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US ports tot up Katrina's costs
US port officials are struggling to assess the extent of damage to major Gulf ports hit by Hurricane Katrina, while the cruise industry has been roped in by the US government to help provide temporary shelter to those made homeless by the disaster.
Patrick Corp seeks regulator's help to thwart takeover bid
PATRICK Corp, which is defending a hostile takeover by Toll Holdings, asked Australia's takeovers regulator to rule that the bid is unacceptable.
Pacific Basin's H1 profit doubles on volume growth
ASIA-focused bulk shipping line Pacific Basin Shipping said its net profit nearly doubled in the first half as regional trade grew and freight rates increased.
MPA, Rotterdam tie up on R&D conference

Strait Talk

Hurricane Katrina's mixed effects on global shipping
THE world usually notices mariners and the shipping industry only in times of crisis; wars or natural disasters.

web site

Shipping News

US ports tot up Katrina's costs
US port officials are struggling to assess the extent of damage to major Gulf ports hit by Hurricane Katrina, while the cruise industry has been roped in by the US government to help provide temporary shelter to those made homeless by the disaster.
Patrick Corp seeks regulator's help to thwart takeover bid
PATRICK Corp, which is defending a hostile takeover by Toll Holdings, asked Australia's takeovers regulator to rule that the bid is unacceptable.
Pacific Basin's H1 profit doubles on volume growth
ASIA-focused bulk shipping line Pacific Basin Shipping said its net profit nearly doubled in the first half as regional trade grew and freight rates increased.
MPA, Rotterdam tie up on R&D conference

Strait Talk

Hurricane Katrina's mixed effects on global shipping
THE world usually notices mariners and the shipping industry only in times of crisis; wars or natural disasters.

	web site

China, EU textiles deal to free up garments stuck at ports Qingdao to invest US$1.23b in new container terminal K + N in France renews warehousing contract with Puma Port of New Orleans begins limited operations after Katrina CMA CGM completes purchase of Delmas Portek chairman steps down from various committees China Airlines eyes stake in Yangtze River Express Finnair offers Guangzhou service Mainland carrier launches service to Russia China opens airspace for Taiwanese airlines

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
KLM appoints van Koppen company secretary Oakland initiates night gates project New Orleans airport operations impaired Schneider National drivers at home for 17 weeks Takeover imminent at Exel? Operation Air Care D+S Distribution selects SkyBitz Fiata World Congress registrations starts in 6 days

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
USCG rescues over 22,000 survivors LR-registered LNG carriers pass 100 mark NOS cuts margins London Club warns of cargo light danger

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
Gulf oil and gas production starts to pick up MARAD reserve ships tapped for Hurricane relief Maritrans orders three 335,000 bbl ATB's from Bender Jones Act waiver appears limited HSV-2 speeds post-Katrina relief supplies

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Katrina losses may hit $50bn warn insurers INSURERS and reinsurers globally are facing a total loss of around $50bn from the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe in the US, a top London practitioner has forecast. Excel Maritime steps up to NYSE DRY bulk operator Excel Maritime Carriers is to list on the New York Stock Exchange, switching from the American Stock Exchange after 16 years in a bid to boost its share liquidity and visibility. Jones Act waiver not hard to navigate, says US THE waiver of the Jones Act involves less red tape than feared, according to US Customs and Border Protection. Joint venture increases LR's market in China LLOYD'S Register and China Classification Society have signed an exclusive agreement to establish a new joint venture, to be based in Beijing, writes Hugh O'Mahony.

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
Signs of life at US Gulf refineries FLARES have been lit above five of eight refineries along the US Gulf Coast that were closed by Hurricane Katrina - indicating the facilities are preparing to restart Dry market FFAs now easier to trade IT has become much easier to trade forward freight agreements in the dry markets Kiperousa wreck pounded by waves THE saga of the wrecked bulk carrier Kiperousa continues off the South Africa coast, as a barge brought in by the salvor has itself been extensively damaged Columbia River LNG proposal COAST Guard officials are assessing the viability of the Columbia River as a possible LNG tanker route LR, China Class sign Beijing deal LLOYD'S Register Asia has signed an agreement with China Classification Society that will enable both to take advantage of the rapid growth of China's shipping sector HCI Capital ready for IPO GERMAN KG finance house HCI Capital is planning to float on the stock exchange in early October, making it the second listed KG financier after MPC Capital Typhoon Nabi hits southern Japan Petronas bids for Shanghai LNG deal Kremlin looks to dampen oil exports St Petersburg deal edges closer Viking warns of loss for year Bolloré signs takeover agreement

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
Port of New Orleans prepares to reopen Officials said Hurricane Katrina left port terminals damaged but workable, will handle relief cargo this week as staff returns, power is restored. Lower Mississippi re-opens, with restrictions Limits for Port of Mobile traffic Gulf ports re-open Relief: RRF ships deployed Companies collect donations New storm threatens Florida ports Report: Katrina could slow other ports Customs shifts sites for Gulf port transactions Storm hits Palm Beach intermodal cargo Houston port expedites dredging CMA CGM buys Delmas D. Post near deal for Exel

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
HK customs crack down on origin labelling abuses Hong Kong Customs have declared victory in two more raids in their ongoing campaign against false origin labelling and counterfeit goods. Toll and Patrick at war over Pacific National Takeover target Patrick Corp and its suitor Toll Holdings are in dispute over the pair's sole joint venture, the Pacific National (PN) railway company. Diesel need: New Orleans seeking diesel supplies, as restoration begins HK truckers urge fuel tax cut Tuxpan to relieve Veracruz pressure RCL rating upgraded, as it upgrades services Terminal entrant: Klaipeda volumes could hit 300,000TEU Mandelson: Sino-EU relations should move past textiles Dunkirk box-traffic continues steady year-to-date growth Concor outlines wagon-acquisition programme

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
Blank check buys into Jones Act Buyout project Rand Acquisition has swerved from the entertainment industry to Great Lakes self-unloaders. Excel to the Big Board Growing bulker owner Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd is stepping up from the Amex to the NYSE. Diana marks time Simeon Palios's Diana Shipping is keeping two panamaxes on short-term charters and confirms its latest purchase. Red ink for Viking Line Tax changes take a big bite out of Finnish ferry operator's profitability. Pareto rebuilds S&P Norwegian group takes two brokers from Fearnleys to regain ground lost in exodus from Bassoe subsidiary. Maritrans flags $450m offerings Jonathan Whitworth-led Maritrans is following up a three-unit order with a shelf registration to back up growth. Shipbuilder turns to breaking Historic Tyneside yard plans to get into shipbreaking as orders dry up. Maritrans goes on a Bender US owner picks Alabama yard to build three tug-barges and signs Sunoco lightering deal. Fesco falls as fuel bill rises Russian boxship owner posts first-half loss as bunker costs and repair expenses increase. Ship undamaged in sub clash Turkish bulker Yasa Aysen avoided serious damage in collision with US navy craft off Bahrain. Typhoon hits Japan's refineries Deliveries at eight companies brought to a standstill as cyclone brings winds of 90 miles an hour. NOS cuts drybulk margins Clearing house says more liquidity in panamax and handymax derivative market means lower prices. India signs for ferries Lakshadweep islands administration orders five passenger vessels in Singapore and Malaysia. Gulf yard damaged by Katrina VT Halter Marine chiefs are assessing wind and water damage at three facilities. Wan Hai buys airline stake Taiwanese boxship owner joins Yang Ming in foray into air cargo market.

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
CMA CGM third-largest carrier after Delmas takeover ESC "frustrated" by MEPs on issue of block exemption Jones Act group supports Bush's temporary waiver for fuel transport Independent Container Line to double intermodal fuel surcharge MarAd sheds three more ships from James River fleet NYK signs contract to ship Iron Ore from Brazil to China Swift retires from OSG Cruise crewmembers killed in hazmat accident in Port of L.A. EC plans to open aviation negotiations with Australia, Chile and India Bankruptcy Court permits US Airways sale/leaseback transaction Nippon Cargo Airlines alters Boeing freighters order SAS Cargo starts Copenhagen/Luxembourg service AZAL receives first A319 plane from Airbus DOT coordinates transportation for relief efforts CBP delivers seized counterfeit goods to Katrina victims CBP plans trade symposium Nov. 2-4 CBP stops grain beetle entry at Savannah Land O' Lakes receives 11,100 metric tons of wheat for Uganda Puma renews French warehousing contract with Kuehne + Nagel Lower Mississippi open, Port of New Orleans 'damaged' but 'workable' CBP proposes Sacramento port of entry P&O Ports names Gradon to head London Gateway project Port of Gothenburg's box volume up 8% Ports of Auckland's net profit down 4.7% Eastern Car Liner switches PNW operations to the Port of Everett Terminal Operations Conference shifted to Savannah

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
Loss for Viking Line Viking Line reports a EUR 283.4 million turnover in the first nine months of their fiscal year (1 November ' 31 ... Jones Act suspended to 18 September The Jones Act cabotage rules are suspended to 18 September, making it possible to charter-in foreign-flagged tankers for ... Cruiseships in post "Katrina" relief work Four cruiseships are chartered in by Military Sealift Command (MSC) for six months and option for another three month to ...

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SEPTEMBER 6, 2005
Houston supplier ups barge rates Houston Marine Services raises barge rates as 'cost of doing business' increases. Port Mobile open for business Bunker supplier in the US Gulf Coast port advises that operations have resumed and enquiries are being received. FAMM President to make address as forum gains momentum The inaugural Bunkerworld Forum: Marine Fuel Sustainability, to be held in San Francisco from October 5-7, continues to gather momentum - with over 110 delegates already registered to attend Chinese cargo interest boosts Asian fuel oil premiums Asian fuel oil premiums at two-year high on reduced supply, but traders wary of possible arbitrage opening. South Korea: Healthy bunker premiums keeping exports down South Korean refiners preferring bunker market sales due to healthy returns. New fuel efficient engine in the pipeline Mitsubishi promising 'exceptionally low fuel consumption' with new engine for handysize bulkers and product tankers. Japan decides to release oil reserves Japan will release 7.3 million barrels of oil over a 30-day period in an effort to ease world oil prices. ARA market holds firm despite crude loss South Korea: Fuel oil exports to rise in October South Korean oil refiners are expected to export more high sulphur fuel oil in October compared to this month. Coastguard tug causes oil spill Embarrassment as Maritime and Coastguard Agency tug causes pollution and master fails breathalyser test.