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Major soybean firm in deal with Viet port
IN a bid to meet rapidly growing demand for soybean meal worth an estimated US$1.46 billion annually within Asean, Bunge Agribusiness Singapore Pte Ltd yesterday signed a 10-year throughput agreement with Vietnam's Phu My Port.
Make ports duty-free to be competitive, M'sia urged
MALAYSIA must simplify tariffs, cut red tape and make local ports duty-free if it wants compete with major hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, a report said yesterday.
Overseas Shipholding to buy Stelmar for US$843m
OVERSEAS Shipholding Group, the largest US-based oil tanker owner, agreed to buy Stelmar Shipping for US$843 million to add smaller vessels with more stable rates.
Alaska oil spill not as large as feared

Strait Talk

Salvors need crisis management guidelines
OVER the past few weeks, International Salvage Union president Hans van Rooij has been addressing forums worldwide, hammering home the message that we need a viable global salvage industry.

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Shipping News

Major soybean firm in deal with Viet port
IN a bid to meet rapidly growing demand for soybean meal worth an estimated US$1.46 billion annually within Asean, Bunge Agribusiness Singapore Pte Ltd yesterday signed a 10-year throughput agreement with Vietnam's Phu My Port.
Make ports duty-free to be competitive, M'sia urged
MALAYSIA must simplify tariffs, cut red tape and make local ports duty-free if it wants compete with major hubs like Hong Kong and Singapore, a report said yesterday.
Overseas Shipholding to buy Stelmar for US$843m
OVERSEAS Shipholding Group, the largest US-based oil tanker owner, agreed to buy Stelmar Shipping for US$843 million to add smaller vessels with more stable rates.
Alaska oil spill not as large as feared

Strait Talk

Salvors need crisis management guidelines
OVER the past few weeks, International Salvage Union president Hans van Rooij has been addressing forums worldwide, hammering home the message that we need a viable global salvage industry.

	web site

Sars lowers HK transport sector GDP contribution in 2003 RCL, China Merchants to work together on two projects OOCL Logistics first to deliver boxes to Waigaoqiao Phase II Merged China railway bureau increases efficiency Liaoning province to spend US$6.28b on port investment P&O appoints new non-executive director Malaysian ports need to be bureaucracy free to compete: Westport chief TT recommends ways to minimise storm damage to operators Pengxiang sees foreign trade growth China Southern launches Paris service Qantas resumes Australia-China service United cuts US flights by 14pc

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Govt planning freight subsidy scheme for inland water transport Sethusamudram Canal to cut sailing time, boost coastal shipping SAFTA pact to boost Indo-Pak trade Apparel exports earn 14.42 pc more during April-Nov. 2004 Forex reserves skyrocket to $ 130.7 bn MbPT holds enlightening interactive meet with container operators Port workers' bonus issue resolved; strike averted Allcargo surges ahead with innovations to meet needs of trade Rly freight traffic exceeds target in April-Nov. Minister allays apparel exporters' fears on duty reimbursement Job terms should reflect economic status of seafarers' home country, aver Asian shipowners MICT receives 2 large quay cranes Meeting with Thai trade mission today Navnit Gandhi'professionalism personified

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
Panama 'near tank bottom' as demand surges Suppliers close to tank bottom after spike in demand and inventory stock taking prior to New Year take toll. Transport Council agrees to EU sulphur limits Latest step in legislative process to introduce tough measures on sulphur emissions in EU adopted by a 'qualified majority' of European Transport Council. Alaska: Bunker spill not as large as originally thought Coast Guard officials in Alaska have said the bunker spill which occurred from a stricken freighter in Alaskan waters is not as large as originally believed. Three partners in frame for Singapore storage deal A third company has been named in a consortium of investors to replace China Aviation Oil in storage terminal deal, including one player active in the Singapore marine fuels market. Rotterdam steady to firm late morning Two new investors to replace CAO in Horizon Terminals project ENOC subsidiary, Horizon Terminals has found two new investors to replace China Aviation Oil for its planned storage terminal on Jurong Island, Singapore.

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
Iberia launches new corporate web site IMO to take Straits initiative Palletline opens new London base Gothenburg: highland rail shuttle gets capacity boost Air France-KLM group posts positive growth rate in November Superfast Ferries opens new service New manager for Paris port authority

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
OSG to buy Stelmar Frontline says "closer integration" with Genmar "highly beneficial" IMO plans piracy seminar in Yemen as attacks continue TT club says simple measures can limit port storm damage

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
Now, the 12,000 TEU containership Dual fuel electric power for another LNG carrier

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Brussels' plan for conferences overlooks their trade benefits Shipowners have complained that the European Commission's action to end block exemption on liner conferences ignores existing treaty commitments and pays insufficient attention to economic consequences of ending liner conferences. Barroso to handle new liner bloc legislation EUROPEAN Commission president Jose Barroso will see through new EU liner shipping legislation in person, it was confirmed yesterday. Frontline declares interest in possible Genmar merger FRONTLINE has declared an interest in merging with tanker rival General Maritime, in which the John Fredriksen company has amassed a stake of more than 4%. Ship marks Japan first JAPAN has officially got in on the super post- panamax act, launching its first ever ship with 17 rows across at IHI Marine United's Kure dockyard, writes Sam Chambers in Hong Kong. ISE makes US start ANGELIKI Frangou's International Shipping Enterprises has started trading in the US after a hefty increase in the initial public offering from 17m to 28.5m unit shares, writes Nigel Lowry in Athens .

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
Mitropoulos invites EU heavyweights IMO secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos has invited three of the new European Commissioners to meet him for talks about future relations between the IMO and the EU Sherwood doubts rival's future JAMES Sherwood, CEO of Sea Containers who own Hoverspeed, has said that SpeedFerries, the new low-cost channel ferry operator, does not have a long term future Pakistan union presses for SIDs THE ITF-affiliated Pakistan Seamen's Union has called on the country's government to ratify ILO convention 185, pertaining to a seaman's identification document Union conflict at Kaliningrad STEVEDORE workers at Kaliningrad port have filed suit at the European Court of Human Rights, after losing both their jobs and their union accreditation Forth Ports invests in the Baltic UK-based Forth Ports has invested in container terminal operator running facilities in Finland and Russia B&N Nordsjofrakt, Gothon merge SHAREHOLDERS in Swedish companies B&N Nordsjofrakt and Gorthon Lines have sealed a merger unveiled in October Striking truckers blockade Cyprus ports ANZ lines announce large rate raise Australia finalises A$25Bn LNG deal Island Cruises' second on horizon Wisteria stowaway case re-opens Transmanche rues its bad luck Philippine ports on bomb alert Turkish master hit by record fine More mergers on horizon: Arntzen OSG cites reasons for raising bid

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
FMC approves NVO contract petition Federal Maritime Commission approves change that will allow NVOCCs to enter confidential contracts with shippers. U.S., Israel, Egypt in trade pact The partial free-trade agreement could be the most important economic agreement between Israel and an Arab neighbor since the Israel-Egypt peace treaty of 1979. FedEx, UPS predict strong volume U.S. checking China on intellectual property Waterways laud federal spending New CEO of DHL Asia unit Norasia opens China-Europe service New tonnage record for Panama Canal Air cargo soars at Frankfurt Airline industry may break even in 2005 Singapore Airlines expands China service Report criticizes TSA on ID card plan

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
EU 'surveillance' for China's textiles after quotas end Textile-imports to the EU will be subject to monitoring after WTO-country quotas end on January 1, in order to monitor import-volumes, but Chinese products will be subject to separate 'surveillance'. More rates rising for ANZ shippers Confirming recent forecasts by P&O Nedlloyd executives, conference groups in the Australia and New Zealand to the US, Canada and Mexico have announced a general rate increase effective January 1. Expansion of South Africa's reefer port gets green light Asian demand sees Australian exports rebound MSC re-shuffles Transpacific pendulum service CTSA lines anticipate volume growth with June PSS HMM Advance laid up by investigation and repairs Marseilles continues double-digit growth Dubai leads Middle East states in joining CSI PONL opens its own Uruguay agency

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
Tanker stocks dip again OPEC cuts seen as damper as down day follows Monday's merger-driven trading gains. Pronounced 'I Ship You' Angeliki Frangou and International Shipping Enterprises (ISHPU) have completed an IPO and have 12 months to buy some ships. OMI smiles on OSG-Stelmar One-time Stelmar suitor says deal looks good for both sides. OMI keen on more OMI Connecticut tanker owner authorised for further share buyback of 4.25m units. Question over HMM accounts Korean owner to respond to claims it may have violated accounting rules. New record for Panama Canal November becomes busiest month ever for vital Panamanian waterway. Suez Canal rates to rise Transit costs to increase by 3% with VLCC ballast voyage concessions cut. Olympic inks another Norwegian owner returns to Aker Yards for second supply ship order this month. Frontline pays $84m for bulkers Company confirms newbuild contracts ahead of tomorrow's Golden Ocean spinoff. Samsung readies monster Korean shipbuilder ready to market 12,000-teu boxship ' and plans to develop 14,000-teu giant. B&N and Gorthon tie the knot Plan to recreate Rederi AB Transatlantic is approved at general meetings of shareholders. Wartsila builds LNG business Finnish group to supply four dual-fuel engines for Gaz de France ship at Chantiers. Yang Ming bulker held Oily water separator leads to detention of YM Union in Japan during November. Profits jump at US Shipping Healthy rates plus extra tonnage help to lift profits at recently-listed US flag tanker operator. OSG facing downgrade? Moody's puts US owner on ice after Stelmar bid. IOS buys Lady Sandra Farstad arm exercises option with DOF. Belden back at Labroy Oslo-based owner has returned to Singapore shipbuilder for second 20,200-dwt cement carrier. MOL opens Indo LNG centre Japanese owner establishes seafarer centre in Jakarta concentrating on training gas carrier crews.

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
Carriers call for impact study on ending of EU conference immunity Overseas Shipholding Group acquires Stelmar for $843 million P&O Nedlloyd gets first 8,450-TEU ship IMO to hold piracy, security seminar for Suez region countries Former P&O executive Boardley joins NYK Line A.P. Moller-Maersk names Jonasen vice president Air China's IPO oversubscribed 82 times Sony turns to AN-124 to resolve logistics crisis U.S. textile importers try to block new Chinese import restrictions China promises textile tariffs; U.S. imposes new barriers U.S. farmers protest OFAC change in Cuba export payments rule Wysong named to Commerce Department export enforcement post Port group keeps focus on underfunding of port security UAE member to buy cargo-scanning systems

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DECEMBER 14, 2004
Farstad deal subject to inquiry Farstad Shipping's NOK 1.0 billion supply ship deal with Norsk Hydro will be subject to an internal inquiry after competitors ... Clipper adds the VLCC segment to its portfolio The Danish Bahamian Clipper Group has on record time added a new segment to its portfolio of ships that already ... Breakers pay for derelict ships far from yard The strong demand for scrap metal tempts breakers to buy really bad vessels around the world. The latest example is ...