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Shipping News

Port Klang to develop RM1b distribution centre
MALAYSIA's busiest seaport, Port Klang, will develop a RM1 billion , 400-ha 'free zone' distribution centre to boost its transhipment hub status through cargo consolidation and logistics activities.
MISC unveils second round of voluntary lay-offs
MALAYSIAN International Shipping Corp has announced a second round of voluntary redundancies as part of its widespread restructuring efforts.
China jails 10 Indon ship hijackers
TEN Indonesians convicted of hijacking a Thai ship carrying fuel oil in 1999 have been sentenced to prison terms of 10 to 15 years by a court in southern China, a court official said yesterday.
Ship sinks in storm off Sicily; crew missing
A Tongan-flagged merchant ship sank off the southern coast of Sicily after running into a heavy storm, and its crew of eight sailors was missing on Monday, port authorities in Rome said.

Air and Land Transport

SilkAir to offer low fares more often
SILKAIR unveiled a new brand strategy yesterday in which the regional airline appears to be flirting with the budget airline concept without actually commiting to it.
Indian Airlines to lease 5 more planes this year
Air Lib to be liquidated
Macau's air passenger traffic up 8%
Log Book

Strait Talk

Open registers cannot be blamed for ills of shipping
LAST week, a press release arrived with the headline 'In the Wake of Further Oil Disasters, New Study Highlights Failing Flags'.

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Shipping News

Port Klang to develop RM1b distribution centre
MALAYSIA's busiest seaport, Port Klang, will develop a RM1 billion , 400-ha 'free zone' distribution centre to boost its transhipment hub status through cargo consolidation and logistics activities.
MISC unveils second round of voluntary lay-offs
MALAYSIAN International Shipping Corp has announced a second round of voluntary redundancies as part of its widespread restructuring efforts.
China jails 10 Indon ship hijackers
TEN Indonesians convicted of hijacking a Thai ship carrying fuel oil in 1999 have been sentenced to prison terms of 10 to 15 years by a court in southern China, a court official said yesterday.
Ship sinks in storm off Sicily; crew missing
A Tongan-flagged merchant ship sank off the southern coast of Sicily after running into a heavy storm, and its crew of eight sailors was missing on Monday, port authorities in Rome said.

Air and Land Transport

SilkAir to offer low fares more often
SILKAIR unveiled a new brand strategy yesterday in which the regional airline appears to be flirting with the budget airline concept without actually commiting to it.
Indian Airlines to lease 5 more planes this year
Air Lib to be liquidated
Macau's air passenger traffic up 8%
Log Book

Strait Talk

Open registers cannot be blamed for ills of shipping
LAST week, a press release arrived with the headline 'In the Wake of Further Oil Disasters, New Study Highlights Failing Flags'.

web site

Shipping News

Port Klang to develop RM1b distribution centre
MALAYSIA's busiest seaport, Port Klang, will develop a RM1 billion , 400-ha 'free zone' distribution centre to boost its transhipment hub status through cargo consolidation and logistics activities.
MISC unveils second round of voluntary lay-offs
MALAYSIAN International Shipping Corp has announced a second round of voluntary redundancies as part of its widespread restructuring efforts.
China jails 10 Indon ship hijackers
TEN Indonesians convicted of hijacking a Thai ship carrying fuel oil in 1999 have been sentenced to prison terms of 10 to 15 years by a court in southern China, a court official said yesterday.
Ship sinks in storm off Sicily; crew missing
A Tongan-flagged merchant ship sank off the southern coast of Sicily after running into a heavy storm, and its crew of eight sailors was missing on Monday, port authorities in Rome said.

Air and Land Transport

SilkAir to offer low fares more often
SILKAIR unveiled a new brand strategy yesterday in which the regional airline appears to be flirting with the budget airline concept without actually commiting to it.
Indian Airlines to lease 5 more planes this year
Air Lib to be liquidated
Macau's air passenger traffic up 8%
Log Book

Strait Talk

Open registers cannot be blamed for ills of shipping
LAST week, a press release arrived with the headline 'In the Wake of Further Oil Disasters, New Study Highlights Failing Flags'.

	web site

HK well placed to leverage Chinese market, says official AP Moller takes delivery of new post-panamax container MOL appoints Vijacont as general agent in Vietnam PSA to lop 800 jobs from rolls in Singapore next month Singapore, Australia ink free trade agreement Geniki starts new container service to Kuching World Airways fourth quarter revenues grow 22pc Davies Turner offers electronic export filing early Asiana welcomed into Star Alliance ahead of entry in March

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
3 US airlines raise passenger fares Continental Airlines, American Airlines and US Airways, increased nearly all their fares by US$10 each way on Friday, according to the Saturday's New York Times. MOL agents in Vietnam Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced that MOL has nominated 'Vietnam Japan Trading and Container Service Company Ltd.' (Vijacont) as its general agents in Vietnam. EU to take Greece to court over Olympic aid The European Commission said on Monday it will take Greece to court for refusing to recover 194 million euros of state aid from Olympic Airways which it says was illegal. Better expectations K Line Japan's Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (K Line) has revised upwards its fiscal 2002 results forecasts on the back of a stronger than expected third quarter. Lufthansa Cargo plans rate increase U.S. airfreight exporters will see little or no increase in their basic rates from Lufthansa Cargo despite the carrier's plan to raise rates around the world by an average of 3.5 percent as of April 1.

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Tea exports to hit target India to expedite move for free trade pact Grain markets going, going, gone! - India getting branded as 'unreliable supplier' Govt bid to boost software exports Rudy opens Indian Trade Exhibition in Moscow Canada says no to import duty cuts on Indian textiles 18 mini-harbours in Andhra planned New Mangalore Port sets single day limestone handling record Chennai Port gets new dredger VPT assures IOC, SCI nominal charges for crude lighterage operations KoPT triumphs in hockey finals CCTPL to pump in $ 100 m to upgrade port facilities, develop transhipment hub - Move to attract MLOs' mother vessels to Chennai Port Chennai Port handles 28.08 m tonnes in April-Jan. 2002-03 Govt approves ocean freight aid for sugar exports CMAI, CIAe urge govt to intervene against US moves at WTO Govt asks EEPC to spot sectors for export boost SAD linked to DEPB rates w.e.f. April 2002 - Bonanza for exporters 13th batch of Export Import Workshop from Feb. 22 Seminar on 'Making IT relevant' at IMC IMC to come out with monograph on Budget 2003-04

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
Panama Canal: Market softening, good avails Baltic Buyers bide their time Great Belt unusually quiet Fujairah: Wind forces port closure, price fall continues Venezuelan oil to remain short St Petersburg: Price drops lag behind Europe OPEC quotas could be suspended during war in Iraq Norway proposes Act to protect coastline from oil spills Uruguay market update Rotterdam market makes another sharp drop Hong Kong demand falls with bearish numbers Daily Bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
KLM Cargo: North Atlantic traffic rebounds Cargo tonnage increases at Frankfurt Airport Successful January for Koper Microlog figures for 2002: more sales, less profit Hoyer expands in the bitumen sector

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
EU softens on single hull issue 3rd quarter 2002: Sharp decrease in Swedish oil imports Lebanese gangs in large-scale cargo thefts

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
De Palacio spells out EC maritime priorities There's more to VT Halter's HBJV participation than the Islander program

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O'Reilly calls on sector to clean up THE oil industry needs to club together to improve its global reputation, which will mean preventing more tanker crashes and oil spills. Norway to set up 'Prestige barrier' THE spectre of a Prestige -type oil spill polluting its pristine shoreline has caused Norway to consider pushing its maritime boundary out to the full distance allowed under international law, and using traffic separation zones to keep laden tankers further out to sea. Spanish judge to quiz men who refused refuge THE Spanish investigating judge in the Prestige case has summoned three senior government officials for questioning as part of a criminal legal case brought by Nunca M'is, the Galician protest organisation formed shortly after the ship sank. Offen puts name to huge Hanjin ships order HAMBURG shipowner Claus Peter Offen has confirmed his involvement in a multimillion dollar order for Hanjin Heavy Industries.

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
Oil majors take back door to profits EC port directive hits the rocks Nuclear reactor refused passage MDD diversification under way Anomeritis identifies European keys Tugs needed in northern Norway Fosen Mek remains optimistic EC safety measures 'proportionate' Cargo owners arrest Greek vessel Welding work caused Princess blaze Long transhipment 'makes no sense' Stranded tanker to be sold Lines draw up war risk plans Genoa put in its place over US Navy Italian gas plant to go ahead Pirates given 10-15 years in jail Tangier's new Med hub opened Tricolor pumping completed

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
NZ-WCNA lines join manifest surcharge push Members of the Australia-United States Containerline Association (AUSCLA) are introducing two sets of fees in connection with US Customs' 24-hour pre-shipment manifest rules. Snowstorms delay cargo on US East coast European Parliament gives dockers 'signal for social unrest' Betuwe costs on upward spiral F2004 budget allows US Customs security expansion State elections stimulate scrutiny of Sydney's port plans Inquiries to begin into 3.5mTEU London Gateway Port Geniki launch Sarawak service Safmarine appoints new liner director GAL opts for Purple Beach

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
No sale for Citgo PDVSA exec quashes speculation that US refineries may go in massive restructuring. Trico losses mount Houston-based offshore operator sees 2002 losses grow tenfold over 2001 Concordia crumples Old VLCCs sink Swedish tanker owner but company predicts 2003 profit. Shipping action ups BG's LNG revenue But UK energy utility pays out in start up costs for US Lake Charles terminal. Noble Group on a high Hong Kong based shipowner and trader posts much stronger profit figures for 2002. EMTA slaps increase on Cyprus-bound boxes Container conference hikes rates from northern Europe to Mediterranean. Braemar Seascope opens in Shanghai London shipbroker targets China newbuilding and S&P deals. TUI offices searched in Babcock probe Prosecutors examine role of Hapag-Lloyd parent in bankruptcy of former owner of HDW shipyard. Smiles all round for CPP players London's IP week kicks off in a very upbeat mood. New chief for reefer joint venture Ex LauritzenCool executive Lars Rutberg takes the helm at NYK Star Reefers. Ferry escape drills under scrutiny Death of female crew member on P&O ship in UK prompts call for urgent review of procedures and equipment. Cargoship grounds in Bosporus Near miss between two Maltese vessels sends one ashore in busy Turkish waterway. Clarebrough elbowed out at BHP Billiton Chartering boss returns to Australia as merged bulker giant shakes down. Indonesian pirates jailed in China Hijackers of Thai tanker receive sentences of between 10 and 15 years. PSA to axe 800 Competition forces Singapore port operator to cut staffing levels by 14%. India to sell abandoned ship Court takes possession of controversial UAE tanker Arabian Victory. Thoresen turns in strong first quarter Exchange gains mask big improvement for Thai handysize player. Sinotrans exercises over-allotment Chinese transport group releases more shares to satisfy demand from institutional investors. Evergreen and Wan Hai team up Taiwanese players build on year old tie up to launch Taiwan-Philippines-Vietnam joint service.

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FEBRUARY 18, 2003
Maersk Sealand sets up agency in Qatar MOL selects new general agent in Vietnam Rutberg appointed CEO of NYK Star Reefers Questions surround A.P. Moller's latest giant containership Canadian Westbound conferences raise rates Dragonair expands European air-cargo operations EGL rebounds with profit in 2002 Con-way Central Express adds service center capacity British transport minister sees "no easy answer" to road congestion Neiman Marcus seeks returns management help from Newgistics Emery opens distribution hub in Hong Kong MTMC cancels 2003 training symposium USDA proposes processing rules for imported milk products FDA proposes advanced data on food imports Tubbesing heads ABX's North America operations TSA alters instructions for operation safe commerce applications Emmett warns of global impact of U.S. Customs' "strawman" proposals Cobelfret to operate proposed ro/ro terminal near London