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Attacks on S'pore-flagged vessels rank 2nd highest
THE latest statistics pointing to a dramatic rise in global and regional piracy have also shown Singapore-flagged vessels to suffer the second highest number of attacks, despite being only the seventh largest flag in the world.
S'pore accedes to Rome Convention to fight maritime crimes
SINGAPORE has joined 98 other countries which have already acceded to an international convention aimed at ensuring appropriate action is taken against the perpetrators of crimes at sea.
Tanker owners to post bigger Q4 profits on surging rates
OIL tanker owners such as Frontline Ltd and General Maritime Corp can be expected to report higher fourth-quarter profits after freight rates soared because of rising oil demand, transit delays and new rules that accelerated the scrapping of old ships.
Cosco Pacific expects 17% rise in throughput
CHINA-backed container leasing firm and port operator Cosco Pacific said that it expected throughput at its container terminals to rise more than 17 per cent this year after it added capacity.

Air and Land Transport

Air traffic up, rebound in business travel expected
THOUGH air traffic continues to rise, the number of commercial airliners in storage in December reached record levels, according to estimates by SpeedNews, the weekly aviation industry newsletter.
EU orders Ryanair to repay some subsidies
Thai AirAsia starts services
United's flight attendants ask court to probe benefits
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Strait Talk

Piracy undermines security code
WITH 92 seafarers and passengers confirmed killed or missing and presumed dead after pirate attacks, last year was an awful one.

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Shipping News

Attacks on S'pore-flagged vessels rank 2nd highest
THE latest statistics pointing to a dramatic rise in global and regional piracy have also shown Singapore-flagged vessels to suffer the second highest number of attacks, despite being only the seventh largest flag in the world.
S'pore accedes to Rome Convention to fight maritime crimes
SINGAPORE has joined 98 other countries which have already acceded to an international convention aimed at ensuring appropriate action is taken against the perpetrators of crimes at sea.
Tanker owners to post bigger Q4 profits on surging rates
OIL tanker owners such as Frontline Ltd and General Maritime Corp can be expected to report higher fourth-quarter profits after freight rates soared because of rising oil demand, transit delays and new rules that accelerated the scrapping of old ships.
Cosco Pacific expects 17% rise in throughput
CHINA-backed container leasing firm and port operator Cosco Pacific said that it expected throughput at its container terminals to rise more than 17 per cent this year after it added capacity.

Air and Land Transport

Air traffic up, rebound in business travel expected
THOUGH air traffic continues to rise, the number of commercial airliners in storage in December reached record levels, according to estimates by SpeedNews, the weekly aviation industry newsletter.
EU orders Ryanair to repay some subsidies
Thai AirAsia starts services
United's flight attendants ask court to probe benefits
Log Book

Strait Talk

Piracy undermines security code
WITH 92 seafarers and passengers confirmed killed or missing and presumed dead after pirate attacks, last year was an awful one.

web site

Shipping News

Attacks on S'pore-flagged vessels rank 2nd highest
THE latest statistics pointing to a dramatic rise in global and regional piracy have also shown Singapore-flagged vessels to suffer the second highest number of attacks, despite being only the seventh largest flag in the world.
S'pore accedes to Rome Convention to fight maritime crimes
SINGAPORE has joined 98 other countries which have already acceded to an international convention aimed at ensuring appropriate action is taken against the perpetrators of crimes at sea.
Tanker owners to post bigger Q4 profits on surging rates
OIL tanker owners such as Frontline Ltd and General Maritime Corp can be expected to report higher fourth-quarter profits after freight rates soared because of rising oil demand, transit delays and new rules that accelerated the scrapping of old ships.
Cosco Pacific expects 17% rise in throughput
CHINA-backed container leasing firm and port operator Cosco Pacific said that it expected throughput at its container terminals to rise more than 17 per cent this year after it added capacity.

Air and Land Transport

Air traffic up, rebound in business travel expected
THOUGH air traffic continues to rise, the number of commercial airliners in storage in December reached record levels, according to estimates by SpeedNews, the weekly aviation industry newsletter.
EU orders Ryanair to repay some subsidies
Thai AirAsia starts services
United's flight attendants ask court to probe benefits
Log Book

Strait Talk

Piracy undermines security code
WITH 92 seafarers and passengers confirmed killed or missing and presumed dead after pirate attacks, last year was an awful one.

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Carriers launch Taiwan-Middle East Service Xiamen gets green light to establish free port US customs reaps US$24 billion windfall in 2003 Dongning port doubles import and export revenue Menlo officially joins fight against terrorism Hamburg mulls port expansion to meet expected demand Famous Pacific Shipping on schedule in New Zealand Menzies to handle Philippine all-cargo airline Boeing clinches freighter deal with Nippon Cargo Airlines US Xpress reports higher revenues, earnings in Q4

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Bangladesh container main line operators form new forum Kalmar plays pivotal role in Rotterdam ECT's Delta terminal expansion MOL sails home with carrier awards Swedish supercar fast-tracks to Dubai with GAC Logistics Hamburg throughput up by 14 pc Cosco Shipping vessels pass ISPS test Panama Canal charges up P&O Nedlloyd announces vessel refinancing OOCL hits 1m TEUs through Singapore Singapore port shatters records HSL-built passenger ship sets sail Navy, Defence ministry clear CSL privatisation plan KoPT brings down pilotage, wharfage charges Govt urged to curb poor quality arecanut imports Freight forwarders concerned over new US law IA, freight operators holding negotiations on cargo transport Cargo Gear Services awarded ISO 9001:2000 certificate Revised duty drawback rates to be effective from Feb. 9 Fresh ECB norms come into force; cos can now raise $ 500 m abroad Centre prepays Rs 1,350 cr. ODA loans to Canada Cabinet restores 20 pc duty on glass shell inputs Jaswant Singh's Interim Budget stresses on consolidation & propulsion of economic growth - No new tax breaks, existing structure to continue Exim Management Institute to hold seminar on Exim policy tomorrow AIAI chief welcomes interim rly Budget Pdexcil suggests customs duty reduction on imports of raw cotton

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
Tight Gulf Coast markets firm Panama playing catch-up with Houston The Panama market has a distinctly firm feel about it today. Those at the high-end were fairly convinced that their more aggressive counterparts would be unable to sustain such a pricing strategy for very long given current resupply costs. Another indication that this might be the case can also be found in the fact that for the past week or so, prices on the canal have been carrying a lower than average premium over prices in Houston. Rotterdam's 'Bunker Captain' prepares to leave the bridge Captain Cornelius de Keijzer, bunker expert for the Port of Rotterdam, is preparing to end his 43-year career as a shipping professional. A man of many names (including amusing nicknames) and skills, Capt. de Keijzer will be difficult to replace and sorely missed. Crude rises Push Hong Kong up after soft week Bulls bully Fujairah higher Uruguay market update Rotterdam firms with crude

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
Two dead found in "Rocknes" Today, divers have found two bodies in the "Rocknes" superstructure. They were found on C-deck and the bodies have ... Coastal Express carries few passengers Passenger numbers were down 3.5 per cent on the Norwegian Coast Express service last year compared with 2002, thanks mainly ... Norden expects billion plus profit Danish Dampskibsselskabet Norden expects a DKK 1.4 billion (EUR 190 million) profit this year, excluding sale of ships, if any ... Sharp increase in Stena Line freight volumes Increased capacity and improved IT support to customers lies behind an eight per cent increase of the number of cargo ...

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
Graig eyes more Vietnam deals Norden expects bumper 2004 result ITF holding off while DIS talks continue 14 months for seafarers' ID scam UK firm fined for transporting waste

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
Senesco Marine gets order for 100,000 bbl barge Guarino & Cox designed unit for Reinauer Transportationm Abeking & Rasmussen launches SWATH 25 m vessel for German Navy Cruise bookings soar CLIA reports strong "wave" period AAPA "concerned" on port security funding Ports unhappy with FY05 budget request

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Aviation model for sea probes THE European Commission will introduce new legislation this year to bring standards in reporting maritime accidents into line with the aviation sector, according to the head of the European Maritime Safety Agency, writes Hugh O'Mahony . Inspection windfall for quality operators HIGH quality ship operators could be rewarded by a lightening of the inspections load, if a new proposal from the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control gets the go ahead. Thailand prepares for return of 1,000 banned chicken containers THAILAND'S ports and shipping lines are bracing themselves for the return of 1,000 reefer containers of banned chicken exports originally destined for the European Union and Japan. British companies miss deadline for submitting outline ISPS plans NUMEROUS British shipping companies have missed a key voluntary deadline for the submission of outline security plans, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said yesterday. Lloyd's gets tough on 'lemming culture' of reckless underwriting LLOYD'S is ready to exclude more businesses in an attempt to stamp out the "lemming culture" of cliff-edge underwriting, chairman Lord Levene has warned.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
Banks, insurers have responsibility BANKS, insurance companies and cargo owners will have a greater role to play in providing information on ships' physical condition in future, according to Carien Droppers, assistant secretary of the Paris MoU on Port State Control India to boost seafarer profile THE Indian government is considering setting up two maritime universities as part of a hugely ambitious maritime education plan Cruise lines boosted by wave season FOR the North American cruise market, early returns on this year's Wave Season reveal that "volumes are robust across the board" Court hears of Curnow kickbacks A Crown Court hearing in Bristol, UK heard yesterday how five directors of Curnow Shipping allegedly used 'kickbacks' to fund their pensions and wives salaries Bush proposes $10Bn security hike THE American Association of Port Authorities has criticised the absence of port funding in President Bush's homeland security budget for 2005 Attacks on shipping in Indonesia THERE were two attempted attacks on ships underway in Indonesian waters on 30 January, the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre reports UK rejects box port national plan Sealand Express hits gantry crane Norway upbeat on ship security Santos reinforces Latin lead No charge for security at HK Liebherr to set up in Rostock Ostend to build on bullish figures Kotug loses major tug contract Tai Ping claims battle hots up Kidnapping in Nigeria delta

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
Senate debates highway funding bill But Congress is divided on how much to pay to reauthorize highway and ground transportation construction. Ports unhappy with security grants The proposed Homeland Security budget includes $46 million for port security grants, but it's not a new pot of money for public ports. Amsterdam tops Europe airfreight hubs Leach joins The Journal of Commerce as senior editor German truck toll delayed again CSX Intermodal's fuel charge passes 4 percent Bush budget irks transport union Norfolk Southern sets UPS record New 747 expands KLM's Far East capacity CP Ships appoints director of environmental services World Airways, Menlo extend U.S.-Belgium contract Union Pacific to move Denver yard Suez terminal awards systems contract

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
Activists back New York freight tunnel project Activist groups are planning an aggressive campaign in support of the construction of a Brooklyn tunnel that would dramatically increase container traffic, and significantly reduce pollution as well. Australian maritime visitors face poultry bans Fears about the spread of Asian bird flu have led the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) to impose bans on poultry and bird-eggs carried as ships' stores on any vessel arriving from Asia. AAPA highlights lack of facility funding in defence-friendly proposed budget SBB boosts rail capacity as Swiss vote on transport infrastructure Home Depot moving forward with large Virginia facility EU's avian flu-quarantine for Thai poultry exports to continue Bremerhaven and Bremen top 3m TEU

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
BG Group upgraded on back of LNG project JP Morgan likes what it sees on Lake Charles expansion plan. Falls River opposes LNG terminal Plan by Weaver's Cove Energy gets thumbs-down from local officials. S&P threatens SK Corp with downgrade South Korean oil refiner told to abandon 'questionable' business plans. Scandlines aims higher German/Danish ferry owner increased passenger and car volumes in 2003, but wants more this year. Tanker king extends empire Watch out or John Fredriksen will be taking Aktiv steps to collect that debt. Two bodies found in Rocknes hull Difficult underwater search continues but 11 crew still to be accounted for. Norden predicts 2004 profit hike Danish owner expects this year's result to be almost four times larger as market surge continues. Strong third quarter pushes up profit at Shreyas Indian boxship owner keeps costs down as revenues boom towards year-end. Eurosib looking to expand feeder line Russian logistics group may need bigger ship for domestic and German container operations. New line planned for Estonia and Latvia Estonian port operator wants to run ship from Montu on Saaremaa island. Double trouble for Sealand Express AP Moller containership in costly crane collision only weeks after damning report. Petronet LNG IPO ready to fly India's first LNG cargo has landed but what of future gas sales. Upside to bird flu for bulkers ABF is bad news for boxships but it could mean more cargoes for bulkers says Khalid Hashim. UK holds 12 vessels in December Good Faith and Continental Ship Management ships fall foul of coastguard inspectors. New tax boosts Indian owners Shares in shipping companies rise as "cargo tax" announced by Finance Minister Jaswant Singh. Evergreen profit triples Taiwanese liner giant blows apart its own forecasts. Ukraine shakes up shiprepair sector Six Black Sea yards could be leased or merged under new government plans. Iraqi ports hit by strike Vessel movements affected as country experiences downside of newfound freedom. Baltic Magda suffers breakdown Polish tug takes Dutch-flagged multi-purpose vessel under tow off UK south coast.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2004
P&O Nedlloyd sees "no negatives" in public listing Maersk Sealand adds Muscat to U.S./Middle East/India service Bunker charges rise in several trades CP Ships appoints Fortune director of environmental services Japanese cargo airline to buy three Boeing freighters Industry associations request U.S. Customs cargo rules amendments Bush budget boosts spending for Customs programs CITA drops visa requirements for some Chinese, Mexican textiles U.S., Canada continue border security consultations Homeland Security sets meeting for Customs advisory panel USCO Logistics takes name of parent company