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Shipping News

Shenzhen ports set to face serious congestion
A severe bottleneck is looming in the coming months at already-stretched container terminals in China's second busiest port city, Shenzhen, APL's China head has warned.
PSA Marine expanding at home, abroad to meet expected demand
PSA Corporation has quietly been building up its marine services division both at home and overseas in anticipation of heavy demand, its recently released annual report revealed.
Stolt-Nielsen under probe by US govt: report
THE United States has opened a criminal investigation into shipping giant Stolt-Nielsen SA for allegedly breaking US trade embargoes, the Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday.
Star Cruises reports Q1 loss of US$2.2m
STAR Cruises Ltd, the world's fourth largest cruise line operator, had a loss in the first quarter, hurt by higher fuel costs, and as the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome led to cancellations.

Air and Land Transport

Airlines band together to design, buy identical planes
IN an effort to negotiate lower prices from aircraft manufacturers, airlines around the globe are teaming up to design and purchase identical planes.
Dubai, S'pore airports top world rankings
US homeland security to focus on improving screening of air cargo
THAI seeks way to reduce costs on Bangkok-US routes
Cathay to resume full services to 10 cities
Air NZ's April passenger load down

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Shipping News

Shenzhen ports set to face serious congestion
A severe bottleneck is looming in the coming months at already-stretched container terminals in China's second busiest port city, Shenzhen, APL's China head has warned.
PSA Marine expanding at home, abroad to meet expected demand
PSA Corporation has quietly been building up its marine services division both at home and overseas in anticipation of heavy demand, its recently released annual report revealed.
Stolt-Nielsen under probe by US govt: report
THE United States has opened a criminal investigation into shipping giant Stolt-Nielsen SA for allegedly breaking US trade embargoes, the Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday.
Star Cruises reports Q1 loss of US$2.2m
STAR Cruises Ltd, the world's fourth largest cruise line operator, had a loss in the first quarter, hurt by higher fuel costs, and as the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome led to cancellations.

Air and Land Transport

Airlines band together to design, buy identical planes
IN an effort to negotiate lower prices from aircraft manufacturers, airlines around the globe are teaming up to design and purchase identical planes.
Dubai, S'pore airports top world rankings
US homeland security to focus on improving screening of air cargo
THAI seeks way to reduce costs on Bangkok-US routes
Cathay to resume full services to 10 cities
Air NZ's April passenger load down

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NYK net income dips while revenue rises TNWA revamp transpacific route schedule, add new string MOL certified as C-TPAT member Q1 throughput points Hamburg towards record year ABX Logistics automates contracts and charges process BA posts US$220 million profit despite fall in revenue Martinair Cargo to offer service to Nanjing in June Tianjin Consol expands services to Korea Lufthansa, US Airways sign code sharing MOU

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IICL to hold year's second reefer course in Miami this September-October WISA expresses concern over continuation of war risk surcharge IPBCC member lines to implement rate restoration from June/July Trade sneezes as Lankan pepper is 'dumped' duty-free 40-member Pakistan delegation coming on business Iraq reconstruction: 900 pc rise in steel exports to Gulf CoPT seeks Rs 501 cr. Central funds to begin spadework for Vallarpadam CT Private terminals unaffected - All India port/dock workers' strike Product tanker joins GE Shipping's fleet Rlys to ply more refrigerated vans to carry perishables KPMG to work out plan to convert coastal UT into SEZ Car sales register 28 pc growth in April India cautions developing countries about multilateral framework on investment Export subsidy phase-out only after product competitiveness is established Plea to denotify 99 cotton varieties WTO should provide for better market access to eco-friendly goods: Rudy Vast scope for biotech industry, says Assocham study

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MAY 21, 2003
Pacific Northwest Quiet High demand with low prices on US West Coast Aggressive pricing on US Gulf Coast Crude prices soar on API despite not-so-bullish DOE Daily Bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents P&O pleased as EU considers alternatives to sulphur limitation EU sulphur cap on fuels will affect lubes too Suez steady to firm, good avails reported Uncertain market puts Piraeus buyers on the back foot Weekly African market report from GAC Oil firmer ahead of key US inventory data Continuing exports take product out of Korean market New Saudi posted prices Rotterdam a tad softer today Market update from Montevideo and Alpha Zone

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MAY 21, 2003
BLG to introduce security charge Air Canada's 2003 Q1 losses double Uzbekistan Airways resumes service Reopening of the Alfortville lock Exel to partner M&M in Central and Eastern Europe

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MAY 21, 2003
Ten years in jail for illegal cleaning of tanks 21.05.03 80 per cent of Bergesen shares assured 21.05.03 "Sea World" sold for scrap

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MAY 21, 2003
Stolt issues statement on WSJ story The Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group (SNTG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen S.A. (Nasdaq:SNSA) (Oslo:SNI), has commented on recent press reports regarding investigations in the U.S. regarding business dealings with Sudan and Iran. Massive export financing for Masa-Yards A Finnish state owned company is prepared to provide Masa-Yards with export credit guarantee commitments for a potential of $1.5 billion. Alaska yard wins incentive yard Completes ferry upgrade ahead of schedule Bouchard ups Buzzard's Bay spill estimate Now estimates 98,000 gallons, not 14,700

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MAY 21, 2003
Matson deal with unions will bring new vessels into service Orange security level means changes at Sea-Tac Corps assigns lock times for recreational vessels on Columbia Columbia/Willamette rivers set for Maritime Day events Airborne Express lowering fuel surcharge next month

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Industry giants gear up for '1.5bn MoD fleet overhaul SHIPOWNERS, shipbuilders and marine equipment suppliers are preparing to bid for a UK government contract that could dwarf the Ministry of Defence's recent order for ro-ro ships. Benty crew released after being forced into mercy mission by Liberian soldiers A CARGOSHIP and its crew that were seized by Liberian soldiers fleeing a rebel uprising have been released. Cruise firms avoid Morocco after bomb blast CRUISE companies with port calls in Morocco have been changing their itineraries this week following the bomb attacks in Casablanca last Friday that killed 29 people. Lines predict a strong year for transpacific trade SHIPPING lines on the transpacific trade have been broadly successful in recent contract rate negotiations and are predicting a strong year ahead. Greenspan speaks out on LNG problem facing US US Federal Reserve Board chairman Alan Greenspan (above) yesterday threw the spotlight on the nation's limited ability to import LNG in the face of tight supplies and the increasing price of natural gas, writes Tony Gray.

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MAY 21, 2003
Caribbean ports face cruise call cuts LR-F Ports Guide in line for award Caspian pact may block N-S corridor Veteran Empress goes under hammer Scotch smooths port clearance path Sleaze alleged in Israeli ports Chile fiddles while Arica languishes SSA confirms Qasr operations Peraticos close to the end ECT joins Secure Tradelanes EU lends '50M for Tartous upgrade Cadets mutiny against abuses Alstom prepares to sell Chantiers No show minister angers officers Strike hits Indian ports Fincantieri in restructure plans Indian charterer sees volume leap July launch for incident reporter Eurogate reports throughput surge ThyssenKrupp buys Dutch operator Russia makes peace with Panama Australia cracks down on identity K-Line sets up Indonesian venture Yard group buys up Caspian assets CMB releases gas activities

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MAY 21, 2003
Evergreen declares force majeure A week-long protest by the International Longshoremen's Association has idled the carrier's Port Newark operations in the Port of New York and New Jersey. DHL Airways sold to investor group DHL Worldwide Express sells to a group led by John Dasburg, chairman and chief executive of the airline, for $57 million. TSA restores Operation Safe Commerce funding Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement reorganizes Union deal clears Matson ship buy Make current box security regime work, APL exec advises trade Nissim named editor of The Florida Shipper FMC discusses TSA rate case again Strike hits India port operations Expeditors sees strong ocean, air business in April Carriers cut surcharge for Pakistan ports FTC OKs Wal-Mart's McLane sale CP Rail eyeing BC Rail pick-up

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MAY 21, 2003
Democrats vent anger at Bush Administration's lack of commitment to maritime security Despite fierce protests by Democratic officials, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is at the point of shutting down Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) by diverting the US$58 million dedicated to it elsewhere. Booming demand defies charterer's expectations Even upbeat brokers are expressing surprise at the speed of the recovery of the charter market with Howe Robinson reporting a 26-point increase in its charter index today. Supreme Court rejects SSA's Chittagong terminal plans Creditors force 'management normalisation' on Korean carrier Shipper demand gives rise to NWA's Pacific to USEC service Congress to extend Maritime Security Programme

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MAY 21, 2003
Stolt bends over backward Chemical group says it is steering wide course around suspect nations in midst of probes. "We will count on you even more" Bush speaks to US Coast Guard grads amid terror alert. TMM numbers go south Revenues, earnings down for cash-strapped Mexican group. D'Amico ups tanker tally at STX Italian owner mulls formalised pool as it grows MR fleet. Bouchard's bigger bungle Massachusetts spill was six times size originally reported by barge owner. Mystery surrounds new Torm investor Faceless Hong Kong punter hides behind play on top dog Tung Chee-hwa. Rina profit slips But shipping boosts revenue for Italian classification society. Keppel chairman in the money Lim Chee Onn picks up over $2m for stewardship of Singaporean engineering conglomerate. Aker Kvaerner thrown lifeline Finland grants export guarantees for Kvaerner Masa-Yards. New World Alliance confirms PSV return Liner shipping partners detail beefed up and reorganised trans-Pacific services. Fred Cheng VLCC fixed on SK Shipping relets tanker on 12-month deal. US hold Novoship OBO Elderly Kapitan Zhuravlyov held over safety standards as Yanks haul in port state control virgins. BP inks Interorient MR resales British oil giant takes recent MR tally to 20 vessels with four-ship acquisition. Regal Empress remains unsold Auction of veteran cruise ship fails to attract single offer despite low minimum bid. Boss ousted at Austal USA Greg Metcalf named as new head of Aussie firm's US venture after current boss gets the boot. Loughlin named LR COO Ex-nuclear industry executive charged with taking UK class society to greater heights.

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MAY 21, 2003
Green Chartering, Seatrade in transatlantic service link Matson reverses plan to seek buyer for new ships U.S./India carrier group ends conference role Maersk Sealand warns over phase two of 24-hour rule CKYHS carriers revise terms of alliance New World Alliance reshuffles Pacific services FMC to re-examine Pacific carrier bias case CMB OKs demerger of industrial gas shipping, offshore activities IMO urges ports, governments to prevent spread of SARS Oldendorff, NSCSA swap space between India, North America "K" Line sets up energy-shipping arm in Texas Report: Stolt-Nielsen facing new U.S. investigation FMC reviews 11 OTI license applications OIG Global enters European freight market USDA bans Canada beef as precaution against "mad cow" disease Kodak Canada uses Vastera software to automate CSA USDA seeks international wood-packaging treatment rules Soybean shippers wary of South American competition ICC urges G8 governments to focus on international trade Senator Challenges Administration on Port Security Program U.S. West Coast terminal operators to discuss port charges Mitsubishi LNG facility advances in Long Beach Problem of Aden venture, lower rates hit PSA's profits Port groups to broaden security initiative