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Shipping News

Panama picks S'pore firm to okay ship security
A Singapore company has been appointed as one of only three designated to approve ship security plans under new international laws for the Panama Maritime Authority, the operator of the world's largest ship registry.
HK govt proposes building box terminals, cargo centre
HONG Kong's government will recommend building more container terminals together with a cargo distribution centre on Lantau, where the international airport and the under-construction Disneyland are located.
Nearly a third of ship crew enter Australia unchecked
AUSTRALIA's port security is expected to be further tightened after a government inquiry revealed that almost one third of all ship crew entered the nation without a passport check, and that less than 4 per cent of containers are X-rayed.
Shenzhen, Shanghai are 2003's third and fourth busiest ports
PROPELLED by growth in mainland China's seaborne trade, container traffic at ports in both Shanghai and Shenzhen surpassed South Korea's Pusan to become the world's third and fourth busiest in 2003.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus faces challenge of falling US dollar
GLOBAL leader in the US$50 billion commercial aircraft industry Airbus is faced with the danger of its future profitability being eroded by the falling US currency against the euro.
SriLankan Air to fly to Beijing and woo tourists
Lufthansa, SIA end trans-Atlantic codeshare
Moves towards global biometric ID standard
Dutch pilots oppose armed air marshals plan
Ryanair's passenger count rises 53%

Admiralty Casebook

Indian insurer must abide by London arbitration clause
THE English Commercial Court last month decided that an Indian insurer was bound by a London arbitration clause in a contract between a P&I Club and its member even though it was not a party to that contract.

web site

Shipping News

Panama picks S'pore firm to okay ship security
A Singapore company has been appointed as one of only three designated to approve ship security plans under new international laws for the Panama Maritime Authority, the operator of the world's largest ship registry.
HK govt proposes building box terminals, cargo centre
HONG Kong's government will recommend building more container terminals together with a cargo distribution centre on Lantau, where the international airport and the under-construction Disneyland are located.
Nearly a third of ship crew enter Australia unchecked
AUSTRALIA's port security is expected to be further tightened after a government inquiry revealed that almost one third of all ship crew entered the nation without a passport check, and that less than 4 per cent of containers are X-rayed.
Shenzhen, Shanghai are 2003's third and fourth busiest ports
PROPELLED by growth in mainland China's seaborne trade, container traffic at ports in both Shanghai and Shenzhen surpassed South Korea's Pusan to become the world's third and fourth busiest in 2003.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus faces challenge of falling US dollar
GLOBAL leader in the US$50 billion commercial aircraft industry Airbus is faced with the danger of its future profitability being eroded by the falling US currency against the euro.
SriLankan Air to fly to Beijing and woo tourists
Lufthansa, SIA end trans-Atlantic codeshare
Moves towards global biometric ID standard
Dutch pilots oppose armed air marshals plan
Ryanair's passenger count rises 53%

Admiralty Casebook

Indian insurer must abide by London arbitration clause
THE English Commercial Court last month decided that an Indian insurer was bound by a London arbitration clause in a contract between a P&I Club and its member even though it was not a party to that contract.

web site

Shipping News

Panama picks S'pore firm to okay ship security
A Singapore company has been appointed as one of only three designated to approve ship security plans under new international laws for the Panama Maritime Authority, the operator of the world's largest ship registry.
HK govt proposes building box terminals, cargo centre
HONG Kong's government will recommend building more container terminals together with a cargo distribution centre on Lantau, where the international airport and the under-construction Disneyland are located.
Nearly a third of ship crew enter Australia unchecked
AUSTRALIA's port security is expected to be further tightened after a government inquiry revealed that almost one third of all ship crew entered the nation without a passport check, and that less than 4 per cent of containers are X-rayed.
Shenzhen, Shanghai are 2003's third and fourth busiest ports
PROPELLED by growth in mainland China's seaborne trade, container traffic at ports in both Shanghai and Shenzhen surpassed South Korea's Pusan to become the world's third and fourth busiest in 2003.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus faces challenge of falling US dollar
GLOBAL leader in the US$50 billion commercial aircraft industry Airbus is faced with the danger of its future profitability being eroded by the falling US currency against the euro.
SriLankan Air to fly to Beijing and woo tourists
Lufthansa, SIA end trans-Atlantic codeshare
Moves towards global biometric ID standard
Dutch pilots oppose armed air marshals plan
Ryanair's passenger count rises 53%

Admiralty Casebook

Indian insurer must abide by London arbitration clause
THE English Commercial Court last month decided that an Indian insurer was bound by a London arbitration clause in a contract between a P&I Club and its member even though it was not a party to that contract.

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First Sino-foreign towing company launched February date for vessel traffic symposium Second dredging phase begins for Changjiang river Singapore stays at top of pile NYK maps out fleet expansion plan Poundstretcher sees value in Maersk Logistics New Boeing 7E7 bellies to be freight based Northwest to fly Portland to Tokyo non-stop Pacer files equity statement

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Transchart should continue to charter vessels for oil companies: INSA ISPS code may be implemented ahead of deadline GE Shipping acquires india's third platform supply vessel Imports of 300 sensitive items rise by 52 pc Garments exports to quota-restricted nations surge Sesame seeds exports surge with Chinese demand Concor commissions Kakkanad CFS Dilipkumar Gandhi inaugurates silver jubilee celebrations of Tuticorin Port Trust Union Cabinet approves Central legislation for SEZs Steel customs duty may be cut More duty relief likely on life-saving drugs 12 pc export target may prove to be elusive: NCAER RBI upbeat about achieving 7 pc GDP growth rate Fieo, Dhaka Chamber to form trade disputes redressal body

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JANUARY 8, 2004
US West Coast firm with muted demand (& tight avails?) Ports on the US West Coast have been firming for a week now based on tight avails and Monday's crude rally. Suppliers we spoke to today though all seemed to believe that they were the only one in the market while others were left without product. ARA: Europe's biggest ports to expand Brazilian market update ARA region: Delivered prices moving back to conventional premium Following Monday's massive price hike, suppliers in the region have been able to offer bunkers at and below those numbers seen in the trade markets. Now though, delivered premiums seem to be creeping back to conventional levels. Annual Chinese fuel oil imports sharply higher New board and president for Turkish Bunker Association The Turkish Bunker Association (TBA) has recently chosen a new board of directors for 2004 and 2005, including a new president. Bullish flavour as the Chinese year nears its end Market roundup from Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Singapore bullish despite residual stock build Fuel oil saw only moderate gains this week even as prices surged in Europe, but today the market appeared to be playing catch-up as fuel oil swaps rose sharply, despite a big rise in residual fuel stocks. Rotterdam firm with barges High but relatively trouble free Italy

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Airport concessions Universal Express acquires Bags To Go Eurokai's Hannibal SpA launches transalpine container service Mozambique's airline launches direct intra African services Penavico and Wallem sign JV Agreement for agency in Shanghai AEA selects Vagn Soerensen as Chairman for 2004

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JANUARY 8, 2004
Ice Reefers declared bankrupt DCT Gdansk gains Polish Treasury approval to commence construction Terrorists eyes shipping when air security tigthens

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JANUARY 8, 2004
P&I Clubs get lower credit ratings US-Libya wheat export hopes on hold Asia boosts NY & NJ volumes US firm launches anti-collision sonar

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JANUARY 8, 2004
VT Halter Marine makes first 2004 delivery 220 ft DPS-1 OSV for Seacor MARAD plans meetings on National Defense Tank Vessel Product tanker RFP in works

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JANUARY 8, 2004
Schnitzer Steel sees big gains during first fiscal quarter Cathay Pacific Airways to convert 747-400s to freighters Port Angeles ship repair firm works on over 20 vessels in 2003 Northwest Airlines to offer Portland to Tokyo flights Electronic seals test finds security benefits on horizon

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Queen names Cunard's crowning glory QM2 SOME 35 years after performing the launching ceremony for the Queen Elizabeth 2 on September 20, 1967, the Queen was in Southampton again yesterday to name Cunard's latest illustrious North Atlantic cruiseship, the Queen Mary 2 . She is pictured above being greeted by the QM2's master Captain Ronald Warwick. Worldscale currency mistake sparks off rates panic BROKERS, shipowners and tanker charterers are frantically reviewing their 2004 tanker fixtures after the non-profit organisation Worldscale Association admitted to a series of calculation errors caused by a faulty computer programme. Erika magistrate calls for arrest of Vassallo THE French magistrate conducting the investigation into the Erika disaster is seeking to obtain an international warrant for the arrest of the executive director of the Malta Maritime Authority, Lino Vassallo. Royal Olympic in talks with lenders to find $250m debt crisis lifeline ROYAL Olympic Cruises is in "substantive" negotiations with principal lenders to ease its $250m debt crisis. Lloyd's List Annual Review 2003 AS 2003 dawned on a markedly uncertain world, the cold light of January revealed a climate which did not seem propitious for maritime industry growth.

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JANUARY 8, 2004
France attempts Erika arrest IN a dramatic twist to the ongoing investigations into the sinking of the Maltese tanker Erika, a French magistrate is expected to issue an international arrest warrant against the head of the Maltese flag administration Plate-Paraná toll hike extended LAST year's much criticised toll hike on foreign-flagged ships transiting the Plate-Paran' waterway has been extended to 31 December, 2004 but is open to revision WA ports upgrade security WESTERN Australia premier Geoff Gallop has announced a A$6.1M ($4.7M) security upgrade to protect the state's ports Olympia Countess arrested ROYAL Olympic Cruise's Olympia Countess was placed under arrest on arrival in Durban this morning with separate arrest orders being served Izar agrees to crunch talks MOVES to bring thousands of temporary job cuts at Spanish shipyard Izar were blocked by Spanish unions after it agreed to 'decisive' talks EC confirms Kvaerner plan leak THE European Commission has confirmed that a proposal to reclaim €61M ($76.9M) from Norwegian shipbuilding group Aker Kvaerner, is currently being considered Aker sits tight for EC decision India clarifies overage tanker rule Zim workers agree to Ofer terms Aus livestock trade faces overhaul France starts motorway construction Asia launches accident website Inchon-Weihai box service resumes COSCO to deploy larger ships to US

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JANUARY 8, 2004
Feds won't rule in chassis case Federal trucking watchdog abandons effort to assign responsibility for intermodal chassis and trailer safety. Surprise! Hong Kong to add terminals World's largest box handler unveils plans for more berths despite what trade says is ample capacity. Marad: E-seals need standards Agency points to public-private initiative to create standards for electronic container seals. FBI offers reward in ricin threat probe Bangladesh dumps pre-ship inspection Houston port authority settles pesticide lawsuit Tibbett & Britten cleans U.S. house 3PL: How to manage costs of new truck HOS rules Cargolux adds Kinshasa service Military Sealift Command charters catamarans Exel expands S. America services Gain for BA cargo; KLM flat

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JANUARY 8, 2004
Westgate Ports gets Victoria Dock nod The Port of Melbourne Corporation (POMC) has selected Westgate Ports as the preferred bidder for the proposed redevelopment of Victoria Dock into a multi-purpose berth, logistics and distripark complex. Anti-monopoly charges brought against Hutchison Indonesian shareholding terminals Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) and Koja Container Terminal - both with substantial Hutchison Whampoa stakeholdings - have been asked to 'terminate their operations' by Indonesia's anti-monopoly agency, on competition grounds. Efficiency measures at St Petersburg terminal blamed for throughput dip Maputo dredge opens way for bigger ships Three lines launch Med/S.America service Long Beach and LA record November volume boom Inchon/Weihai container service to be resumed Washington ports hit security plan deadline Roelf de Boer confirmed as new Rotterdam industry-port association chairman Sindamar president retires

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JANUARY 8, 2004
Mad cow scare hits US exports Thousands of containers carrying hides delayed in the Pacific Northwest. First Ship Lease secures mezzanine funds Schoeller-backed finance company formally open for business with new $100m facility. Genmar clinches deal with Shell US tanker company signs new COA for western business. Asset sales send Skaugen soaring Owner says Teekay and Maersk alliances put its business units in top spot. DNV looks east Norwegian and Russian class societies in co-operation deal. Royal Olympic ship arrested in Durban Olympia Countess arrested Thursday on arrival in South Africa. Curnow fraud trial postponed Judge's absence puts back UK case involving company that operated mail ship to St Helena. Hong Kong holds Wan Hai and MOL ships Two boxships on the list of eight vessels detained after safety checks during December. Tanker Pacific snaps up two VLCCs Ofer finally concludes off-market deals on 11- and 14-year old tankers. Two men rescued after ship sinks in China Crew fished out of Shanghai river after freighter and oil tanker collide. Cosco to beef up US box trade Chinese owner to add bigger vessels in Pacific following US-China pact on shipping. Aussies hold Frontline OBO Rare detention for Fredriksen ship as faulty oil pollution prevention gear trips up owners. Wallem targets China agency business Hong Kong shipping services firm ties up with China Ocean Shipping Agency to target ports. Vela renews with Barwil Saudi Arabian giant extends US Gulf tanker handling account for another three years.

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JANUARY 8, 2004
MarAd-backed report finds "no suitable" e-seal for container standard IMO names Sekimizu, Sainlos as division directors U.S./Venezuela/Brazil carriers restate space-charter pact U.S. picks firms to study anti-missile defenses for airliners TMM found in contempt of court in KCS dispute Railroad receives $233 Million loan for infrastructure upgrades in North Central States Canadian National names Waite for intermodal post GeoLogistics obtains class A forwarder's license in China Management Dynamics appoints Cooke sales vice president FreightForward Europe renamed FreightForward International Shake-up at Tibbett & Britten's U.S. unit Mad cow case reinvigorates origin labeling drive for ag products FMC motions to dismiss San Diego port complaint against PMA