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Shipping News

Box and steel shortages hit shipping industry
A global box shortage and concurrent steel scarcity have pushed up the price of containers nearly 39 per cent as the container shipping industry enjoys almost unprecedented volume demand and vastly improved freight rates.
Bangladesh's main port drags feet on security
BANGLADESH risks being isolated from international maritime trade as its biggest sea port is yet to implement International Ship and Port Safety Code as the deadline is getting closer.
Strong freight growth drives K&N profits
SWISS logistics firm Kuehne & Nagel swung to a positive 2003 net income on Monday from flat the year before thanks to strong freight growth, especially from China, and cost cuts.
Nedlloyd gets P&O nod for venture buyout
DUTCH shipping and transport firm Nedlloyd won approval from P&O shareholders to buy out their container shipping joint venture, and priced a rights offering to fund part of the deal.
Tanker runs aground in Bosphorus
A foreign tanker carrying diesel fuel has run aground in Turkey's Bosporus Strait which bisects the country's largest city of Istanbul, but there was no immediate danger of a leak, a maritime safety official said.
Shanghai aims to wrest back Asia's shipping crown
FEW people recall Shanghai's roaring heyday of the 1920s, when the thriving city on China's eastern seaboard housed a warren of brothels, opium dens, underground casinos and lorded over Asian trade.

Air and Land Transport

EU seeks deal on access to passenger data
EUROPEAN Union ministers sought a deal on Tuesday on rules to demand airlines hand over passenger data to customs services, aiming to balance counterterrorism concerns with protection for civil liberties.
Foreign couriers not to seek WTO action in China row
DHL opens new S'pore-Europe freighter service
EU launches legal action over Frankfurt airport
Aloha Air pilot arrested after alcohol screening
Air traffic growth seen faster in new EU states

web site

Shipping News

Box and steel shortages hit shipping industry
A global box shortage and concurrent steel scarcity have pushed up the price of containers nearly 39 per cent as the container shipping industry enjoys almost unprecedented volume demand and vastly improved freight rates.
Bangladesh's main port drags feet on security
BANGLADESH risks being isolated from international maritime trade as its biggest sea port is yet to implement International Ship and Port Safety Code as the deadline is getting closer.
Strong freight growth drives K&N profits
SWISS logistics firm Kuehne & Nagel swung to a positive 2003 net income on Monday from flat the year before thanks to strong freight growth, especially from China, and cost cuts.
Nedlloyd gets P&O nod for venture buyout
DUTCH shipping and transport firm Nedlloyd won approval from P&O shareholders to buy out their container shipping joint venture, and priced a rights offering to fund part of the deal.
Tanker runs aground in Bosphorus
A foreign tanker carrying diesel fuel has run aground in Turkey's Bosporus Strait which bisects the country's largest city of Istanbul, but there was no immediate danger of a leak, a maritime safety official said.
Shanghai aims to wrest back Asia's shipping crown
FEW people recall Shanghai's roaring heyday of the 1920s, when the thriving city on China's eastern seaboard housed a warren of brothels, opium dens, underground casinos and lorded over Asian trade.

Air and Land Transport

EU seeks deal on access to passenger data
EUROPEAN Union ministers sought a deal on Tuesday on rules to demand airlines hand over passenger data to customs services, aiming to balance counterterrorism concerns with protection for civil liberties.
Foreign couriers not to seek WTO action in China row
DHL opens new S'pore-Europe freighter service
EU launches legal action over Frankfurt airport
Aloha Air pilot arrested after alcohol screening
Air traffic growth seen faster in new EU states

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PIL, Wan Hai to launch joint Asia-Europe service Kazakhstan to build new China-Europe railway link Suzhou throughput soars in 2004, highway construction continues Rail staff shortages causes freight disruptions in US Yangzhou port venture gets off the ground China, Australia sign new air services agreement Emirates SkyCargo to fly to Bangalore, Budapest China Southern offers daily service to Ho Chi Minh

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Evergreen establishes its own company in India - Three offices to commence operations from today MoS constitutes shippers' trade facilitation cell Export ban on muli bamboo lifted ECGC to provide free marine insurance cover to exporters India, China to sign agreement to manufacture hydropower turbines Campco exports 20 tonnes butter to Monaco New revenue-sharing formula for operating ICTT at Cochin Port Container freight station CWC Distripark inaugurated at Dronagiri Official allays exporters' fears over appreciation of rupee SAIL, Essar petition court seeking probe into dumping of HR steel Electrical goods sector posts 15 pc growth in Q3 of 2003-04 Further rise in cotton prices likely Admission to Export Import Workshop from today CLE plans market focus scheme for Russia Fieo wants SAD abolished

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MARCH 31, 2004
Soft crude & high 3% widen Gulf Coast spread US crude and gasoline build sends oil price plummeting This was the second week running of unusually large crude stock gains. The market was also surprised by a rise in gasoline inventories. DOE and API at a glance Suppliers: 'Too early' to determine blast impact on avails BP says 447,000 bpd plant now operating 'near normal' after overnight blast. OPEC confirms cut, speculators blamed for inflated price Oil softer on doubts cut will be carried out and speculators blamed for adding huge premium on oil prices. New Saudi posted prices Greek strike fails to affect bunkers Brazilian oil giant eyes Singapore bunker market Petrobras' Singapore managing director says establishment of long-term supply operation planned if initial foray a success. South Korean price gains do little to attract buyers Demand has been low all week in South Korea, with bullish overnight crude and subsequent firming of paper and bunker values in the Singapore market not helping local enquiry levels recover. OPEC in agreement on quota cut, actual cut seen delayed April cut may be formally adopted, but in reality OPEC may pump as much as before. Texas City refinery blast sends oil prices soaring FBI and BP rule out notion of terrorist sabotage after gasoline unit explodes overnight. Rotterdam firm with some barge tightness South Eastern Oil withdraws from bunker market Higher costs and competitive market prompts Singapore supplier to concentrate on barge chartering.

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MARCH 31, 2004
Inconso AG continues to grow profitably Germany: higher toll charges demanded Electrolux outsources logistics to Linjegods Norfolk Southern and Honda officially open new Alabama railyard KLM to hold extraordinary AGM on Air France share swap Rete Autostrade Mediterranee Spa established Johan G. Hvide is new president of Norwegian Shipowners' Association

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MARCH 31, 2004
Non ISPS Code ports "could lose terror liability cover" Stolt-Nielsen's US$130m credit facility Eurocrats' blitz on member states ESPMC boosts peak season surcharge

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MARCH 31, 2004
Tsakos enters LNG arena Signs letter of intent with Huyundai Heavy Industries Ports launch knowledge sharing initiative Announced at AAPA Spring Conference Van Dyck elected INTERTANKO Chairman Succeeds Lars Carlsson MITAGS honors WWII Merchant Marine veterans Dinner dance planned

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MARCH 31, 2004
TSA member carriers predict cargo demand growth Dipper dredge sets record during Panama Canal work Corps eyes Port of Portland bid to grade Willamette near terminals Port of Olympia opens upgraded Swantown Marina Port of Portland earns honor for attracting tourists to region

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Blast rips through Texas refinery BP IS investigating the cause of an explosion and fire at one of its gasoline units at the Texas City refinery near Galveston, the third largest in the US, writes Martyn Wingrove. US calls for united front to fight rise in Marpol breaches ONLY international co-operation can combat flagrant violations of Marpol that US investigators are now beginning to describe as routine, International Maritime Organization delegates have been told. Maersk Sealand 'plans series of newbuildings until 2009' MAERSK Sealand has mapped out a five-year containership newbuilding programme, with deliveries scheduled up to May 2009, Handelsbanken Capital Markets says in a report on AP Møller-Maersk's 2003 financial results. Launch of €38m Intership project EUROPEAN shipbuilders and the commission have launched a €38m research and development project designed to inject competitiveness into the continent's retreating construction industry, writes Justin Stares . Brussels gets tough on EU states failing to implement maritime laws EUROPEAN Union nations are failing to implement their own maritime laws, despite recent high-profile pollution disasters, writes Justin Stares.

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MARCH 31, 2004
No decision yet on RCCL's NIS ships ROYAL Caribbean Cruises Ltd director Anders Grundekjon says no decision has been taken on whether to remove six Royal Caribbean International ships from the Norwegian International Ship register (NIS) Fire hits Texas refinery FIRE broke out last night at one of the largest oil refineries in the US, the BP facility at Texas City in Galveston Bay, Texas Drive-cruise trend hits Curaçao CURAÇAO and several other southern Caribbean cruise ship destinations are smarting at a substantial decline in both US and European markets Pakistanis continuing to jump ship PAKISTANI seafarers continue to see European and Asian countries as attractive enough to leave their ships in search of better employment Superferry 14: inquiry latest THE Philippines panel investigating the Superferry 14 incident has been asked to take into account the recent arrests of suspected terrorists Celebrity polarises its cruises CELEBRITY Cruises has signed a short-term full-ship charter deal with Quark Expeditions for the 112-passenger icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov Clarkson's diversification pays off Oman sensitivity accepted MidEast states edge towards Marpol Qatar disappoints Moss designers Cargo ship sinks off Singapore Nenaco share trading suspended

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MARCH 31, 2004
U.S. box security needs work: GAO House committee commends Customs after reviewing report, but says more needs to be done to protect containers. Stoffel to lead UPS supply chain unit Veteran takes over $2 billion non-package businesses, joins management committee after Pyne retires. FedEx denies report on Philippine base N.C. Ports CEO out in accounting probe New lawsuit to block Portland dredging Sinotrans see sharp profit increase Chile exports hit by shipping jam FMCSA issues new driver rules for longer rigs FedEx launches hybrid electric delivery vehicle Hapag-Lloyd names Europe chief Kansas City Southern adjusts 2003 profit Illinois IM hub gets $1.1M grant

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MARCH 31, 2004
'Latent demand' could drive charter market to rarefied heights Ships are becoming harder to come by and lines are having to either ditch plans for new services or fix ships six-12 months ahead of time say brokers. Columbia River deepening project faces another lawsuit Environmentalists filed a new lawsuit yesterday to block plans to deepen the Columbia River along the shipping channel serving the port of Portland. Fremantle sees quantum shift in port traffic to rail Transport trumps tourism at TUI TT Club warns against ISPS negligence Bank finally releases funds for Mercosul ships Bonded landbridge cargo benefits from Sharjah ICD Hartmut Luehr returns to Hapag-Lloyd from logistics sister

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MARCH 31, 2004
Blast at BP refinery No reason to suspect terror in Texas fire but cause is still under investigation, officials say. DSME's Mangalia nets boxships Panamax sextet gives Romania big vessel break through. Tanker boys shrug off OPEC cuts Hire rates won't be dampened much by 1m bpd curbs as cartel's discipline in doubt. TEN steams in on LNG berth Tsakos gets foot in LNG door at Izar but has still to firm up the contract. Fukuoka opens in Nagasaki Japanese tanker builder launches new yard, with orders in the bag. Byzantine bulker held in UK Maritime agency releases port state control February detention details. BLT numbers head north Indonesian tanker owner Berlian Laju builds revenues and profits in 2003. Bulyard moves in at Varna Bulgarian consortium to finally start running Black Sea shipyard after transferring sale cash to Navibulgar. ROC ship duo auctioned off Lender banks buy back two cruiseships from cash-strapped Royal Olympic. Green Reefers buys back duo Norwegian owner uses purchase option to add bareboat-chartered ships to owned fleet. SSY moves into agency business Shipbroker sets up new logistics venture with Indonesian partner. ITF hits "floating sweatshops" Union wins back pay for crew aboard Korean cargoship in New Zealand. Clarkson logs record year Shipbroking giant says huge profit reflects booming markets and business spread. Norwegian cruiseships RIP? RCCL crew reportedly told last six Norwegian-registered ships to be re-flagged. Temas trounces previous profit Indonesian feedership group achieved big improvement in fortunes last year. Seyang clinches coal contract Korean bulker owner wins state-run utility deal to move cargoes from Australia. Sohmen pushes for makeover With the shipping boom in full swing World Wide boss argues that it's time to educate the masses. Malacca sees triple attack Strategic Southeast Asian waterway suffers three piracy incidents in less than forty-eight hours. EC raps member states Six nations face action by Commission over failures in port state control, equipment and bulkers.

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MARCH 31, 2004
TUI reports record profit from shipping, logistics MSC reshuffles Asia/Europe services Hapag-Lloyd appoints Luehr head of Europe region Coast Guard ends "Bow Mariner" recovery DHL expands logistics operations in Latin America Lufthansa opens service from Brussels Bill seeks to protect commercial jets from portable missiles Grocers reach labor deal, operations continue without a hitch Grocery distributors face possible delivery delays in Mid-Atlantic CN, CAW truck operators ratify new labor agreement Trucking association receives $19 million for highway security program U.S. rail security gets more attention after Madrid bombing Bush picks for Commerce, FMC set to move forward TT Club: Non-security-compliant ports "are not insured"

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MARCH 31, 2004
Four people crossed the Atlantic by holding on to a chain cable Four young people from Liberia have crossed the Atlantic by holding on to the chain cable on the Maltese flagged ... Money in propellers During the last two years about 2,500 tons of Spanish pesetas have been used as raw material in Wärtsilä's foundry ... Freeze on PSSA applications at the IMO IMO is likely to freeze new applications to become Particularly Sesitive Sea Areas (PSSA). Among new application is the Baltic ...