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US retailers unlikely to accept further rise in freight rates
EFFORTS by container lines to push transpacific freight rates higher next year will be hindered by the continuing US West Coast port congestion, say analysts, who warn that major US retailers are unlikely to 'roll-over' and accept further rate hikes.
Narrowing demand- supply gap may rule out rate hikes
A rapidly narrowing gap between demand and supply growth next year, along with global leading economic indicators pointing to a slow-down, will mean limited opportunities for further rate hikes, according to analysts.
Tanker rates seen stable ahead of Dec cargoes
OIL tanker freight rates from the Persian Gulf may change little this week as bookings slow after refiners matched November cargoes with transport and await their December programme, which is due in coming days.
Wilh Wilhelmsen's 9-mth profit doubles

Port Shots

PORT SHOTS
TURKEY's Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits reopened to tanker traffic at midday yesterday after heavy fog forced their closure overnight, maritime officials said.

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Shipping News

US retailers unlikely to accept further rise in freight rates
EFFORTS by container lines to push transpacific freight rates higher next year will be hindered by the continuing US West Coast port congestion, say analysts, who warn that major US retailers are unlikely to 'roll-over' and accept further rate hikes.
Narrowing demand- supply gap may rule out rate hikes
A rapidly narrowing gap between demand and supply growth next year, along with global leading economic indicators pointing to a slow-down, will mean limited opportunities for further rate hikes, according to analysts.
Tanker rates seen stable ahead of Dec cargoes
OIL tanker freight rates from the Persian Gulf may change little this week as bookings slow after refiners matched November cargoes with transport and await their December programme, which is due in coming days.
Wilh Wilhelmsen's 9-mth profit doubles

Port Shots

PORT SHOTS
TURKEY's Bosphorus and Dardanelles Straits reopened to tanker traffic at midday yesterday after heavy fog forced their closure overnight, maritime officials said.

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Cepa II agreement signed by China, HK officials China container forum to be held in December in Beijing Coscon changes US service due to Long Beach snarl-up Largest container crane to be found in Shanghai Tianjin port September trade increases 46 per cent RR Donnelley sells shipping business Shenzhen shoe exports to Spain decrease in September Shenzhen launches new customs clearance system Shenzhen Airlines to start international flights Russian airline begins Moscow-Singapore service QantasLink to replace older planes with 717s United launches daily Chicago-Shanghai service

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MSC to offer new service between Far East and West Coast of South America Hapag-Lloyd offers EEX service connecting UK & Turkey CMA-CGM launches new intra-Asia service Hanjin Shipping amends services Change of management in Hamburg Süd's Area Med Thai charity benefits from Famous Pacific commitment Shanghai sets new box record in Sept. New director for NY/NJ Port Authority named Hanjin Shipping to expand Portland operation Yang Ming, KPA pact China Shipping's Q3 profit swells Le Havre inks pact with Riga Norasia & Hapag-Lloyd join hands to launch ABS service SCI posts handsome 162 pc rise in net profit for Q2 Shipping Ministry plans open register to attract more tonnage Cashew exports notch up robust growth Rationalise taxes and trade policies to boost liquid bulk cargoes at Mumbai Port, pleads AILBIEA Power-packed event on Port Handling Systems Forex reserves up by $ 332 million to $ 1,19,636 million Prepare sound case for retention of DEPB scheme, Fieo chief tells exporters EEPC hails RBI decision on one-year period for realising export proceeds Plan panel proposes independent authority for road sector RBI move will spur growth: IMC CII team meets its counterparts in Shanghai

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Japan: Major supplier resumes domestic bunker sales International sales still off the menu due to limited stocks of bunker fuels. Chimbusco on track for record international sales Chimbusco's international bunker sales reached record high during the first nine months of 2004, but domestic sales volumes remain much higher. Short term tightness returns to Suez Demand once again outstripping supply in Egyptian market Long-serving employee returns to O.W. Bunker Rotterdam seen firming with congestion persisting Vopak's new Rotterdam fuel oil jetty begins operations New dedicated fuel oil jetty operational this weekend as Vopak responds to Rotterdam's growing market for bunkering, export and transshipment of fuel oil. Singapore's Asian oil hub status safe "for next five years" Despite attempts by rivals such as China and Thailand to set up oil trading hubs of their own, industry experts say Singapore will retain its status for at least five years. BP awarded Indonesian oil products retail licence BP becomes the latest company to be granted an Indonesian oil products retail licence. Singapore: September bunker sales break 2 million mt Singapore sees another record breaking month as September bunker sales hit two million metric tonnes.

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Renzeberger selects PeopleNet Tanger-Mediterranean free zones sign agreement Natural opens new branch in Italy Vidale expands in Romania and Italy SAS signs space agreement with Emirates SkyCargo Grimaldi's successful 8th Euro-Med Land to Sea Convention Kenneth J. Ringler jr is new director of PANYNJ

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Broström sells older product tanker Strong feedback delays IACS common rules Seabulk orders at Labroy Essar boss predicts high freight rates to 2007-08 FEFC set for more freight rate rises

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Cruise business booming at Port of Seattle terminals Boeing holds celebration marking launch of last 757 Federal funds will rebuild bridge to Sauvie Island TSA member carriers plan freight rate increases Study finds cruise business means billions for Canadian economy

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Norden and Interorient in pool splash Danish bulk shipping group Norden is teaming up with Interorient Navigation in an ambitious new product tanker pool. Eastbound Pacific demand set to outgrow capacity as ports jam up CARGO demand on the eastbound transpacific trades is expected to grow faster than available supply of tonnage over the coming year or two as vessels are delayed by port logjams. LNG's good safety record 'faces threat' THE first-class safety record of liquefied natural gas shipping could be at risk if increased competition encourages operators to cut costs, a leading owner warns, writes Tony Gray. Green joy over ship scrap clamp ENVIRONMENTALISTS have claimed a major victory on ship dismantling, after a Basel Convention conference on Friday urged the International Maritime Organization to press on and develop mandatory shipbreaking rules, writes Hugh O'Mahony. IACS extends deadline for construction rules FOLLOWING a flood of responses from shipowners and shipbuilders who wished to comment on proposals for common construction rules for tankers and bulk carriers, the Council of the International Association of Classification Societies has agreed to extend its deadline for comments on the rules from September 30 to December 31. Numast warns Blair on threat to seafarers NUMAST leader Brian Orrell has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair, to warn of the threat posed to UK seafarers by the latest job losses at P&O Ferries and Global Marine, writes David Osler. Manson dips toe in Asian box trades A SMALL tanker owner is exploring new pastures ' Manson Shipping of Taiwan has entered the world of container feedering, launching three intra-Asia services that connect the island with the Philippines and Vietnam, writes Sam Chambers in Hong Kong.

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Norden, Interorient pool tankers DANISH operator DS Norden and Cyprus-based Interorient Navigation are to pool their tankers to create a fleet of 14 Handysize and Medium Range product tankers of 25,000-55,000dwt capacity US Shipping Partners trading begins TRADING of US Shipping Partners began in New York on Friday, with pricing initially set at $22.25 per unit Scotland simplifies port planning A change introduced into the newly published Scottish Transport Bill 2004 will simplify and expedite the port planning process Irish storm ships still in dock TWO vessels damaged during the fierce storms that hit Irish waters last week remain out of action FEFC reports on trade imbalance THE Far Eastern Freight Conference has reported that the increase in westbound trade is continuing to surge ahead of the increase in eastbound trade LA backpedals on 'green' terminal P&O Nedlloyd and environmental groups are trying to make sense of the decision by port managers at Los Angeles to become less 'green' Cochin operators revive surcharge threat IACS delays common rules End-2004 boxship charters 'covered' Steel leads breakbulk growth LASH vessels still in demand MarAd to counter security manoeuvre

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Canada-U.S. shipments get security reprieve FedEx will expand capacity to Europe Customs accepting trade symposium sign-ups ISC sees quarterly turnaround USSEC lines set rate hikes Boeing trims China jet forecast India-Europe rates going up SAS Cargo appoints N. Amer. sales manager Security concerns could hinder Korean logistics plans Customs proposes C-TPAT standards for carriers

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Beijing hunts oil opportunists China's State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) reported that a nationwide investigation has been carried out to deal with those who spread rumours on oil price rises. Capacity cuts aimed at forcing rates up says conference Member carriers of the Korea Nearsea Freight Conference (KNFC) have decided to reduce services between Korea and Japan's Hanshin from December 1 to restore freight rates. AustralAsia Railway users threaten boycott China set to sign free trade area pact with ASEAN Concor raises loaded box rates Gloves off in Botany third terminal tussle Indian exporters face losses through US congestion Vopak and Cosco Logistics create chemical transport company Gamcheon Logistics Complex expected to increase Busan's volume

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Wilhelmsen rips US security Owner says crew on car carrier Tampa mistreated in September homeland security boarding. TSA seeks higher rates Container lines seek hefty freight increases to balance rising costs and congestion on Pacific trades. NAT buys Awilco suezmax Herbjorn Hansson's Nordic American is buying ships on the back of new bank credit. Norden punts on pooling Danish shipowner takes on rival and biggest shareholder with ambitious plan to swim with Interorient Navigation. Judge throws out claim Owner loses sue and labour battle over controversial bulk carrier explosion. Standard goes for 12.5% Higher claims and investment downturn leads to another P&I club seeking a hefty increase. Greens spin "toxic ships" Environmentalists' claims ship recycling comes under Basel treaty rubbished. Livanos ups Odfjell share Greek board member Peter Livanos has secured 10,000 more "A" shares in Bergen-based Odfjell. Sohmen-Pao warns on LNG Norwegian gas player concerned that competitors are shaving rates back to the bone and endangering safety standards. Gard faces coral battle Taiwan takes P&I club to home town court in bid to win $10m of compensation for damaged reef. Great Eastern sets record Booming steel demand leads to best ever second quarter profit for Indian shipowner. Seabulk orders at Labroy Gerhard Kurz-run Florida shipowner contracts four anchor handlers at Singapore shipbuilder. Atle Jebsen declares options Norwegian owner contracts for another two Jiangdu Yahai bulker newbuildings. Panayotides steps down at Excel Founder stays as chairman but hands over president and CEO roles to Christopher Georgakis. Hapag to start Med-Asia service German owner teams up with Norasia to offer service between eastern Mediterranean and Far East. Thome teams up with Torm Ship manager and Danish owner form dedicated joint venture manning agency in the Philippines. Oil price hits Brostrom But Lennart Simonsson run shipowner looks forward to stronger final quarter freight market.

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Transpacific container lines recommend freight rate increases Asia/Europe carriers to request four rate increases in 2005 U.S./South Europe conference sets tariff rate increases ISC raises net income, welcomes arrival of "tonnage tax" Wilh. Wilhelmsen gets profit boost from ro/ro business PMSA opens office in Seattle Standard & Poor's raises NYK's long-term rating to 'BBB' UPS announces 2005 rate increases DHL breaks ground to expand hub facility in Ohio SAS partners with Emirates for Hong Kong cargo United resumes daily service between Chicago and Buenos Aires FAST lane opens at Ambassador Bridge RoadLink USA names Kellaway to head New England division FMC posts proposed NVO contract rule on Web site CITA accepts for review safeguard petitions on two China categories U.S. hand truck maker praises Commerce Department decision KOM International picks Benefield to run new Texas office Korea sets up Incheon Port Authority Hong Kong terminal to test x-ray for all containers Gioia Tauro becomes 31st operational CSI port

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NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Fjord Line choses Faroe Island flag Fjord Line prefers Faroe Island flag for its ferries when the Norwegian net wage arrangement expires at the end of ... Jebsen increases Chinese order Kristian Jebsens Rederi in Bergen has increased its order at the Chinese yard Jiangdu Yahai by another two 33,500 DWT ... North Sea strike avoided US company BJ Services and Norwegian Federation of Offshore Workers' Unions (OFS) Saturday agreed new terms and conditions and a ...