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Shipping News

Asia told to invest in ports to cope with trade growth
ASIA's shipping trade is expected to grow sharply led by China and India, but the region must enhance security and invest some US$27 billion to build over 430 new container berths by 2011 to meet rising demand, shippers and analysts said yesterday.
Global maritime meet here to review security
THE shipping community will take stock of security at ports and aboard ships now that the most comprehensive security code since 9/11 has been put in place.
PTP and Port Klang hope to break own volume records
MALAYSIA's two major ports, Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Port Klang, are confident of breaking their present records in handling containers this year.
Dutch yard files for claim over lost NZ job
DUTCH shipbuilder Schelde Marinebouw said it had filed a legal claim seeking to overturn the New Zealand government's decision to award Australian firm Tenix a contract to build seven new navy vessels.
Thai carrier Precious sees record earnings
PRECIOUS Shipping plc, Thailand's second-biggest sea-freight company, said its 2004 profit may rise to a record, more than its combined net income since it started operations 13 years ago, because of higher cargo rates.
153 rescued as cruise ship runs aground in Alaska
A small cruise ship catering to eco-tourists was seriously damaged after running aground in the Aleutian Islands.
Task force brings down piracy in Horn of Africa
PETER Meyer has never forgotten hearing the terrified screams over the radio from a tanker crew under attack by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

Air and Land Transport

Room for MAS to work with AirAsia
MALAYSIA's transport minister has called on Malaysia Airline to cooperate with with no-frills rival AirAsia, instead of pursuing its own plan to set up a budget operation.
BAA's Q1 profit surges 28% on long-haul, low-cost travel
Rolls Royce H1 profit rises 18% on cost cuts
Obscene T-shirt gets couple ejected from US plane
Computer glitch grounds US Airways, American flights
Japan Air fills 85% of its new premium seats

web site

Shipping News

Asia told to invest in ports to cope with trade growth
ASIA's shipping trade is expected to grow sharply led by China and India, but the region must enhance security and invest some US$27 billion to build over 430 new container berths by 2011 to meet rising demand, shippers and analysts said yesterday.
Global maritime meet here to review security
THE shipping community will take stock of security at ports and aboard ships now that the most comprehensive security code since 9/11 has been put in place.
PTP and Port Klang hope to break own volume records
MALAYSIA's two major ports, Port of Tanjung Pelepas and Port Klang, are confident of breaking their present records in handling containers this year.
Dutch yard files for claim over lost NZ job
DUTCH shipbuilder Schelde Marinebouw said it had filed a legal claim seeking to overturn the New Zealand government's decision to award Australian firm Tenix a contract to build seven new navy vessels.
Thai carrier Precious sees record earnings
PRECIOUS Shipping plc, Thailand's second-biggest sea-freight company, said its 2004 profit may rise to a record, more than its combined net income since it started operations 13 years ago, because of higher cargo rates.
153 rescued as cruise ship runs aground in Alaska
A small cruise ship catering to eco-tourists was seriously damaged after running aground in the Aleutian Islands.
Task force brings down piracy in Horn of Africa
PETER Meyer has never forgotten hearing the terrified screams over the radio from a tanker crew under attack by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

Air and Land Transport

Room for MAS to work with AirAsia
MALAYSIA's transport minister has called on Malaysia Airline to cooperate with with no-frills rival AirAsia, instead of pursuing its own plan to set up a budget operation.
BAA's Q1 profit surges 28% on long-haul, low-cost travel
Rolls Royce H1 profit rises 18% on cost cuts
Obscene T-shirt gets couple ejected from US plane
Computer glitch grounds US Airways, American flights
Japan Air fills 85% of its new premium seats

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Demand for Jiaxing-Shanghai feeder service rises Reynold Express granted Class-A licence in China NYK Logistics signs first lease in Italy with ProLogis Zhuhai bonded area attracts 60 logistics companies China United Tally and Dalian Port form JV company Exel sees H1 improvements Rickmers appoints new agent in Canada Castro promoted to CFO of Columbia Group of Companies SIA flys back into the black in Q1 Air Canada signs deal with Volga-Dnepr Pilot Air Freight posts Q2 record revenue

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NOL Group celebrates 35 years Brunei move to build new box terminal OOCL Australia achieves ISO 9001:2000 certification New MOL chief to steer company forward Malaysia, Bangladesh accord Bangla-Myanmar coastal shipping pact K&N's half-year profit up Shipping magnate dies Simatech Shipping continuing operations to Umm Qasr port Port congestions may limit growth of liner shipping SKS (Ship) Ltd. profit soars by 63 pc India, Thailand FTA to come into force from Sept. 1 Reliance, Adani Exports emerge top exporters in 2003-04 Dumping duty imposed on nylon tyre cord fabric imported from China Major Port Trusts want to collect VRCs in convertible forex DLB workers resume duty at VPT Transworld Shipping bags coveted ISO 9001:2000 certification Konkan Railway wants to extend ro-ro service Sparing railways from service tax levy irks road transporters Forex reserves up by $ 328 million to cross $ 121-billion mark I-T Dept to look into tax sops granted to exporters Forex reserves fall by over $ 1.5 bn ICT show in Chennai from Sept. 22

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Texas: Fuel oil spill following bunkering incident Ship's hull pierced by fuel barge during bunkering. Gibraltar buyers back off from bullish numbers Cape Town: First IFO sold out, new batch possible The first fuel oil to arrive in Cape Town for weeks is fully committed, but traders hope another batch of product will arrive shortly. Fuel oil spill on Mississippi after collision Singapore sales down in June, year-on-year still strong Annual sales figures look strong despite weaker monthly result, especially for 'other' grades. Rotterdam remains firm amid tight barging "Risk factor" could push crude over $44

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Fleetmaster in three new variations EUR 22 billion for TEN, Galileo and Marco Polo Gimax International - new headquarters, higher turnover CSXT completes major rail enhancements PIA and Thai take code-share and harmonisation measures WAL withdraws from Europe-West Africa trades SDV Logistique Internationale - Asia-Pacific region re-organised

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AUGUST 2, 2004
UK to call for increased bridge manning "Nightmare scenario" at congested European ports CMB "heading for record year" Buoyant markets lift "K" Line

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Port of Portland sets record for total tonnage in fiscal year US rail freight totals have good week across board Educational boat cruise set for Bellingham Bay Corps finds reporting error in Bonneville Dam flow levels Free ferry service resumes serving downtown Portland

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Brent prices ease as Russian supply fears ebb BRENT oil prices eased off 14 year highs yesterday as US oil prices stormed to new record peaks of $44 a barrel on the back of fresh security alerts before also receding. Underwriters adopt flexible Olympic stance A MASSIVE security build-up at the port of Piraeus for the Olympic Games has allowed underwriters leeway to be flexible in writing terrorism cover for the 'floating hotels' that will moor there. TUI at mercy of share movements GERMAN tourism and logistics group TUI finds itself suddenly in the middle of share movements which could either herald a takeover bid or a concerted attack by hedge funds, betting on a further drop in the share price. Spain adds ABS subsidiaries to Prestige negligence suit THE Spanish government has claimed that ABS had ample warning of structural problems on the Prestigebefore its loss in November 2002, citing surveys a subsidiary performed on two sisterships, and a faxed letter from a former master expressing concerns over the tanker's structural integrity. Rates squeeze on Belgian blast ENERGY insurance markets are likely to remain under downward pressure despite the latest prospective loss from a blast involving a Belgian natural gas pipeline, writes James Brewer.

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Hapag parent takeover moves MORGAN Stanley, the US based investment bank, has doubled to 10% its stake in Hapag Lloyd parent company TUI, according to media reports Two 'abandon ships' in one week IT was a poor week for small-ship Alaskan cruising, as passengers aboard a second vessel - the Clipper Odyssey - were forced to abandon ship Teconvi invests to cut congestion BRAZILIAN private container terminal operator Teconvi is increasing capacity at its Itajai base with a R$150M ($50M) cash injection Severstaltrans denies Busan rumour RUSSIAN transport and logistics group Severstaltrans today denied any plans for investment in the South Korean port of Busan that was reported by Fairplay last week Russian port privatisation unclear THE Russian government's plan to privatise state shareholdings in several ports next year was tabled at a cabinet meeting last week Mississippi clean-up continues THE US Coast Guard is continuing its investigation today after a collision late last week on the Mississippi River between a tanker and a tug Holland looks to Holland Southern Moana still aground Dredging invited in Argentina Israel strike hitting trade IPBCC lines raise westbound rates

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Revamp Asia-U.S. all-water services Grand Alliance moves to give Savannah, Norfolk and New York-New Jersey a boost during peak shipping season. Framework for WTO trade pact Negotiations for global trade agreement back on track as nations agree on framework for agriculture subsidies, other issues. FedEx adding HK-Incheon flights Buying spurs Hapag Lloyd takeover talk DHL sees rise in Asia-Pacific market share "K" Line raises forecast Panama Canal boxes surge CSX arranges line of credit with minority banks Cost cuts improve TPG earnings India port bars iron, steel scrap DHL eyeing Manila airport ecozone: Report China airport ready to challenge Hong Kong

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Stranded containers add to Brazilian box shortages A growing crisis linked to the shortage of containers in Brazil has been intensified by delays in the clearance of more than 3,000 containers stranded due to unpaid import duties. French line steps up Zeebrugge interest CMA CGM is negotiating the acquisition of the Flanders Container Terminal (FCT) in Zeebrugge from the local port authority MBZ. HK Government vows to enhance competitiveness Vancouver struggles to handle soaring volumes Adelaide next in line for container X-ray Korean port safety proves satisfactory Auckland steady, Wellington up in mixed year for NZ ports Affimet secures transport through Freight Traders' first tender Teconvi announces expansion plans Correction: Better Hong Kong Foundation

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Valdez tanker tax found illegal Polar Tankers, others could see millions in refunds under judge's ruling. US cashes its chips in Green Energy calls for bids from US shipyards for three panamax woodchip carriers as demand for renewable energy rises. Coast Guard closes Texas river Vessel backlog begins as crews clean spill from gored Torm tanker. Suez numbers grow More ships, more money and more cargo at Egyptian canal. Nervous New York Tanker stocks mixed as terror threats send broader market sliding. EU ports crisis Geest Line warns of "chaos" and rising charges as Europe's terminals fill with Chinese imports. Torm tanker hit by barge Oil spill in Texas after laden tanker's fuel tanks are punctured by collision during refuelling. Solstad orders with SBM Norwegian owner to build construction vessel at Ulstein Verft with IHC Caland unit as a partner. Cruiseship hits rock Over 150 passengers and crew forced to abandon Clipper Odyssey after grounding in Aleutian Islands causes 'substantial damage'. Rising Star Norwegian reefer owner survives higher costs to boost first-half profit as demand remained strong. Hornbeck builds barge backlog US owner takes up option for third double-hulled vessel with the Manitowoc group. THI lowers sights Tsuneishi's Philippines yard cuts production target for next year because of steel shortage. ADSB back in black Abu Dhabi yard returns to profit in first half and builds healthy orderbook. Mississippi hit by oil spill American Eagle Tankers aframax spills 50 barrels of HFO after colliding with tug off New Orleans. CMB aims for record Belgian parent of Euronav and Bocimar posts big first-half profit as it heads for best-ever year. SKL seals Indonesian coal deal Sembawang Kimtrans secures potential five-year deal to haul coal for West Java power station.

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AUGUST 2, 2004
"K" Line increases its profit forecast Lloyd Triestino joins new transpacific link Europe/India carriers raise rates MOL sets up owned agency in New Zealand Rickmers names Nortec Canadian agent Coast Guard investigates oil spill on Mississippi River Norfolk Southern picks TNT Logistics to operate vehicle facility WTO inks trade agreement framework, starts trade facilitation U.S. Customs to importers: hold off filing AGOA acceleration claims USTR sets sugar quotas for Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2005 USTDA to support port security initiatives in APEC China Shipping invests in new Lianyungang container terminal Algeciras on board with U.S. Customs' CSI

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AUGUST 2, 2004
Polish Mate fined for the guilt of collision The District Court of Rønne at the Isle of Bornholm has fined the mate on the Polish container vessel "Gdynia ... Schooner salvaged and the cause of sinking easily found The ill-fated Danish schooner "Martha" has been salvaged from the position some 15 miles Northwest of Grenaa, where she ... Damaging rig strike continues The four-week long strike of Norwegian oil workers employed on a number of rigs on the Norwegian Continental Shelf ...