BRIEFS

web site

Shipping News

Salalah Port grows to second busiest in Gulf
AFTER only five years of operation, Salalah port is making its mark as one of the busiest ports in the Gulf due to its strategic location at south of Oman, attracting more shipping lines and handling higher throughput.
S'pore calls for multilateral response to ballast issue
A major conference on the treatment and discharge of ballast water got under way yesterday with a call for a multilateral response to the global issue.
Large vessels banned from part of NZ coast
THE International Maritime Organisation has banned large ships from a part of New Zealand's coast in the first such measure in the world, a maritime safety official said yesterday.
Daewoo eyes overseas expansion
DAEWOO Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co, the world's second-biggest shipyard, said yesterday it was considering buying a yard to make cruise ships in Western Europe and establishing a production base in China.
Hawaiian start-up costs hurt Star Cruises' Q1 profit
STAR Cruises, the world's No 4 cruise line operator, said start-up costs for its new cruise services in Hawaii were a drag on its first quarter results.
China Shipping cuts IPO size again: sources
CHINA Shipping Container Lines has cut the size of its initial public offering again by more than 20 per cent to US$1-1.2 billion after fund managers pushed for lower pricing, market sources said yesterday.
Soaring steel prices squeezing margins: Daewoo Shipbuilding
SOUTH Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Co, the world's second-largest shipbuilder, said it expected operating profits to fall in 2004 as high steel prices squeeze margins and offset booming orders.

Air and Land Transport

Major US airports will be ready for A380
MAJOR airports in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago plan to be ready for the mammoth Airbus A380 double decker passenger jet in late 2006, their operators said on Tuesday, playing down concerns raised by airline Virgin Atlantic a day earlier.
Asia air travel bookings up 90%
Record travellers lift BAA's profit
Cargo plane crash in China kills 7
Spain's first private airport aims at budget carriers
Govt plans to sell its Swiss Air stake

Newbuilds

Buoyant freight markets face long yard backlogs
THE brief new orders list would suggest a quiet time in the newbuilding market but at a time when freight markets are generally very buoyant, there does not seem to be a lack of interest in modern tonnage.

web site

Shipping News

Salalah Port grows to second busiest in Gulf
AFTER only five years of operation, Salalah port is making its mark as one of the busiest ports in the Gulf due to its strategic location at south of Oman, attracting more shipping lines and handling higher throughput.
S'pore calls for multilateral response to ballast issue
A major conference on the treatment and discharge of ballast water got under way yesterday with a call for a multilateral response to the global issue.
Large vessels banned from part of NZ coast
THE International Maritime Organisation has banned large ships from a part of New Zealand's coast in the first such measure in the world, a maritime safety official said yesterday.
Daewoo eyes overseas expansion
DAEWOO Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co, the world's second-biggest shipyard, said yesterday it was considering buying a yard to make cruise ships in Western Europe and establishing a production base in China.
Hawaiian start-up costs hurt Star Cruises' Q1 profit
STAR Cruises, the world's No 4 cruise line operator, said start-up costs for its new cruise services in Hawaii were a drag on its first quarter results.
China Shipping cuts IPO size again: sources
CHINA Shipping Container Lines has cut the size of its initial public offering again by more than 20 per cent to US$1-1.2 billion after fund managers pushed for lower pricing, market sources said yesterday.
Soaring steel prices squeezing margins: Daewoo Shipbuilding
SOUTH Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Co, the world's second-largest shipbuilder, said it expected operating profits to fall in 2004 as high steel prices squeeze margins and offset booming orders.

Air and Land Transport

Major US airports will be ready for A380
MAJOR airports in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago plan to be ready for the mammoth Airbus A380 double decker passenger jet in late 2006, their operators said on Tuesday, playing down concerns raised by airline Virgin Atlantic a day earlier.
Asia air travel bookings up 90%
Record travellers lift BAA's profit
Cargo plane crash in China kills 7
Spain's first private airport aims at budget carriers
Govt plans to sell its Swiss Air stake

Newbuilds

Buoyant freight markets face long yard backlogs
THE brief new orders list would suggest a quiet time in the newbuilding market but at a time when freight markets are generally very buoyant, there does not seem to be a lack of interest in modern tonnage.

web site

Shipping News

Salalah Port grows to second busiest in Gulf
AFTER only five years of operation, Salalah port is making its mark as one of the busiest ports in the Gulf due to its strategic location at south of Oman, attracting more shipping lines and handling higher throughput.
S'pore calls for multilateral response to ballast issue
A major conference on the treatment and discharge of ballast water got under way yesterday with a call for a multilateral response to the global issue.
Large vessels banned from part of NZ coast
THE International Maritime Organisation has banned large ships from a part of New Zealand's coast in the first such measure in the world, a maritime safety official said yesterday.
Daewoo eyes overseas expansion
DAEWOO Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co, the world's second-biggest shipyard, said yesterday it was considering buying a yard to make cruise ships in Western Europe and establishing a production base in China.
Hawaiian start-up costs hurt Star Cruises' Q1 profit
STAR Cruises, the world's No 4 cruise line operator, said start-up costs for its new cruise services in Hawaii were a drag on its first quarter results.
China Shipping cuts IPO size again: sources
CHINA Shipping Container Lines has cut the size of its initial public offering again by more than 20 per cent to US$1-1.2 billion after fund managers pushed for lower pricing, market sources said yesterday.
Soaring steel prices squeezing margins: Daewoo Shipbuilding
SOUTH Korea's Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Co, the world's second-largest shipbuilder, said it expected operating profits to fall in 2004 as high steel prices squeeze margins and offset booming orders.

Air and Land Transport

Major US airports will be ready for A380
MAJOR airports in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago plan to be ready for the mammoth Airbus A380 double decker passenger jet in late 2006, their operators said on Tuesday, playing down concerns raised by airline Virgin Atlantic a day earlier.
Asia air travel bookings up 90%
Record travellers lift BAA's profit
Cargo plane crash in China kills 7
Spain's first private airport aims at budget carriers
Govt plans to sell its Swiss Air stake

Newbuilds

Buoyant freight markets face long yard backlogs
THE brief new orders list would suggest a quiet time in the newbuilding market but at a time when freight markets are generally very buoyant, there does not seem to be a lack of interest in modern tonnage.

	web site

NYK, K Line post positive FY2003 results Panama, Caribbean forums to implement peak season surcharge PONL mulls share option scheme for employees Singapore MPA offers discount for ISPS compliant ships Lumut Port cargo throughput up in Q1 CP Ships not to grow by acquisitions alone, says Halliwell NZ, China agree on new service air arrangements April holidays affect Dragonair cargo volumes Air France net profit drops SAS Cargo increases US-Scandinavia route capacity

	web site

APL wins Best Intra-Asia Shipping Line award for 4th consecutive year DCI signs long-term lease pact with Bahrain firm Another Handymax carrier enters GE Shipping's fleet Wheat exporters await policy push STPI aims to provide core functions abroad Talks on maritime cooperation between India & EU in June Paradip Port on cyclone alert KoPT aims at handling 47 m tonnes in 2004-05 ...to join hands with CONCOR for Dadri CFS Gold Card scheme for exporters delights Fieo chief Gold Card scheme to facilitate easy credit access for top exporters RBI waives fees on banks rendering e-services Insurer not liable for cargo not properly packed, rules UK Court Letter to the Editor - Privatisation of rail box traffic can ease port congestion

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Venezuela: No to raising OPEC quotas, country's capacity to rise PDVSA chief denies the need for more OPEC oil, also announces plans for Venezuela to increase production capacity to 5 million barrels per day. GAC: Weekly African market report Singapore trader eyes Zhoushan fuel oil storage Singapore-based trader reported to be in discussions to acquire fuel oil storage terminal for distribution in China. API & DOE figures show rise in US gasoline stocks Crude prices fell for the second day today after reaching a new all-time high on Monday. Typhoon Nida expected in Tokyo on Sunday Tokyo and the Yokohama Bay area are currently preparing for the landfall of Typhoon Nida, which is expected to arrive sometime on the morning of May 23. Quiet Piraeus waits for demand upturn South Korean bunker market backs off from high water mark Saudi posted prices on the rise Rotterdam bunker prices slip ahead of holiday EPA grants shipowners, refiners breathing space Introduction of tough new regulations on sulphur emissions in marine diesel curtailed to allow refiners, shipowners and engine manufacturers more time.

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
The International Transport Journal's Air Freight Forum to take place in Cologne Old Dominion launches "OD Solutions Centre" Germany: all trucks to be fitted with extra mirrors Things go swimmingly for Deutsche Post World Net Otal reduces road transit times to Niger British Airways World Cargo posts healthy results Carl Tiedemann celebrates 125th anniversary TNT Express names regional general manager for South East Asia

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
IMO double skin bulker bid overturned Siem pulls out of Broström BV in high-speed safety project Stelmar; "no offer yet" Two crew injured in Java Sea pirate attack Cape Africa at anchor in False Bay Marad praises UK's "step in right direction"

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Fire breaks out on Horizon barge Onboard personnel safely evacuated Wartsila offers one stop shopping for maritime training More than 70 courses

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Leaders from four states call for channel deepening funds Portland public relations firm hires Ellis as account manager Merchant Marine to be honored at Portland Maritime Day event Crowley Marine Services crews free grounded ferry in Alaska New Matson service will speed cattle deliveries

	web site

Tonnage squeeze forces lines to juggle Asia-Europe box fleets A SEVERE shortage of containerships is forcing a group of major carriers to plan a new Asia-Europe service deploying just seven vessels rather than the usual eight. K Line designers developing 'epoch-making' zero ballast water ships THE upward trend in containership capacity has persuaded K Line that the time is right to develop a ship that carries little, if any, ballast water, writes Hugh O'Mahony. Straw urged to enter Gibraltar cruise row BRITISH Foreign Secretary Jack Straw came under increased pressure yesterday to seek clarification from his Spanish counterpart over the Gibraltar cruiseship controversy. No offer yet from OMI says Stelmar OMI's plans to acquire Greek tanker rival Stelmar Shipping seem to be far from a 'done deal'.

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Stelmar-OMI merger: plot thickens ONE day after OMI's announcement that it had support from the Haji-Ionnou family for a Stelmar merger, Stelmar's board asserted that it had yet to receive an offer and had never even been contacted about the possibility of such a dea Key issues hinder UK feeder links LACK of information supplied by deep sea container lines to terminal operators are two key reasons affecting the development of feeder shipping to and from the UK TACA sees critical months ahead TACA believes the next six months are crucial in detemining whether conferences continue to receive exemptions from EU 'anti-trust' policies Port trucker crisis looming RED flags were repeatedly raised at this week's Trans-Atlantic Maritime Conference over potential disruption of US shipping by port truckers Mexico moves to secure gas supplies MEXICO is worried that LNG supplies from the US, its primary supplier, could be curtailed and is moving to build more plants and seek imports from other countries British cruisers hit milestone THE British cruise market passed the 1M passenger mark for the first time last year Human error led to ferry grounding ITF warns of new cruise job scam Dredging Corp to dredge in Bahrain Iberojet adds ex-Olympia Voyager ABP sponsors environment projects Short-sea centres making an impact Congestion at North China ore ports Alstom rescue tops Euro agenda Lloyd Werft, NCL amend Pride terms Star Cruises back on profit trail

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Trade: Feds should regulate security Customs & Border Protection measures making companies more efficient by forcing them to take a closer look at their operations, executives say. Drivers, union could rile waterfront this summer Trucking a weak link for container terminals Union Pacific to shippers: We don't know when delays will end NIT League says security checks will delay ocean cargo Maynard, NY port authority spokesman, dies Hong Kong bridge will link terminals High court won't hear harbor maintenance tax appeals NOL chief sees no takeover targets Trade deal for U.S., Australia SAS boosts capacity From N. America L.A. ports seek off-site box storage OOCL expands Asia/Mid-East coverage

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Ship squeeze limits services as HRI continues its steady march upwards Shortages of tonnage are beginning to have an effect as lines struggle to find ships to operate new service strings or even to cope with volumes on existing services. Australia cuts government shipping levies Navigation and safety-regulation service charges imposed on ships are to be cut by 15%, saving the industry around A$6 (US$4) million per year, the Australian Government announced on May 17. Port Security bill bogged down in committee stage Malaysian hauliers call for lowering of trailer ratio Austria to pay the penalty for high Swiss road tolls Nepal gets its first ICD Korea call added to OOCL/Wan Hai service rotation Korea/China route sees significant growth Tobishima ordered world's newest cranes

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Pacific Basin linked to IPO Handysize bulker operator said to be eyeing listing in Hong Kong despite local market turmoil. Formosa in double US detention Taiwanese-based shipowner sees bulker and tanker held as Americans detain thirteen ships. Profits ease at Toei Reefer Disappointing fourth quarter drags down full-year results at Japanese tuna shipping company. Norden boosts Torm Danish shipowner's Investment in rival proves even more lucrative than trading tankers. Spanish ferry vanishes Singapore-built ro-pax on delivery voyage mysteriously disappears while navigating Malacca Straits. MC stays in black Board confirms new shareholding, but still mulling offer from Burke Investments. Skaugen confirms bond issue Company will raise at least $35m through Norwegian offering. Alan Marsh lifts stake to $4.5m Braemar Seascope gets vote of confidence as chief executive buys another block of shares. Strintzis cuts losses Newer ships lead to higher revenues for Greek ferry owner. New Zealand wins ship ban IMO agrees to bar larger vessels from sensitive waters off North Island. More tankers for Lasco Latvians exercise options for another two product tankers at 3 Maj. Cape Africa anchors in bay U-Ming's holed and laden bulker towed inshore for repair work. Odfjell bags tanker quintet Norwegian extends fleet with acquisitions and long-term charters. Budget ferry service launched Danish venture aims to bring low cost airline pricing model to the English Channel. Moller sells spill business Pollution clean up subsidiary is hived off to green investor. CSCL "cuts share sale" Report claims China Shipping box line has scaled back initial offering in falling stock market. Old tankers drag down Lasco Latvian Shipping hit by rate slump for veteran vessels in first quarter. Spring Peacock refloated Port traffic freed up late Tuesday after stranded bulker shifted. Mexico pushes LNG imports Energy minister backs terminal plans in bid to end reliance on US. NOL appoints legal eagle Ex-Singapore judicial commissioner appointed to board of national liner and logistics firm. Expansion planned at Yugtransit Taganrog-based Russian owner wants another seven or eight small cargoships for grain exports. Ten owners target Scottish deal P&O, Smyril, NorthLink and others ready to bid for ferry services to Northern Isles. Lorenzo profit soars Philippine container line benefited from increased volumes to post big rise in first quarter earnings.

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
NIT League opposes security requirements for foreign ships Supreme Court will not hear harbor maintenance tax cases U.S. Lines to add China/U.S. East Coast service Wan Hai, OOCL extend Asia/Middle East service to Korea NYK adds surcharges on Hong Kong/South Africa shipments BA World Cargo's yields down, productivity up U.S. to start Immigration Security Initiative U.S., Australia sign off on free-trade agreement TSA, DOT issue joint rule revising security data protections Hong Kong to launch electronic transportation network Commerce recalculates duties on Chinese television imports Battista, Exel executive, dies at 57 Jacksonville port to install smart video for perimeter security

	web site
MAY 19, 2004
Easy ship transfer in EU through new directive The new transfer of ships regulations will enter into force on 20 May. They regulations cover the transfer of ships ... Danish multi-supply vessel in "Prestige" recover work Esvagt, subsidiary of Em. Z. Svitzer A/S, has signed their multi-purpose supply ship "Esvagt Connector" for a period ... No mandatory rules for dubble hull on dry bulkers Greece won a fierce row with the U.K. in the IMO Maritime Safety Committee, and as a result there will ...