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Shipping News

Star Cruises may be hit by travel cancellations
ANALYSTS have expressed concerns that the operations of Malaysian cruise operator Star Cruises could be hit by travel cancellations in the aftermath of Sunday's deadly tsunami.
India shuts Chennai's port, puts it on 'high alert'
CHENNAI's container port, India's second-largest, was shut down and put on 'high alert' after the government warned that fresh tsunamis may hit the country's coastal states and islands.

Admiralty Casebook

Cruise liners liable for off-ship assault by staff
A US appeals court ruled last week that cruise liners are, under federal maritime laws, strictly liable for any assault by a crewmember on passengers during a cruise, even if the assault occurs outside the ship while the crewmember was off duty.

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Shipping News

Star Cruises may be hit by travel cancellations
ANALYSTS have expressed concerns that the operations of Malaysian cruise operator Star Cruises could be hit by travel cancellations in the aftermath of Sunday's deadly tsunami.
India shuts Chennai's port, puts it on 'high alert'
CHENNAI's container port, India's second-largest, was shut down and put on 'high alert' after the government warned that fresh tsunamis may hit the country's coastal states and islands.

Admiralty Casebook

Cruise liners liable for off-ship assault by staff
A US appeals court ruled last week that cruise liners are, under federal maritime laws, strictly liable for any assault by a crewmember on passengers during a cruise, even if the assault occurs outside the ship while the crewmember was off duty.

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World's largest ship propeller built in China ECT, PONL given go-ahead to build new Rotterdam terminal SITC becomes MICT client Administrative changes needed in China to boost logistics development DHL moves relief supplies to tsunami victims in Asia Evergreen Group announces management changes Qatar Airways becomes 1st ME airline to fly to Beijing American Airlines cargo division cuts fuel surcharge

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Petronet gives bidders 15 more days to submit RFQs Essar Shipping to spend $ 1 bn to expand capacity Cabinet clears way for seamen to seek jobs abroad Cashew export industry poised to register phenomenal growth Vietnam sets $ 1-bn trade target by 2006 Exports to Pakistan shoot up by 257 pc in April-August China emerges India's fifth largest export market Baalu announces wall against future tsunamis Bharati Shipyard shares listed at premium of 97 pc Chennai, Tuticorin ports placed on high alert as sea swells menacingly Gati wing offers free transport of relief materials to the Andamans Unshredded metallic scrap imports at Ludhiana & Dadri ICDs to ease JNP pendency further Integrated food law to give thrust to agri-reforms on anvil $ 500 m hedge funds coming in'IMC chief No tsunami wave on fiscal front, says Chidambaram Kamal Nath promises to correct inverted duty structure PM rules out calamity cess Cabinet clears way for private airlines to fly abroad

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
Port of Rotterdam sees cargo growth at 8% Oil and oil products see significant growth as does container throughput, according to provisional figures released by the Port of Rotterdam. Japan: Product shipments to continue despite refinery fire No immediate threat to bunker supply unless refinery restart is slow, but market already seen tightening. New bunker team member at Curoil China to double port capacity in five years Chinese authorities develop strategic plan to double the country's port capacity by 2010. Singapore fuel oil inventories reach 13-week low Onshore stocks of residual fuels fall to their lowest level in thirteen weeks. Rotterdam firm ahead of midday Singapore: Two bunker alerts issued in two days Two bunker alerts have been issued in Singapore in the last two days. Market sources however play down the significance, one parameter is not included in the ISO 8217 specification.

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
Evergreen boss prepares succession American Club shrugs off difficult year Aker orders boom continues with ferries deal

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
Port of Vancouver, USA taking over terminal operations Port of Los Angeles takes top freight gateway spot Continental Airlines becomes first major US airline to order Boeing 7E7 Port of Tacoma taps Dorsett as governmental affairs manager Evergreen Group making changes to top management positions

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Samudera bulker capsize leaves 15 missing off Aceh FIFTEEN crew of a Samudera Shipping Line cement carrier were missing yesterday after it capsized off Aceh, Indonesia, in the disaster that swept the Bay of Bengal. Clubs expecting tsunami claims SEVERAL of the big mutuals providing shipowner liability cover are likely to face claims resulting from the killer tsunami. Industry warned of ever-growing cost of counter-terrorism measures SHIPPING companies have been warned of potential mounting costs and business disruption from the multiplicity of anti- terrorism measures. Marine hull renewals to stay static MARINE hull rates are likely to emerge from the January renewal season little changed, say market analysts, writes James Brewer. Izar will 'find private investors' ENRIQUE Mart'nez Robles, president of Izar's state shareholder, Sepi, this week said he was confident that private investors would be found for the troubled shipbuilder's merchant facilities, writes Brian Reyes in Gibraltar.

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
Summary of port conditions FOLLOWING Sunday's catastrophe in the Indian Ocean, most ports are returning to normal Chennai, Tuticorin ports on tsunami alert CHENNAI and Tuticorin ports have been placed on high alert and operations at both ports are at a standstill following a government warning about a possible new tsunami Even Phuket port escapes OFFICIALS at Phuket in Thailand have confirmed to Fairplay that the port suffered no damage from Sunday's tidal wave and is still operating normally India: New tsunami warning CHENNAI port authorities today advised all port users that another tsunami wave was likely to hit the coast near Chennai in the immediate future

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
Intermodal strong for U.S. railroads Carriers moved more freight than any other year on record through mid-December. Interpool seeking re-listing Container lessor applies to NYSE as revenues improve. Wave warning roils India ports Buoy transmitters to extend U.S. port security Hanjin: $15B in '05 sales NWA Cargo reduces fuel surcharge Korean airline boosts freight Security group elects Harrison Continental first U.S. buyer for 7E7 Record China ag deficit Ningbo capacity nearly doubles

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
'Transport is too cheap,' says record-breaker Rotterdam Rotterdam has reported a record cargo-year, with container-growth outstripping almost all sectors, but success has a price, and transport is 'too cheap', according to a Port of Rotterdam (PoR) spokesman. Another tsunami warning alert for EC India, but Chennai counts opportunities India's east coast ports are on high alert, following today's fresh tsunami warning across Kerala, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry, Lakshaweep and the Andaman-Nicobar Islands, while Chennai, though hardest-hit, is examining opportunities. Roelf de Boer quits Rotterdam Port Authority board Port of LA discusses 73 ways of cutting pollution NYK mixes up Asia-Latin American services, trimming transit-times Hauliers protest at Penang Port service Germanischer Lloyd accelerates container-inspection market-share CMICT adds three post-panamax cranes for next-generation ships

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
Holiday stocking New Orleans dry operator ISH will devote $40m shares proceeds to 'projects.' Tsunami claims ship Fifteen seafarers missing from Samudera cement carrier that sank in Indonesian port. Waterman flags in P&O Nedloyd boxships Newly acquired vessels put on long-term charter to Farrell Lines under MSP. Eitzen raises Sigloo stake Norwegian shipowning group gains majority ownership of gas carrier partnership. Hefty fine for Schlussel German container ship owner in plea bargain over pollution offences in Hawaiian waters. Erik Eik gets a gift Chairman of IM Skaugen gets a belated Christmas present from conversion of newbuilding bond to shares. Seatrans starts the giving Bergen shipowner's donation gets wave of aid going to victims of tsunami. More ghosts sent for scrap Two more ships from the US James River Reserve Fleet are heading for domestic scrap facilities. Florida eyes anchorage limits USCG to restrict Fort Lauderdale anchorage in effort to stop ships running aground on reefs. Concerns over tug and crew Anti-piracy watchdog fears Singapore registered vessel is latest victim of new piracy trend.

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DECEMBER 30, 2004
Ocean carriers win another legal case against EC Two Waterman vessels enter U.S. security program Zim, China Shipping confirm Asia-Eastern Med direct link Survey predicts DHL parcel gains in U.S. market Continental orders 7E7 China Southern diverts cargo flights to relief effort FedEx donates services to relief effort State Department reviews addition of cargo lanes at Nogales, Ariz. Maersk Logistics promotes Ramskov Congress considers single committee on homeland security USDA to allow live cattle and beef imports with strict BSE controls U.S. reviews dumping of Japanese outboard engines ITC administrative law judge Terrill retires BKA Logistics ships dried milk to Angola to fund landmine clearing Port of Shanghai opens capital to China Merchants