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Storm cripples NCL ship at German yard
STAR Cruises' US subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Lines suffered another blow on Wednesday, when its Pride of America cruise ship partially sank during a severe storm at a German shipyard.
Los Angeles port traffic increases
THE Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach have recorded an overall increase in commercial vessels arrival last year, reversing a decline in 2002.

Air and Land Transport

Thailand mulls raising airlines' minimum capital
THAILAND's transport ministry is considering raising the minimum registered capital requirement for airline companies from 50 million baht to 300-500 million baht, a report said yesterday.
Malaysia Airlines to start Internet booking
France to seek tour-flight info after Egyptian crash
Aussie north-south railway seen as trade bridge to Asia
Iran plane makes emergency landing in China
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Admiralty Casebook

Collision caused by watchkeepers failing to observe safety rules
THE issue of bridge watchkeepers not acting in accordance with the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea 1972 has emerged again in Australia, following a report into yet another collision between a merchant ship and a fishing vessel.

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Shipping News

Storm cripples NCL ship at German yard
STAR Cruises' US subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Lines suffered another blow on Wednesday, when its Pride of America cruise ship partially sank during a severe storm at a German shipyard.
Los Angeles port traffic increases
THE Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach have recorded an overall increase in commercial vessels arrival last year, reversing a decline in 2002.

Air and Land Transport

Thailand mulls raising airlines' minimum capital
THAILAND's transport ministry is considering raising the minimum registered capital requirement for airline companies from 50 million baht to 300-500 million baht, a report said yesterday.
Malaysia Airlines to start Internet booking
France to seek tour-flight info after Egyptian crash
Aussie north-south railway seen as trade bridge to Asia
Iran plane makes emergency landing in China
LOG Book

Admiralty Casebook

Collision caused by watchkeepers failing to observe safety rules
THE issue of bridge watchkeepers not acting in accordance with the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea 1972 has emerged again in Australia, following a report into yet another collision between a merchant ship and a fishing vessel.

web site

Shipping News

Storm cripples NCL ship at German yard
STAR Cruises' US subsidiary Norwegian Cruise Lines suffered another blow on Wednesday, when its Pride of America cruise ship partially sank during a severe storm at a German shipyard.
Los Angeles port traffic increases
THE Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach have recorded an overall increase in commercial vessels arrival last year, reversing a decline in 2002.

Air and Land Transport

Thailand mulls raising airlines' minimum capital
THAILAND's transport ministry is considering raising the minimum registered capital requirement for airline companies from 50 million baht to 300-500 million baht, a report said yesterday.
Malaysia Airlines to start Internet booking
France to seek tour-flight info after Egyptian crash
Aussie north-south railway seen as trade bridge to Asia
Iran plane makes emergency landing in China
LOG Book

Admiralty Casebook

Collision caused by watchkeepers failing to observe safety rules
THE issue of bridge watchkeepers not acting in accordance with the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea 1972 has emerged again in Australia, following a report into yet another collision between a merchant ship and a fishing vessel.

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Mixed reaction to call for new container terminal on Lantau China grants Geologistics Class A forwarder's licence PTP remains top Malaysian terminal with 5.3m TEU throughput in 2003 Sri Lanka upgrades IT at Colombo GeoLogistics appoints Alex Leivici as Americas CEO Changi cargo tonnage dips as passenger numbers dive Dragonair appoints new cargo GSA for France Cargolux adds fourth weekly flight to Istanbul Panalpina ships relief goods to Iran earthquake disaster area

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Gems & jewellery exports in 2003 post 22 pc growth Exports of groundnut oil in Nov.-Dec. 2003 total 29,000 tonnes Plant quarantine rules upset pulses importers No move to ban onion export China levies anti-dumping duty on flat steel products imports - Indian product spared $ 4 bn earmarked for Colombo Port expansion New Mangalore Port Trust may develop LNG terminal ICD-Surajpur at Greater Noida commences operations - 1st lot of export boxes flagged off to NSICT Withholding tax hindering benefits of ECBs, feels shipping industry 'Hamara Bajaj', Kinetic & TVS may roar on Pak roads soon Uttaranchal invites investments Mini-Budget sops will enhance India's competitiveness, says AIAI chief Manufacturing sector growth pushes up IIP to 7.4 pc in November 2003 Sea King Infrastructure-led group bags Navi Mumbai SEZ project Fieo signs MoU with Kazakhstan chamber India, China to dominate global economies soon, predict UK editors No Economic Survey this time

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Fog disrupts Houston Ship Channel traffic Winter oil rally not over yet? After a brief respite from the oil price rally led by frigid weather and low crude stocks in the US, the heat was on again today with crude prices gaining more than 60 cents per barrel at one stage. However there are signs that traders are weary of both overdoing the rally and of overselling too quickly, with prices easing later in the day to even move into negative territory. Soft ARA markets seem trouble-free NESA welcomes head of bunker and cargo trading Japanese avails great - if you can afford them Singapore resumes upward trend after one-day dip Bunker prices in Singapore resumed their upwards momentum today, recouping yesterday's losses. With barges now reported tight until after the Chinese New Year holiday and crude rallying again this Thursday, there looks like there is no let-up to be had from the firm trend in Singapore this side of the holiday. Italian customs strike will cause slight disruption First firm offers in Falmouth Tramp Oil and Marine have started to offer their first firm numbers in the port of Falmouth and told Bunkerworld today that they already have their first orders in place. Singapore residual stocks high, distillates low Singapore's stocks of residual fuels rose to above 11 million barrels in the week to yesterday, while stocks of middle distillates fell sharply to a 5-week low. Rotterdam opens lower in quiet market

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JANUARY 15, 2004
The 2004 2nd Pan-African Intermodal Conference SAP launches RFID software package EU Commission to file a complaint against the Netherlands Tibbett & Britten helps PZ Cussons make a clean sweep of its UK logistics Ökombi fears drop in ro/mo trade due to ending of eco-points system Martinair Cargo names Airnautic as "GSA of the year" Beibu Gulf Towing Company starts operation Canadian National Railways names IMX Vice President

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JANUARY 15, 2004
More political support for maritime Norway All time high for Broström share DFDS secures big paper contract with Stora Enso Large gross increase in the Swedish fleet

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Cruise ship newbuilding floods Former shipping tycoon Naess dies while climbing EMMF shuffles staff Libya imposes restrictions on older tankers APL, PIL and Zim in Oz-Asia service talks Star sells Capricorn Mitropoulos seeks to build bridges with Brussels

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Rowan reports increased offshore rig utilization ...and manufacturing backlog is up, too. Star sells Superstar Capricorn Part of Asian fleet rejuvenation plan Move to cut shipbuilder's risk insurance claims Salvage Association surveys support new warranty clause in policies Masa-Yards names new CEO It's Finnyards' Yrjo Julin.

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Port of Portland will deliver transportation improvement plan Southern California Marine Exchange finds LA/LB vessel arrivals heading up Crowley presents scholarships to University of Washington students Tacoma Port Commission names Clare Petrich president New NCL cruise ship sinks at German shipyard

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Mitropoulos to lay down law on IMO in Brussels New International Maritime Organisation secretary general Efthimios Mitropoulos has determined to take up where predecessor William O'Neil left off in aiming to keep the European Commission from forcing the pace of regulatory change and head off the threat of regionalism. Teekay swoops for six more tankers from Asian yards TEEKAY Shipping has ordered six aframax tankers from South Korean and Japanese yards in two deals worth $260m, writes Tony Gray. Sale of state stake unleashes Zim Israel expansion potential LINER shipping has a new force to be reckoned with as Zim Israel Navigation Co escapes the clutches of government for the freewheeling world of the Ofer family. Tordenskjold fleet close to being sold LIQUIDATORS of the bankrupt Bergen cement carrier Tordenskjold yesterday indicated that they were close to finalising a deal to sell off the majority of the troubled operator's fleet. Royal Olympic hints at solution to debt crisis ROYAL Olympic Cruise Lines said yesterday that it had taken a "major step forward in resolving the present impasse" facing the company, but details of how exactly the $250m debt crisis was being resolved remained thin.

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Pride pods might need replacing SOURCES within Bremerhaven ship repair and conversion specialist Lloyd Werft have revealed to Fairplay that the two podded propulsion units fitted to NCL's Pride of America have been damaged by ingress of water Wind farms 'endanger shipping' THE UK's Chamber of Shipping is claiming that lack of consultation over location of offshore wind farms could endanger merchant shipping Brasilia funds Rio's QM2 dredging BRAZIL'S federal government has intervened to fund a $540,000 dredging project at Rio de Janeiro to enable the port to accommodate the world's largest cruise liner Bosporus delay 'wildly exaggerated' RUSSIAN sources claimed today that reports of Black Sea oil shipping delays and tanker traffic jams at the Bosporus strait have been wildly exaggerated A&P eyes troubled French repairer SOURCES in Le Havre suggest that UK repair group A&P would be interested in taking over troubled Le Havre-based repairer yard SORENI Australia targets 1 March deadline AUSTRALIA'S ship owners should be in a position to submit ISPS Code ship security plans by 1 March, but some ports and port facilities may miss the deadline QM2 arrival behind screening call Mansoor challenges PNSC conviction Cruise lines drop EU-member Malta Rivals link up to serve Morocco HAL's Noordam goes to Thomson French strike over new register Spanish snap up SuperStar Capricorn Crew chases pirates away Smit wins Pride salvage contract Malaysians move on trade agreement

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Houston wants intermodal rail upgrade Port is seeking $3 billion in federal highway funds to consolidate 11 railroad lines into three intermodal corridors. Big Sugar sours on CAFTA deal U.S. industry tells Bush administration it would "strongly" oppose passage of the free-trade pact unless concessions on sugar are withdrawn. Alliance trims Asia-East Coast capacity EU moves closer to sanctions on U.S. exports Coast Guard gets more port security plans Port of Portland revises transportation plan Forwarder network opens China division Indian shipping tonnage up 7.6 percent Exel acquires Pharma healthcare network Trade praises U.S. call for more Doha talks MTS study urges DOT leadership

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Major Hyundai Group shareholder sues HMM over 'accounting irregularities' Hyundai Group major shareholder, Kumgang Korea Chemical Corporation (KCC), has filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), alleging account-book manipulation, and reigniting the question of Hyundai Group management control. Maersk Sealand revamps USEC-Mid-East service All water Asian cargo has become a permanent fixture at US East Coast ports Weak dollar may even US import-export imbalance, but lines pay the costs US Lines sets up own agency Duplicate Hong Kong/Yantian calls dropped to speed AWE-3 service Tugs fail to free Cala Panama

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JANUARY 15, 2004
Lighter mood for Teekay Company shares crack $60 after SPT charters create a new look in US Gulf. German banks get two Royal Olympic ships Troubled cruise line agrees to give up Olympia Voyager, Olympia Explorer for auction. Another ferry tragedy? Family of missing actor fears he jumped from Staten Island vessel. Boxships went with a bang in 2003 Broker Howe Robinson says it's time to make hay while the sun shines. Oil hot, US not Crude hits 10-month highs as frigid US sees new inventory lows. Ferry newbuilding grounds in Faroes Smyril Lines ship stranded in Torshaven. Teekay inks in six aframax newbuildings But has to be content with 2007 and 2008 delivery positions. Masa-Yards gets new chief Finnyards' chief Yrjo Julin to pave way for Aker Kvaerner yard mergers. Ferry sale trims Minoan debt Caronte Shipping's purchase of Prometheus allows Greek owner to reduce borrowings by EUR 50m. ABS strengthens survey team US class society appoints three regional chiefs to oversee field staff. Star sells SuperStar Capricorn Spanish operator acquires thirty-year-old cruise ship as Malaysian owner continues with fleet rejuvenation. Japan holds 44 vessels in December Port state checks haul in Evergreen and China Shipping boxships. Mitropoulos on De Palacio charm offensive New IMO head and EC Transport chief to hook up next week. Samsung profit climbs But Korean yard axes 2004 vessel order target as it gets stuck in to contract backlog. Estonian ferry tender in doubt Government may scrap bidding for lucrative Baltic islands subsidy. Constanta yard swaps debt for shares Extra stock issued to creditors by Romanian shipbuilder. More strike trouble brews for BC Ferries Following costly seafarers' action last year, Canadian owner's maintenance yard workers threaten walk-out. Iraq ship detentions decline The US-led coalition's clampdown on seaborne oil smuggling appears to be paying dividends. Tidewater sticks with dividend Huge US offshore operator maintains quarterly payout to shareholders despite uncertain times.

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JANUARY 15, 2004
European Parliament votes on criminal sanctions against pollution from ships IMO seeks better cooperation with European Commission CKYH alliance speeds up AWE-3 all-water Asia/U.S. loop U.S. Lines sets up in-house agency Freightgate offers on-line airline schedule access U.S. inland waterways users board meeting set for Feb. 19 FMC to review 16 license applications from intermediaries U.S. trade deficit in goods narrows as exports rise World Food Program asks for $11 million to feed Sudanese refugees U.S. International Trade Commission ends case against Canadian kosher chicken Exel acquires European company Pharma Logistics PSA's international terminals record 35% growth International Shipping Agency seeks reparations from Puerto Rico Ports Authority