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Shipping News

Shipping lines offer to move vital relief supplies for free
TUGS and barges may be the key to getting relief into remote coastal areas of Indonesia's Aceh province as a 'spontaneous' outpouring of aid offers from shipping companies have followed in the wake of the tsunamis.
Shipowners scrap fewer ships last year
THE amount of steel recovered from ships sold for scrap fell 45 per cent last year as record freight rates persuaded owners to keep ships sailing longer.
Oil tanker rates may rise further in 2005: shipbroker
OIL tanker rates for shipments from the Middle East, after reaching a record last year, may rise further on average in 2005 as demand increases, shipbroker Poten & Partners said.
ThyssenKrupp to cut 800 jobs in Germany

Strait Talk

Sailing in the shadows
WHEN I wrote last week's column, on the day after the tsunami struck, it was already clear that there had been a major disaster, but one which had not greatly affected the shipping industry directly.

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Shipping News

Shipping lines offer to move vital relief supplies for free
TUGS and barges may be the key to getting relief into remote coastal areas of Indonesia's Aceh province as a 'spontaneous' outpouring of aid offers from shipping companies have followed in the wake of the tsunamis.
Shipowners scrap fewer ships last year
THE amount of steel recovered from ships sold for scrap fell 45 per cent last year as record freight rates persuaded owners to keep ships sailing longer.
Oil tanker rates may rise further in 2005: shipbroker
OIL tanker rates for shipments from the Middle East, after reaching a record last year, may rise further on average in 2005 as demand increases, shipbroker Poten & Partners said.
ThyssenKrupp to cut 800 jobs in Germany

Strait Talk

Sailing in the shadows
WHEN I wrote last week's column, on the day after the tsunami struck, it was already clear that there had been a major disaster, but one which had not greatly affected the shipping industry directly.

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Senbang launches new Shenzhen-Nanchang service Rotterdam breaks 350m ton mark Yangpu sees upsurge in cargo volumes China, a great trading nation but still not trading power: MOC PTP, Senai airport help with Tsunami disaster relief Consider double stacking on trains, urges Indian shipping ministry LB to begin construction of new terminal island interchange China aviation industry to grow substantially: economist Vietnam Airlines to purchase 7E7s Continental retires last MD-80 aircraft China Southern Airlines sends aid to Sri Lanka

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MoS directs Major Port Trusts to give priority to relief ships 9 nations account for 56 pc of exports'NCAER study New iron ore export policy on anvil Textile exporters seek more cargo space, time-bound delivery of goods overseas MbPT posts 18 pc rise in cargo handling at 26.03 m tonnes in April-Dec. 2004 VCT waives tariff for relief vessels First containers stuffed at CONCOR's CFS-Chhani on Dec. 28, 2004 Excise duty of Rs 1.25 per kg imposed on interesterified fats Ficci preparing strategy paper to showcase India 'Knit-tech 2005' in Tirupur next month-end Assocham prepares report on textile industry, recommends slew of measures for rejuvenation, promotion Maharashtra to export 10 lakh tonnes of onions in 2005 FIATA Diploma in Freight Forwarding: Course begins this month Task Force to study modalities of setting up services EPC Fieo forms panel to raise funds

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JANUARY 4, 2005
IBIA to hold 2nd annual conference in Hong Kong Oil prices rise on renewed Iraqi violence and Saudi vow After bunker price falls in Asia and Europe, prices in US' ports firm as news of crude's turnaround filters through market. One quarter of Singapore 380cst January volume 'off-spec' Sources confirm that around 300,000 mt of 'off-spec' fuel oil imported from the Red Sea for use in the bunker market has already been unloaded in the Republic, with more on its way. O.W. expands Baltic service with Polish operations O.W. Bunker says it can now offer all grades of intermediate fuel oil and distillates in Polish ports. Exxon exits Portuguese market in Galpenergia takeover Galpenergia signs contract to take over marine supply stations from Esso Portuguesa SA. Brent crude plunges early in post-holiday catch-up Brent crude sheds over $1.50 in early trade as the contract plays catch-up to losses made on the Nymex yesterday, US light crude continues to fall. Activity resumes in ARA trade market

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JANUARY 4, 2005
Maddocks Software helps manage cross border loads White House plans shutdown of GPS during national crisis Natural GmbH merges with BNG Logistics GmbH Saudi Arabia: north-south rail project underway Gothenburg invests in new cargo terminal Hamburg Süd plans major investment Godano joins Costa Container Lines

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JANUARY 4, 2005
Indian Register responds to tsunami disaster Colombo "fully operational" P&O sells more US property Canal cash boosts Panama's treasury UK insurance industry "faces tough fight" Strait of Hormuz piracy scare

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JANUARY 4, 2005
Carnival orders 112,000 ton newbuild for Costa Port grant program's real problem: Not enough money Singapore licenses ferry operators

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Carnival in €475m New Year splash with Fincantieri CRUISE giant Carnival started the new year in style placing a €475m ($627m) order for a 112,000 gt cruiseship for Costa Crociere with Fincantieri. Louis completes $100m Sun Cruises acquisition LOUIS Cruise Lines has confirmed that it will have invested about $100m in taking over the bulk of the former Airtours' Sun Cruises fleet, writes Nigel Lowry in Athens. UN fears pirates may raid Aceh relief boats THE United Nations is concerned that boats involved in the relief effort for the survivors of the Asian tsunami in Aceh could be hit by pirates. South Korean yards target fewer orders SOUTH Korea's shipbuilders are targeting a lower level of orders than last year and face a difficult time financially in 2005 as a result of the high steel price. Intertanko recruits safety guru Angelo IN A coup for the independent tanker owners' organisation Intertanko, the US Coast Guard's former director of standards for marine safety Joe Angelo is to join the lobby group next week, writes Michael Grey.

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JANUARY 4, 2005
Moroccan operator to be floated MOROCCAN shipping company IMTC will be floated in April or May, its president, Mohamed Karia, said last week Management changes at K Line K LINE is making changes to its senior management team as from 1 April 2005 NYK, Hapag-Lloyd go north-south NYK Line will start a new service from the east coast of South America to the US east coast from the third week in January JSA opposes Australian proposal THE Japanese Shipowners' Association has submitted a strong request to the Australian government not to apply competition laws to shipping conferences Fjord Line hit by 4Q losses Two missing off Somalia Casualties reported from tsunami Med ro-pax launch on 27 January Brazil backs public-private plans Balkan pipeline plan wins support Ports closed by Tsunami Kidnapped shipowner still missing Evergreen rings in changes Shareholders grab HK terminal stake

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JANUARY 4, 2005
More West Coast longshore hiring Despite thousands of new hires, volume still fueling demand for labor. Customs halts e-manifest test Problems with software, truckers shuts down testing of electronic filing. The Journal of Commerce slates NVO contract teleconference AAPA: Increased funding vital to port security China aims to double port capacity DHL appoints new Americas VP "K" Line vessel rescues tsunami survivor UPS CIO steps down More to RFID than 'slap-and-ship': Study FedEx Freight expands in N.C. Increase for Nehru box port Colombo volume to 2.2M TEUs

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JANUARY 4, 2005
Maritime community ready to help Tsunami victims Westport in Malaysia is working with carriers and hauliers to send aid to the countries affected by the Asian tsunami catastrophe. Insufficient security funding sees US ports weigh up fees Tsunami may bring new opportunities Coscon upgrades transpacific service with post-panamaxes New Casablanca connection for CMA CGM CSCL increases shareholding in Chinese feeder line Germany's Maut hits the road Caps off to the German flag Canadian conferences hike CAF Busan and Gwangyang free trade zones expanded PSA to enter Chinese towage market

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JANUARY 4, 2005
Maersk sells Pride Fast expanding Mercator Lines picks up five years old aframax products carrier for $58m. Tsakos buys TEN Family investment company continues to edge up stake in quoted tanker company. Carnival in $636m order Top cruise operator returns to Fincantieri for 3,800 passenger vessel for Costa subsidiary. Wallenius makes donation Swedish car carrier group is sending $595,000 to tsunami relief organisations. "Not ours" says Dockwise Vessel damaged by tsunami appears to be Indian passenger ship not Dutch dual cargo craft. Keppel takes control Singapore marine engineering group takes 100% control of Brazilian shipbuilder FELS Setal. Singapore in ferry clamp down Lion Republic introduces licensing scheme for regional ferry operators to boost port security. PSA in Fuzhou tug tie-up Joint venture marks first venture into China for tug operating arm of Singapore port operator. Reefer rides to the rescue NYK ship dubbed "Good Samaritan" by USCG after rescuing migrants 24 miles off Puerto Rico.

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JANUARY 4, 2005
NYK president sees rising demand in shipping market Westwood, Star Shipping to cooperate in Pacific trade CSAV group to issue shares CMA CGM adds North Europe/Morocco link Yang Ming offers free shipping to tsunami disaster areas Lightering equipment reaches stern of Unalaska shipwreck CBP abruptly terminates test of e-manifest FRA implements enhanced freight train visibility rule Meat industry group thrashes USDA's Canadian beef import policy U.S.-Australia free trade agreement takes effect South Korea agrees to up U.S. rice imports RILA names Asher VP of retail operations and loss prevention National Retail Systems names Tempesta senior VP Port of Rotterdam sees 350 million tons for 2004 Port of Melbourne invests in rail infrastructure PSA, Fuzhou Port Authority start joint-venture towage company Port of Vancouver, Wash. resumes control of terminals Colombo port handled 2.2 million TEUs in 2004

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JANUARY 4, 2005
All-time high investments for Nordic owners The Nordic maritime industry may look back on 2004 as the most active year for a decade. Its shipping companies ... "Fantaasia" on Med charter Tallink has chartered out its ferry "Fantaasia" to Algerian Ferries for nine months. Tallink's spokesman Marek M'gi says to SSG ... Navigators strike called off Dansk Navigatør Forening (DANA) has voted for a cancellation of the strike against Danmarks Rederiforening (DARE). A narrow majority of ...