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Shipping News

APL on course to deliver higher profits
NEPTUNE Orient Lines' container arm APL is on track for a much brighter year, as industry overcapacity reverses to 'tight supply' and rates steadily increase on all its major trade lanes.
Ports urged to cooperate to fight terrorist, Sars threats
WORLD port authorities were reminded of the vulnerability of maritime transportation to terrorism and other threats like Sars, as the head of the International Association of Ports and Harbours urged industry collaboration on Monday.
Inspectors probe cause of cruise ship blast in Miami
FEDERAL authorities tried to determine the age of a ship boiler as they investigated what caused a cruise ship explosion that left four Filipino crew members dead and injured more than a dozen others.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus signs 20b euro deal for military transport planes
AIRBUS SAS, the world's second-largest maker of commercial aircraft, signed a contract worth 20 billion euros to supply 180 A400M military transport planes to seven countries, a programme 20 years in the planning.
Lufthansa employees fear deep job cuts
Air Canada to axe up to 827 ticket agents, cut pay of rest
THAI may drop discount airline plane
Boeing not interested in Varig/Tam merger stake
Gulf Air in talks to buy regional jets

Strait Talk

Ship grounding contains ingredients for major disaster
ACCIDENTS are rarely due to one single mistake. Normally there are a whole catalogue of contributory errors and factors that conspire together to send a ship onto the rocks or into the side of another vessel.

web site

Shipping News

APL on course to deliver higher profits
NEPTUNE Orient Lines' container arm APL is on track for a much brighter year, as industry overcapacity reverses to 'tight supply' and rates steadily increase on all its major trade lanes.
Ports urged to cooperate to fight terrorist, Sars threats
WORLD port authorities were reminded of the vulnerability of maritime transportation to terrorism and other threats like Sars, as the head of the International Association of Ports and Harbours urged industry collaboration on Monday.
Inspectors probe cause of cruise ship blast in Miami
FEDERAL authorities tried to determine the age of a ship boiler as they investigated what caused a cruise ship explosion that left four Filipino crew members dead and injured more than a dozen others.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus signs 20b euro deal for military transport planes
AIRBUS SAS, the world's second-largest maker of commercial aircraft, signed a contract worth 20 billion euros to supply 180 A400M military transport planes to seven countries, a programme 20 years in the planning.
Lufthansa employees fear deep job cuts
Air Canada to axe up to 827 ticket agents, cut pay of rest
THAI may drop discount airline plane
Boeing not interested in Varig/Tam merger stake
Gulf Air in talks to buy regional jets

Strait Talk

Ship grounding contains ingredients for major disaster
ACCIDENTS are rarely due to one single mistake. Normally there are a whole catalogue of contributory errors and factors that conspire together to send a ship onto the rocks or into the side of another vessel.

web site

Shipping News

APL on course to deliver higher profits
NEPTUNE Orient Lines' container arm APL is on track for a much brighter year, as industry overcapacity reverses to 'tight supply' and rates steadily increase on all its major trade lanes.
Ports urged to cooperate to fight terrorist, Sars threats
WORLD port authorities were reminded of the vulnerability of maritime transportation to terrorism and other threats like Sars, as the head of the International Association of Ports and Harbours urged industry collaboration on Monday.
Inspectors probe cause of cruise ship blast in Miami
FEDERAL authorities tried to determine the age of a ship boiler as they investigated what caused a cruise ship explosion that left four Filipino crew members dead and injured more than a dozen others.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus signs 20b euro deal for military transport planes
AIRBUS SAS, the world's second-largest maker of commercial aircraft, signed a contract worth 20 billion euros to supply 180 A400M military transport planes to seven countries, a programme 20 years in the planning.
Lufthansa employees fear deep job cuts
Air Canada to axe up to 827 ticket agents, cut pay of rest
THAI may drop discount airline plane
Boeing not interested in Varig/Tam merger stake
Gulf Air in talks to buy regional jets

Strait Talk

Ship grounding contains ingredients for major disaster
ACCIDENTS are rarely due to one single mistake. Normally there are a whole catalogue of contributory errors and factors that conspire together to send a ship onto the rocks or into the side of another vessel.

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S American carrier service brings goods to Asia, from Portland CC Tung: cost efficiency helped OOCL during a difficult 2002 Matson to purchase vessels after reaching agreements with unions NOL rises out of red and into US$20.3m first quarter profit India, Singapore begin free trade talks Port of Colombo sees its biggest ship call Singapore Airlines begins direct China-US cargo service HK Int'l Airport landing fees to be discounted starting next month Menzies rebrands unit, extends services Philippine Airlines to start flying to Okinawa in June

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US bid to forestall bio-terrorism Luxembourg envoy invites Indian investors US corporates' eyes glisten at prospect - Sourcing diamond-studded jewellery from India Gem, jewellery exports may yield $ 9.99 bn in 2003-04: GJEPC US becoming major importer of Indian marine products Govt may permit contract labour in textile export sector WB, CII to release investment survey in Sept.-Oct. China emerging as India's major trading partner Chinese claim phenomenal 2,279 pc rise in import of iron, steel from India during Jan-March 2003 Coast Guard seeks KoPT help to mop up polluting cargo from ship M. M. Jeswani takes over as Chief Manager (Ops) at KPT's Vadinar Offshore Oil Terminal Dept. MbPT takes steps to facilitate easier beaching & breaking of ships Global airfreight traffic up by 7.7 pc in April-IATA Railways exceeds freight target in April Goa Cabinet clears SEZ, airport projects Wooltexpro formed Inflation rate falls to 5.9 pc NCAER favours specialised set-up for infrastructure reform 3 more STEs allowed to export onions Mozambique seeks Indian investment CII's Shanghai hq. to begin work from July IMC meet with Tajik trade team postponed

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MAY 27, 2003
Daily Bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents Sharp rise spurs congestion in Fujairah Brazilian IFOs continue to drop, distillates steady Bullish market draws out Hong Kong spread Chemoil to re-enter Philadelphia Rotterdam market firm

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Cargo stable at Cathay Irish Sea ferry shake up Gefco GmbH: New regional manager for Northern Germany APL Logistics opens platform in Mexico City More money demanded for railway infrastructure

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MAY 27, 2003
Stena take patent dispute to House of Lords Samskip buys Belgo-Ruys EU extends investigation into Spanish shipyard subsidies

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MAY 27, 2003
NTSB investigates Norway accident Accident, not terrorism Regal Empress sells for $1.75 million Imperial Majesty places winning bid

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Stena to buy five P&O ferries in £50m Irish Sea shake-up IN A deal worth '50m, Stena is to purchase a "significant part" of P&O's ferry operations in the Irish Sea. Aldridge linked to US Lines relaunch FORMER APL executive Ed Aldridge is said to be the driving force behind moves to revive the US Lines brand with a new transpacific service, writes Janet Porter. Brussels extends Izar aid probe THE European Commission has extended its investigation into Spain's main shipbuilder to establish whether it received illegal state aid up to and including 2002. Schröder in tax subsidy vow to revive German flag GERMAN Chancellor Gerhard Schr'der has promised more money for the country's shipowners.

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MAY 27, 2003
Brazilian shipbuilding aims high Norway's boiler surveyed on May 18 Norway undergoes safety probe Stena Line to acquire P&O routes Imperial Majesty snaps up Empress US Senate pushed on emissions Prestige decision-taker stays Port state crackdown from July Competition lowers bunker prices Bush slated over port security S African surcharge deal agreed Lübeck hosts crisis conference Izar faces subsidy probe (again) President seeks port improvements SSA Marine takes over at Umm Qasr Korea targets newbuilding dominance Probe launched after ferry deaths Mitsubishi foils blackmail attempt

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MAY 27, 2003
Evergreen strike continues The National Labor Relations Board continues to investigate Evergreen America's claim that the ILA has engaged in an illegal secondary boycott. Bill earmarks duties for port security A new measure from the House Government Reform subcommittee on government regulations would dedicate a portion of U.S. customs duties to pay for port security. NOL back in black P&O sells stake in offshore unit Europe airline consolidation gathers pace Customs to collect FDA bioterrorism data DHL Airways no more: Astar is born Med-Can conference raises rates International Shipholding shuffles executives MOL in Brazil feeder agreement Korean Air launches N.Y.-Basel freighter service ATS will rep Le Havre in U.S. Panalpina adds Sao Paulo freighter Airnet to sell Mercury unit

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MAY 27, 2003
Resurgent NOL predicts 'significant profits' for 2003 after encouraging first quarter Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) chairman Cheng Wai Keung predicted 'significant profits' for 2003, as he announced better than expected results for the first quarter. Evergreen looks for help as union tightens screws on USEC Eurogate to invest in Baltic box terminal Busan secures cash for 8m TEU expansion S.Africa: state ducks blame, as more lines add surcharges New suitor for beleaguered Tranz Rail

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MAY 27, 2003
Norden holds steady Tankers outperform bulkers at Danish company. Stena snaps up more P&O ferries Restructure continues at UK group as Swedish owner takes on seven ships on Irish Sea routes. Ulstein hooks up with Jiangsu Yangzijiang Chinese and Norwegian shipbuilders home in on offshore vessels. Intercargo details bulker losses In the last ten years 592 lives and 108 bulk carriers have been lost. Seabulk shares it out Directors get stock options, but share price subsequently falls. EC probes deeper into Izar aid Spanish yard cash comes under fresh scrutiny. MISC profit slips Chemical tanker costs and rates put brakes on Malaysian giant's runaway profits. Samskip buys Belgian agency Icelandic owner will take over 100% of former agent Belgo-Ruys in June. Sohmen's last stand Speculative Bergesen shareholders given one last chance to sell up. Essar tanker held in Canada Steering gear fault leads to Indian owner's vessel being one of only four detained in April. Shipping disappoints at Eimskip Icelandic owner grateful to fishing operations for holding up profit in tough first quarter. Sasebo slumps into the red Scandal-hit Japanese shipbuilder fails to see profit return this year. North-Western returns to profit Russian operator rewards new owners with quarterly surplus. RCL to raise $60m Thai operator scales back bond offering. Jinhui inches back into the black Bulk trader and shipowner boosted by improved first quarter demand. NOL builds on first quarter profits Singapore flagship carrier sees lower volumes during April but was paid more to carry them. Losses grow at Kuribayashi Japanese ro-ro company sees operating margins slashed in year to 31 March. Profits jump at Cosco Investment Restructuring effort leads to improved financial performance despite "challenging" first quarter. Boiler checked nine days before fatal blast Investigators begin probe into explosion aboard NCL cruiseship that killed four crew in Miami. MOL ditches Mercosul for Docenave Japan Inc strikes as container line switches to operator part owned by compatriot trading house.

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MAY 27, 2003
NOL group emerges from the red with first-quarter profit Yang Ming sets up American-based branch corporation Wan Hai orders 4,250-TEU ships for Pacific Asia/Europe carriers to raise rates, surcharges Docenave provides Brazilian feeder links for MOL SSA takes control of Umm Qasr Eurogate, National Container Co. link in Russian port venture