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Shipping News

Asia urged to stand up to US, EU hold on shipping laws
AN urgent and unified response by Asia to the threat of increasing regionalisation of shipping regulations by the European Union and the United States is being urged by Asian shipowners.
Japan may refuse entry to certain ships
JAPAN may allow its port authorities to refuse foreign ships that do not have insurance or fail to meet safety standards to enter into the country, Kyodo News reported yesterday.
Australia probes drifting 'ghost ship'
AN international investigation has been launched after an Indonesian 'ghost ship' was found drifting in Australian waters without a crew and carrying tonnes of rotting fish, officials said yesterday.
Vicky arrives in Rotterdam after Channel collision
THE Turkish-registered tanker Vicky, which had been in the Channel since Jan 1 after hitting the wreck of the Tricolor, has arrived in the Dutch port of Rotterdam, port authorities said.

Air and Land Transport

US airlines with subsidised fares face EU penalties
A new European Union law may lead to penalties on US airlines that use subsidies to undercut the fares of European rivals.
Airbus poised to topple Boeing as top planemaker
Cathay studying Dragonair's offer on China flights
Hungary's Malev Airlines awaits privatisation again

web site

Shipping News

Asia urged to stand up to US, EU hold on shipping laws
AN urgent and unified response by Asia to the threat of increasing regionalisation of shipping regulations by the European Union and the United States is being urged by Asian shipowners.
Japan may refuse entry to certain ships
JAPAN may allow its port authorities to refuse foreign ships that do not have insurance or fail to meet safety standards to enter into the country, Kyodo News reported yesterday.
Australia probes drifting 'ghost ship'
AN international investigation has been launched after an Indonesian 'ghost ship' was found drifting in Australian waters without a crew and carrying tonnes of rotting fish, officials said yesterday.
Vicky arrives in Rotterdam after Channel collision
THE Turkish-registered tanker Vicky, which had been in the Channel since Jan 1 after hitting the wreck of the Tricolor, has arrived in the Dutch port of Rotterdam, port authorities said.

Air and Land Transport

US airlines with subsidised fares face EU penalties
A new European Union law may lead to penalties on US airlines that use subsidies to undercut the fares of European rivals.
Airbus poised to topple Boeing as top planemaker
Cathay studying Dragonair's offer on China flights
Hungary's Malev Airlines awaits privatisation again

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HK, Germany sign double taxation agreement on shipping HK customs official finds anomaly in 24-hour rule Last of Contship's newbuildings joins fleet Fire base to boost Singapore port's competitiveness, says official TNT launches Helix r2.0 return management system Fedex's CharterAir division renamed Air Expedite Delta names Jon Edwards as Nassau station manager Malaysia Airlines to lease six Airbus A380-800s

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JANUARY 14, 2003
Intra-Asian box trade biggest The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) suggests that while growth in global container volumes will slow to 6 per cent, annual compound average growth from 2006 to the end of Escap's study period in 2011, containerised trade within Asia will grow by 7.6 per cent per annum over the next decade. Italia adds new port call to MedPac Service Italia Line, the container shipping line that specialises in moving cargo from the Mediterranean to the U.S. Gulf, Mexico and the west coast of North America, is adding San Juan in Puerto Rico as a new port of call on its Mediterranean Pacific Express (MedPac) service. Stena director is Rotterdam Port Man of the Year Pim de Lange, a director of the Stena Line shipping company at the Hook of Holland, has been voted Port Man of the Year 2002. OK for partial sale of UAL stock The trustee representing United Airlines' employee stock ownership plan may sell 12.8 million shares of parent company UAL Corp. marking the first time it's been able to sell UAL stock since the carrier filed for bankruptcy organization last month. European rail to be opened for forwarders Today, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament will be holding a major debate on the future of rail transport. Air NZ up after United's departure Air New Zealand Ltd shares rose 6 per cent on expectations that the government-controlled airline will win customers and bolster revenue after United Airlines said it will stop flying between the US and New Zealand in March. MISC cuts jobs Malaysia International Shipping Corp. (MISC) has accepted applications from 416 non-executive employees to leave the company by the end of March, as part of its voluntary separation plan.

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JANUARY 14, 2003
Panama: Lane outage expected to cause transit delays French refinery strikes St Petersburg suffers as severe weather continues Baltic Bunkering hindered by bad weather Platts rise squeezes out higher Fujairah indications Great Belt: Heavy demand as buyers avoid Upper Baltic Piraeus: Subdued buying interest as prices rise Replenishment delay forces tight avails on Hong Kong Mexico to support OPEC effort by raising production Rotterdam sharply higher after strong crude close Montevideo and Alpha Zone: Fuel still S/E

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JANUARY 14, 2003
Rod Eddington is the new chairman of AEA in 2003 Rotterdam handled 6.5 million TEU in 2002 Best year ever for Hong Kong Airport Green light to the joint venture between Brenntag and Biesterfeld Enforcement of U.S. Customs 24-hour vessel manifest rule starting on February 1, 2003

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JANUARY 14, 2003
Mineta announces Port Security Grants Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta today announced $148 million in new transportation security grants. German yards order EDS PLM software The three German yards in the K130 corvette consortium have ordered product lifecycle management (PLM) software and services worth $10 million from EDS (Electronic Data Services), Plano, Texas.

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UK to bring in gun law at terrorist threatened ports THE UK government will soon be able to order the armed state takeover of ports faced with terrorist threats, a top civil servant told a dockworkers conference yesterday. Rampant rates spur Jefferies to hike earnings estimates Surging tanker rates have encouraged US investment bank Jefferies to implement a dramatic increase in its earnings estimates for the sector in 2003, writes Tony Gray. 'Phenomenal' suezmax returns SUEZMAX freight rates have shot through the roof on the back of rising demand and a thriving very large crude carrier market, brokers said yesterday. Travelers takes $1.3bn hit to cover itself against wave of asbestos claims IN THE latest of a string of moves by major insurers to address the looming spectre of asbestos liabilities, US major Travelers Property Casualty said it would take a $1.3bn after-tax charge to boost reserves for surging asbestos claims against corporate clients.

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JANUARY 14, 2003
Oil spills are ecological crisis Canaveral reaches tug agreement Dockers to march against directive NCL hit by cruise sickness FMC rejects shippers' allegations Maracaibo grounding not inspected Karachi cuts to boost trade Iraqis dredge despite war clouds Tonnage tax closer for India Bulker 'might' be navigation hazard US ports join C-TPAT programme Teo confirms Mokpo collision ship Severed stands down at Stena Contship quiet on Cagliari rumours SCI sale delay confirmed Philippines stevedore under threat Japan mulls ban on uninsured ships Malta pilots step up strike Seaman died when wire broke Experts check Petersburg ice crisis Cinderella finds welcome in Sweden Vietnam Ocean doubles profit Korea to install more scanners HK, Germany sign tax agreement MISC to sell stake in bank Singapore gives up search

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JANUARY 14, 2003
Security blanket While carriers were again warned to comply with the 24-hour rule by Feb 2, Customs opened its trade security program to domestic ports, who can also apply for a new round of federal security grants. Horizon Lines targets cost savings A planned increase in profitability underpinning the sale of domestic carrier CSX Lines will be sought through cost reductions rather than revenue growth, company officials said. S. Korea to sue EU over shipyard row U.S. slates Central America trade talks China eases ownership rules on express carriers Italia Line adds Med-U.S. call Houston opens new air-cargo hub Canadian Shippers' Council shutting down Polar expands Asia service Marzano heads Port of Tacoma Commission Karachi cuts port charges Contship names Finland agent BAX Global taps Barrie

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JANUARY 14, 2003
Jim jumps Lazard ship Veteran shipping analyst Winchester is latest departure in drain of analyst talent. Tanker bolts PDVSA charter deal Brokers say Agelef vessel quits three-year Venezuelan commitment amid hire row. Crude news for Citgo Moody's slashes credit rating for US refiner, citing supply disruptions from parent PDVSA. El Paso cuts to the core Houston energy company continues selloffs with $155m deal for Florida petroleum unit. Cracking found in Costamare boxship Paris MOU port state control reels in 157 offenders in November. Kongsberg to axe jobs Marine electronics group aims to cut costs by $4.3m. Norway passengers fall ill Disinfection underway after 116 passengers and crew stricken on elderly cruiseship. Yugoslavian ferry owner boosts vehicle numbers Montenegrin line Pomorski Saobracaj boosts vehicle numbers in 2002, but passenger figures fall. New MD for Stena Line Gunnar Blomdahl takes helm as ferry operator heads for profit. Vietnam gives green light for new yard Vinashin plans to start on two aframax prototypes in 18 months. Search continues for missing Amira 1 Lifeboats of Tunisian cargoship found but no sign of 24 crew. Hong Kong signs tax pact with Germany New accord will exempt shipowners from paying tax in both locations. Jahre Viking sails on And earns big bucks in process. DFDS sells and charters back ro-ro Danish owner will run 1978-built ship for another three and a half years on UK-Rotterdam route. Prisco buys into Uzbek railway Russian tanker owner makes $12m move into one of eastern Europe's biggest refrigerated rail busineses. Samsung ups returns Strong Korean won and lower interest rates help shipbuilder. Navy chief denies S&P scam Court asked to dismiss corruption charges over purchase of ships for Pakistan National Shipping Corp. CSBC staff charged with corruption Taiwan wants jail terms of up to nine years for 12 yard workers involved in alleged nuclear plant scam. Asian alliance boosts Europe box services Yang Ming, Hanjin, Cosco and K Line beefing up northern European sailings. LNG demand pumps up MHI output Japan's largest shipbuilder saw its 2002 completions leap 33% on back of surge in gas carriers. Spicer set for Singapore security summit Mercenary turned anti-piracy guru to headline three day meeting on terror threat to shipping. MISC announces staff layoffs Malaysian owner is cutting 7% of staff and selling bank stake as part of a restructuring effort.