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NOL's Q4 profit may increase 35% to US$181m: analysts
NEPTUNE Orient Lines may report that its fourth-quarter profit rose 35 per cent as demand for Asian goods in the US and Europe helped it move more cargo and raise rates.
Keppel Fels sells stake in US$108m rig
KEPPEL Fels Ltd said yesterday it has sold its 75 per cent stake in a US$108 million jack-up rig it has just completed for US-based energy services company Ensco International Inc.

Strait Talk

All vessels in S-E Asia need location devices
PIRACY is still the issue that will not go away

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Shipping News

NOL's Q4 profit may increase 35% to US$181m: analysts
NEPTUNE Orient Lines may report that its fourth-quarter profit rose 35 per cent as demand for Asian goods in the US and Europe helped it move more cargo and raise rates.
Keppel Fels sells stake in US$108m rig
KEPPEL Fels Ltd said yesterday it has sold its 75 per cent stake in a US$108 million jack-up rig it has just completed for US-based energy services company Ensco International Inc.

Strait Talk

All vessels in S-E Asia need location devices
PIRACY is still the issue that will not go away

	web site

MoS hopeful of Budget redressing maritime sector's concerns DCM Hyundai supplies ISO 20' standard boxes to NLS Agency Move to monitor cargo transport intermediaries India, Finland to promote bilateral trade Rlys gives thrust to ex-im cargo traffic with port links Budget may opt for rail freight rationalisation CM assures better infrastructure facilities Eighteen states pass VAT legislation Tax structure may be simplified; textile sector in for more sops Assocham pleads for duty-free imports of inputs for exporters Imports of sensitive items dip AEPC submits pre-Budget wish-list to face post-MFA challenges Rajasthan to set up AEZs for cumin seeds, coriander 3 firms remain in fray for GAIL's Dahej-Uran gas pipeline project SEAI urges govt to hike oils import duty Exports poised to double by 2009'Minister State set to impose cess in lieu of octroi from April 1

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
Singapore: Underground storage could free more refining space The Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore has proposed relocating above ground storage tanks to underground caverns on Jurong Island to free space for more production and refining facilities. Scrubber manufacturer seeks new partners EcoSilencer manufacturer, Diversified Metal Engineering (DME) maintains the feasibility of the scrubber despite being dropped from further BP trials. Indian shipping and port sector calls for bunker tax exemption Officials from India's ministry of shipping and ports are calling on the government to exempt bunker fuel from excise duty in its 2005-2006 budget. Crude little changed after yesterday's plunge Crude oil futures were little change in after hours trading this morning following a significant fall on both sides of the Atlantic yesterday.

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
Australia: electronic fatigue countermeasures for train drivers Nigeria: collection of cargo levies at ports stopped Exel shrouded in merger rumours Honold Logistik and Combifragt found Danish subsidiary International airport in Srinagar by 2006 Wallenius Wilhelmsen chooses general agent for Italy Wincanton appoints new sales manager

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
Good year for Wilh. Wilhelmsen PSA buying HK terminals stake Camillo Eitzen decides not buy Finaval ships Vita Holdings' strong first half

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Browne enjoys fruits of investment programme STRONG oil production growth and high crude prices boosted British oil major BP's annual profits by 26% as the London-based company saw the fruits of its huge investment programme. Frontline and BP end crude carrier deal A GROUNDBREAKING very large crude carrier deal between Frontline, the world's largest tanker operator, and Europe's leading oil major BP has come to an end after two years. Eitzen ends talks with Finaval after just one month EXPANSIVE Norwegian shipping entrepreneur Axel Eitzen yesterday ended talks with Italy's Finaval over an estimated $200m proposed acquisition of eight small to medium sized chemical tankers. MEPs back lines on Irish light dues row SHIPOWNERS fighting to reduce charges for navigational aids around the British Isles have won the backing of a powerful group of politicians. China trade surplus pushed up by January export figures CHINA'S exports surged 42.2% in January from the same period a year earlier, pushing the country's trade surplus to $6.5bn for the month, the government said yesterday, AP reports.

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
US ports warn of funding deficit PORTS across the US are getting short changed in both security funding and improvements in navigational needs, according to the head of the port trade group Six feared dead off Faroe Isles SIX people are feared dead after the Isle of Man-registered 3,200dwt cargo vessel Jokulfell sank 48 n-miles northeast of the Fugjoy lighthouse, Faroe Islands last night Seacat ends Scotland-Ireland route THE cutback of Sea Container's UK ferry operations continued yesterday with the closure of the service between Troon in Scotland and Belfast in Northern Ireland Builders back Bush tanker snub THE Bush budget calls for the rescission of $75M in product-tanker subsidies, and the American Shipbuilding Association backs the president's decision Grindrod buys coal terminals GRINDROD, the South African logistics group, has taken a controlling share in coal terminals at Maputo, Mozambique and Walvis Bay, Namibia Heavy seas hinder bulker salvage LIGHTERING of the grounded bulker Cape Flattery off Barbers Point in Hawaii has been suspended due to heavy sea conditions Bush budget cuts maritime spending Seafarer killed in ship fire Eitzen ends Finaval talks Philippines halts SAR payments Australia needs port investment Boulogne bids for new freight link Singapore bunkers 'uncontaminated' Chuan Hup to sell its fleet

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
Containership orders set fast pace More than 50 ships ordered since Jan. 1 as carriers gamble on sustained demand for new tonnage. New York/New Jersey to add 1,000 dockworkers U.S. to reinstate Seaway tolls Global traffic spurs U.S. intermodal China airport aims for Hong Kong traffic AAPA wants federal help for security Trade spurs Boston TEUs NY-NJ PA names Blanco as CFO Four dead, two missing after Icelandic freighter sinks NYSA launches PR campaign AMEX grants Stonepath filing extension

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
Off-peak programme again delayed at LA/Long Beach Plans to shift some activity off-peak hours at congested Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been delayed again, until late May or early June. Incensed GA lines allege PONL Med terminal skulduggery A new terminal row appears to be brewing within the Grand Alliance as member lines suspect P&O Nedlloyd (PONL) of railroading them into a Mediterranean terminal swap from La Spezia to Genoa. US Port funding proposals will hit dredging and security says AAPA Port of Vancouver gets higher borrowing limit to invest EU promises that quotas on Chinese textiles are 'last resort' CP Rail doubles box user fee ANZ-WCNA VSA getting back to normal Russian Rail to invest in Kaliningrad Port access Asia-Australia peak season surcharge ends Auto logistics boosts Duisburg volumes Trade between EU and Tianjin sees strong growth Russia invests in transit trades SembCorp Marine net profits up 21% Yang Ming ships 348TEU to tsunami-affected areas

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
Flat Tuesday Mardi Gras finds tanker stocks fizzling ahead of fourth-quarter earnings reports. Thenamaris wins Kestrel work Suezmax Searacer will transfer ExxonMobil cargo from Genmar's holed single hull. Grindrod takes port stake South African shipping group splashes out $4.7m on coal terminals Stolt bond buyback falters Chemical owner struggles to get investor agreement for the repurchase of $310m in debt. Turks to inspect Lakes ferry Istanbul Fast Ferries emerges as surprise interested party in Rochester-Toronto fast ferry. Miller joins Miller Lloyd's broker adds another namesake to its marine big band. Four dead as cargoship sinks Five men rescued from Tesma Estonia-managed Jokulfell off Faroe Islands, but search continues for two others. Eitzen rejects Finaval deal Norwegian shipowner pulls out of negotiations on $200m acquisition but still wants to expand chemical carrier fleet. Saatli refloated Caspian Shipping's general cargoship finally freed after a week off Makhachkala. North-Western heads to Belgium Russian owner launches new containership route from St Petersburg to Antwerp. SeaCat axes route UK ferry operator will not resume Troon-Belfast route in the spring after losses become 'unacceptable'. Boxships fail Hong Kong checks Evergreen, Fesco, L&B and Briese vessels among those that failed port state inspections in January. OSG stabbing suspect named British Police name officer cadet Bruce Arcamo as chief suspect in murder of aframax master. Qatar to start LNG orders First of 16 newbuild orders to begin this month, as government sets summer date for Qatar Gas II tender. Mercator mulls bond issue Fast-growing Indian owner looks at raising fresh cash overseas. Cape Flattery lightering halted Cargo removal operations on grounded Pacific Basin bulker halted due to 'unsafe' sea conditions. Vita makes stellar start Singapore shipping and property group sees near 40% increase in debut set of results since listing.

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
MSC's worldwide box traffic soars Wilh. Wilhelmsen doubled net income in 2004 MarAd will review maritime security training courses Samskip ship sinks off Faroe Islands Samskip buys FWL software package UPS adds density to Poland delivery network Delta to start second Dominican Rep. service from JFK Pilot Air sees fourth-quarter, year-end revenue jumps DHS budget includes plans for regions, screening and policy coordination EU's Solana urges cooperation on security FAO approves global effort to control "mad cow" disease Commerce rules Chinese tissue paper dumped on U.S. market Senate committee approves Chertoff for DHS job U.S. rejoins International Coffee Organization USDA to permit meat shipments from Slovakia ACS picked to automate PierPass off-peak container moves PSA finally gets Hong Kong terminal foothold

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FEBRUARY 8, 2005
BP cancel Frontline VLCC charter Changing trading and supply patterns has forced British Petroleum to cancel a COA involving the VLCC's "British Progress", "British Purpose ... OSM mans Swedish icebreakers On 1 May, OSM Ship Management takes over management of the Swedish state icebreakers from B&N Nordsjöfrakt. A five ...