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Shipping News

TSA to raise Panama Canal surcharge
THE cost of shipping containerised goods from Asia to the US East Coast will rise again next month as shipping lines become more aggressive in passing on what they say are the added costs of an increasingly over-burdened land-based infrastructure.
Daewoo bags record US$390m tanker order
DAEWOO Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, the world's second-largest shipyard, won an order to build three supertankers for a record US$130 million each, London-based broker Simpson, Spence & Young said.
Shipping boom nearing its peak
BOOM times in the world shipping industry look set to peak this year as ship builders respond to record-high freight rates and crank up production of new vessels, Malaysian shipowners said yesterday.
Tanker escapes pirate attack in S'pore Strait

Port Shots

Port Shots
CHINA International Marine Containers Co, the world's largest maker of freight containers, said first- quarter profit probably quadrupled from a year earlier.

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Shipping News

TSA to raise Panama Canal surcharge
THE cost of shipping containerised goods from Asia to the US East Coast will rise again next month as shipping lines become more aggressive in passing on what they say are the added costs of an increasingly over-burdened land-based infrastructure.
Daewoo bags record US$390m tanker order
DAEWOO Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, the world's second-largest shipyard, won an order to build three supertankers for a record US$130 million each, London-based broker Simpson, Spence & Young said.
Shipping boom nearing its peak
BOOM times in the world shipping industry look set to peak this year as ship builders respond to record-high freight rates and crank up production of new vessels, Malaysian shipowners said yesterday.
Tanker escapes pirate attack in S'pore Strait

Port Shots

Port Shots
CHINA International Marine Containers Co, the world's largest maker of freight containers, said first- quarter profit probably quadrupled from a year earlier.

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Hutchison puts in strong performance in 2004 Sinotrans unveils new Asia services Coscol semi-submersibles transport equipment to oil fields NOL starts 2005 on good note Evergreen pays pollution fines PHA makes appointments IATA head slams high fuel prices U-Freight's Aussie partner moves to larger premises Continental staff sign collective bargaining agreements

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Taby Tank Containers reaffirms its commitment to Indian trade SCI, A.P. Moller & GE Shipping win accolades at Maritime Day function India, Saudi to export petro-goods jointly in Asia, says Aiyar FTA with Mauritius on cards Hazira to receive 1st LNG cargo this month TAMP issues revised guidelines for tariff fixation MbPT invites oil cos to invest in oil berth, SBM facility Central, S-E Railways surpass 2004-05 freight target Dereserved products post smart growth rates as big players enter field Open 'dollar window' for exporters'Assocham SEZ Bill to be placed before Cabinet tomorrow Ficci makes out logical case for concept of 'free depreciation' Peter Nesbitt first permanent representative of EDC in India Narayana Murthy to deliver A. D. Shroff Memorial lecture

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APRIL 6, 2005
Malaysia: New terminal to include bunkering hub Three-year development of Sandakan-based location aims to meet demand for modern regional barter transhipment hub. US crude oil stocks grow even as refiners turn up production Weekly US oil inventory statistics showed that stocks of crude rose again for the eight consecutive week, despite a sharp fall in imports and increased refinery processing rates. ARA market little change Tuesday p.m. Bunkerworld Asia team welcomes new member Bunkerworld has welcomed a new member of staff to its ranks at its offices in Singapore. Saudi posted prices catch up with global gains Singapore: Traders snub rumours as paranoid Traders in the Singapore bunker market snubbed "hoarding" rumours today when surveyed. Petroval reveals Q1 bunker sales Petroval sold nearly half a million metric tonnes of bunkers in the ARA region during Q1, either directly to shipowners or through other suppliers. Baltic HSFO cargoes set to ease ARA supplies Around 300,000 metric tonnes of high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) slated to arrive into ARA from the Baltic. Malaysia: Shipping lines up bunker fuel surcharge 15% Shipowners add a 15% bunker fuel surcharge but Malaysian exporters are confident that competitiveness against other exporters in the region will remain. Saudi Aramco 'frightened' by demand growth Saudi Aramco chief expresses fear at continuing demand growth, especially from China and India. Depleted availability returns to Panama Sources suggest suppliers may have been guilty of bad planning with USGC, Venezuela and Ecuador boasting residual product as avails dry up.

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APRIL 6, 2005
BNSF launches quicker Interline pricing method on the internet Digital tachograph: introduction in August 2007? SNCF outsources spare parts logistics to TNT Corneel Geerts with Ballauf Hellas Greece TAP Portugal Cargo boosting express products Hapag-Lloyd announces increase in sales and earnings CGLN names new general manager

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APRIL 6, 2005
Scotia Prince cancels 2005 sailings Missile defense gets a lift at Kiewit Offshore USCG launches icebreaker Stromme acquires NME

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APRIL 6, 2005
Korean Air Lines adding Seoul-Incheon flights to Sea-Tac Time frame for phase-out sped up for oil tankers Excel Maritime buying three more drybulk carriers Evergreen to pay $25 million for deliberate vessel pollution Container committee meeting today in Portland

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Lloyd's defies stormy fortunes to hold on to 'excellent' rating LLOYD'S has held on to its prized ratings status, after announcing a 2004 profit of just under £1.36bn ($2.56bn), which could have been close to doubled but for a mauling from hurricane claims, an adverse arbitration award and the need for more claims reserves. Bank lending on Greek fleet hits $32bn after 26% surge in year BANK lending on the Greek controlled fleet has shot up to an astonishing $32bn, with an increase of more than 26% during a period of only 12 months, an independent study has revealed. Brussels lines up 'enforcer' role as de Palacio is tipped for comeback LOYOLA de Palacio is tipped to make a Brussels comeback next month as one of six new rail "czars" for the EU transport commissioner. German insurers braced for flat year THE German insurance industry is expecting premium growth to flatten out this year, writes Anja Krüger in Berlin.

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APRIL 6, 2005
US worried by China's Latin plans US political leaders appear to be taking note of China's growing trade influence in South America Passports to be required to re-enter US SECURITY concerns are putting an end to a tradition that currently allows US citizens ' and those of some other western nations ' to re-enter the US without a passport Colombia to strengthen China ties A Colombian delegation is in China hoping to secure new trans-Pacific trade and investment ties Cruise taxes 'unconstitutional' PROPOSED taxes on cruise passengers touring Alaskan waters would be illegal and unconstitutional, according to an industry lawyer Korea to employ more foreign ratings THE maximum number of foreign ratings on board South Korean ships is to be increased following an agreement between owners and unions Star to tow Norway to Port Klang STAR Cruises has decided to take possession of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norway and not scrap the vessel after attempts to sell the ship to third parties failed Good Samaritan tanker refloated Chinese growth 'to continue' Le Havre towage outsider re-appears Comanav stays in profit WSC president warns US ports

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APRIL 6, 2005
Mineta: No money for SEA 21 in 2006 The Secretary of Transportation says White House budget plan holding up implementation of national marine transport policy. PierPass awards development contract Houston channel re-opens Long Beach trade chief U.S. groups file for China import curbs CP Ships' Asia volume grows FedEx Ground plans Florida hub JoC, ACW launch Trans-Pacific Air Cargo Conference Vancouver grain agreement CN orders 75 locomotives UPS opens Guangzhou flights

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APRIL 6, 2005
EC establishes 'alert zones' for triggering textile safeguards The European Commission (EC) has issued guidelines for the use of safeguards on Chinese textile exports to the EU, activating a clause in China's Protocol of Accession to the WTO. Tug-of-war over charter-periods sees mid-sizes stuck at four years Nanjing plans to consolidate container handling facilities Indian Railway to open routes to private-sector freight-traffic Vancouver box backlog cleared New hopes for Australian inland freight railway Australian Government inquiry to look at port links EU and US mull China textile import controls VICT ups capacity to meet increasing demand Box boom sees Codesp prioritise new Santos terminal UK 'shipping minister' to retire, leaving port projects unresolved Tokyo Port achieves record 2004 throughput 'Critical' 2004 leaves FESCO nearly $40m in net profits

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APRIL 6, 2005
Ultrapetrol on the hunt South American owner boasts $34m cash warchest after sale of capesize bulker Cape Pampas. ROC auctions trio Louis Hellenic, Ravenscroft and China's IP snap up vessels in Piraeus. SS Norway on the move NCL towing cruiseship from German berth to Malaysia. Vafias profits from cape Sale of bulker boosts Greek owner, which has also added two LPG carriers to fleet. Volgotanker lines up Rosneft Russian tanker owner to replace lost customer Yukos with state oil company. Costs curtail Ultrapetrol South American owner returned to profit in 2004, but interest and depreciation charges were hefty. Cosco Nantong wins OBO job Chinese yard to turn Seawilh's tanker into self-unloading iron-ore transfer vessel. Russian yards agree order split Baltic and Northern yards in St Petersburg will concentrate on civil and military contracts respectively. MPC heads to Vietnam German boxship group signs for eight new vessels at Vinashin's Nam Trieu Shipbuilding. Clipper and Wonsild cement ties Shipowners to consolidate ownership of their tanker activities under new parent company. Torm confirms MR deal Sale of two tankers to Polys Haji-Ioannou will put profit of $30m into Danish owner's bank account. MC gets gas ships Ex-Bergesen VLGCs and Shell-controlled Isomeria handed over to New York listed owner. Imabari buys again Japan's largest shipbuilder just got bigger with deal to acquire compatriot Shin Kasado Dockyard.

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APRIL 6, 2005
Koch: Maritime security regulations, technology need careful meshing Hapag-Lloyd warns of Atlantic space crunch, Pacific delays Carrier expects "workable" reform of EU antitrust law Hapag-Lloyd expects continued industry boom Report: Global boxship fleet to grow 30% in 2005-06 Crowley's liner services post lower earnings UASC upgrades INTTRA integration Rhein to leave NOL board Royal P&O Nedlloyd nominates two non-executive directors Polar Air plans use of extra U.S/China rights U.S. airlines see cargo rises BA cargo up 1.6% in March Air Canada starts Toronto/Rome flights Canadian Pacific Railway, Elk Valley Coal sign five-year deal McNamara joins RailAmerica board GAO says textile safeguard procedures need clarity Tom Ridge joins Savi's board of directors Yantian gets faster customs procedures Coast Guard reopens Houston ship channel after tug sinking Donjon Marine, Metal Management form terminal venture Long Beach port names Snyder as trade director Houston port appoints Eriksson, promotes Jamison Morrison joins Associated British Ports board

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APRIL 6, 2005
Norwegian vessel arrested ' crew stranded Norwegian vessel M/S "Kempo" is arrested in Las Palmas and the Latvian crew, which has not been paid since ... Torm sells two tankers in hot market Dampskibsselskabet Torm has sold two product carriers to a Greek/Singapore-company with a profit of USD 30 million (DKK ... Wanted: welders and fitters Polish press have cited Finnish forecasts on the labour demand in the industry. According to "Helsingin Sanomat", Polish metal workers ...