Odfjell takes fines in its stride Golar projects delayed

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Salerno bullish on achieving new bulker safety standards UGO Salerno, chairman of the International Association of Classification Societies and chief executive of Rina, is confident a new set of global fabrication and safety standards for bulk carriers and tankers can emerge before the end of next year. Hellenic Register serves notice to 'closed club' IACS THE International Association of Classification Societies is a "closed club", according to the only non-IACS body recognised for its quality standards by the European Union, the Hellenic Register of Shipping. Statoil wants a woman's touch for vacant top job ECONOMIST Jannik Lindbaek has been appointed as chairman of Statoil, replacing Leif Terje Løddesøl, who resigned after a police investigation over the company's $15.2m contract with a London-based Iran consultant, writes Martyn Wingrove. Cruise chief Deilmann dies aged 68 GERMAN cruise company owner Peter Deilmann died last Sunday, aged 68, the company confirmed yesterday. London & Continental Railways offers £1.25bn bonds to fund Channel rail link LONDON & Continental Railways yesterday offered £1.25bn ($2.1bn) of asset-backed bonds for sale via its subsidiary Channel Tunnel Rail Link Finance Plc, the firm and lead managers for the deal said, Reuters reports. Spain reopens Gibraltar border as Aurora sails SPAIN reopened its border with Gibraltar late on Monday evening, about two hours after the virus-hit cruiseship Aurora, which lay behind the closure, sailed from the British colony.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
US Umm Qasr contract slammed HOURS before Congress' approval yesterday of $18.6Bn for the rebuilding of Iraq, several US senators and a panel of experts organised by the Democratic opposition blasted the Bush administration's contracting practices as protectionist and open to abuse New CEO for Russian oil major SIMON Kukes, chairman of the board of directors, has taken over as operational CEO of Yukos, Russia's largest oil company Turkey halves vessel call costs TURKEY has announced further rebates on port dues to attract vessels Stop using oilrigs as waypoints VESSELS must be discouraged from using offshore installations as waypoints, delegates at a Collision Risk Management seminar in London were told today Ghost ships remain in limbo CONFUSION reigns as Hartlepool council votes unanimously to urge the UK's department of transport 're-route' the four MarAd 'ghost ships' Grimaldi starts Baghdad service ITALIAN operator Grimaldi Naples has started serving Iraq through East Mediterranean ports as an extension to its successful Euro-Med short-sea shipping network Novoship guards fleet from terror Japanese yard blast kills trainee HPH denies labour abuses Car carriers become stevedores Malaysia doubles port investment Shanghai aims for free port status Rival seeks block to SNCM funding Cruiseship owner Deilmann dies

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
NVOs say Shipping Act changes coming, but only for UPS, FedEx? Consolidators eyeing confidential contracts, but politics could sway rule changes. Shanghai weighs free-port status Authorities eye policies to create international shipping center at Yangshan. Heathrow facing second cargo strike Union handlers plan second 48-hour stoppage at Europe's fourth-largest air transport hub. U.S. agency assisting Sri Lanka in CSI program Lufthansa scraps booking fee Customs' McGowan joins trade consultant Hamburg Sud opens Asia regional headquarters Port of New Orleans adds Brazilian carrier Lufthansa Cargo promotes Kindelbacher Insurer says quick response cut typhoon claims Short-sea shipping only a few years away, says Marad chief U.S. import security program to be opened to foreign shippers

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
Private Italian railway aiming for 200 trains a week Ferrovie Nord Cargo, the freight arm of Ferrovie Nord Milano (FNM), is aiming for 200 trains a week, up from its current 70, under its 2004-07 budget plan. China affirms WTO deal with biomedical import announcement Beijing has announced that 18 mainland ports, including Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin in the north, have been designated import points for pharmaceutical goods from January 1. Container shipping hedging in demand, but no satisfactory index, says bank Customs expert scathing about rapid adoption of EU customs proposal Ceres Paragon will spawn similar terminals in drive for port efficiency say Germanischer Lloyd IRISL newbuild heads into Europe-Med-Near East trade Lucas Vos takes on PONL terminals and procurement post Chinese mull land route to Europe, via Kaliningrad Four out of five of Japan's big ports see significant first half volume increases

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
Teekay soars to two-year high Tanker stock tops $49 for first time since 2001 Cenargo sails for calmer waters But trade creditors get only 5% under restructuring as Norse Merchant. US east coast dockers $1.5bn demands Employers detail union claims costs and reject "technology veto". Ouch! Consumers soon to feel bulk shippers' pain. Nigerian congestion surcharges rise again Europe to West Africa container lines bring extra Onne and Port Harcourt fees back up to July's levels. Tragic cruise chief dies Cancer claims German shipowner Peter Deilmann three years after Concorde crash. Staten Island fury Passengers lawyer up with $1.3bn in legal claims. Tharald Brovig climbs down Health concern leads to mountaineering shipowner cutting business commitments. Higher costs dog Farstad Norwegian offshore shipowner also hit by low North Sea spot rates in third quarter. Yard worker dead in ship blast Explosion on tanker at Japan's Nakatani Zosen leaves four other men seriously injured. Suez Canal revenue up, tankers down Key waterway earnings rise despite dip in traffic. Bengal Tiger roars into Persian Gulf Indian feeder operator looking to link Dubai to sub-continent. Strong yen hits MES result First-half pretax profit down 50% on stronger currency and lower prices. US fine hits Odfjell But Norwegian chemical tanker owner remains in the black after booking $42.5m penalty for price-fixing. LR names new Greek boss Class society appoints Apostolos Poulovassilis as new area manager of its Piraeus office. Matutes to sell Trasmed stake Management disagreements to see former minister reduce holding in Spanish ferry owner. MOL PCTC involved in collision Japanese owner's new pure car truck carrier collides with mystery Chinese vessel off Japan. Aurora heads for home Bug-hit cruise ship sets sail for UK after politically charged 11-hour stop over in Gibraltar.

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NOVEMBER 4, 2003
MOL strengthens ethical compliance system China Shipping Development's half-year profit up 76% U.S. competition penalty pushes Odfjell into 3rd-quarter loss Bossclip joint venture launches U.S. Gulf service to Brazil U.K. agency voids permission to dismantle MarAd vessels Trade prospects expected to boost container industry Lufthansa drops surcharge on conventional booking methods Volga-Dnepr Group names Yap Far East marketing director DOT's RSPA clarifies final rule for handling hazmat cargo Survey: Industry unprepared for Bioterrorism Act deadline Browning: U.S. companies well positioned for advance manifest rules U.S. Customs reschedules COAC meeting Kuehne & Nagel opens Italian logistics center NYK Logistics (Americas) names Perdue, Charlton executive VPs Patrick Stevedores to use all-robot straddle carriers in Brisbane