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Shipping News

Malacca Straits depths being surveyed by US Navy
A US Navy hydrographic vessel has begun surveying depths in the Malacca Straits off the Aceh coastline, amid reports of massive depth changes near vital shipping lanes after the Dec 26 earthquake and tsunamis.
Tsunami-hit navigational aid under review
INTERNATIONAL organisations responsible for safe navigation have begun assessing maritime infrastructure following the Indian Ocean tsunami which rendered up to 60 per cent of navigational aid on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands inoperable.
Hike in metal scrap cargo rates planned
P&O Nedlloyd, Neptune Orient Lines and 11 other shipping lines are seeking to increase rates on shipping metal scrap between Asia and the US on growing demand.
Hutchison, OOIL to invest US$800m in Ningbo port

Strait Talk

Liner shipping squares up to Brussels
THE European Liner Affairs Association is not really quite what its title suggests.

web site

Shipping News

Malacca Straits depths being surveyed by US Navy
A US Navy hydrographic vessel has begun surveying depths in the Malacca Straits off the Aceh coastline, amid reports of massive depth changes near vital shipping lanes after the Dec 26 earthquake and tsunamis.
Tsunami-hit navigational aid under review
INTERNATIONAL organisations responsible for safe navigation have begun assessing maritime infrastructure following the Indian Ocean tsunami which rendered up to 60 per cent of navigational aid on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands inoperable.
Hike in metal scrap cargo rates planned
P&O Nedlloyd, Neptune Orient Lines and 11 other shipping lines are seeking to increase rates on shipping metal scrap between Asia and the US on growing demand.
Hutchison, OOIL to invest US$800m in Ningbo port

Strait Talk

Liner shipping squares up to Brussels
THE European Liner Affairs Association is not really quite what its title suggests.

	web site

Hong Kong top container port in the world Senator organises tsunami relief US job losses caused by China not a concern, says survey Panama Canal toll hikes meet with liner resistance Awards Shipping opens more China offices Kalmar's green crane swings into action Rickmers-Linie Belgium appoints new MD Menzies Hong Kong wins new cargo handling deal Shanghai-based airlines ready for cross-Strait charter flights Qantas may outsource some jobs and services Continental achieves more costs cutting

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Budget may extend tonnage tax option to dredging cos MISC to retain liner business Rlys' port link projects making good progress Commerce Ministry invites feedback from ex-im trade on NFTP policy/procedures by Jan. 24 Kamal Nath sets $ 13 bn export target for engineering sector Kamal Nath to meet EPCES representatives for feedback today Commerce, Finance Ministries' views vary on SEZ Bill Govt may dereserve more SSI products in 2005-06 Budget Tax component of exporters' input costs may be neutralised soon Burden of collecting service tax to be on transporters VAT a good deal for exporters Imports may be excluded for now

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JANUARY 18, 2005
DNVPS: 'Off-spec' fuel not aligned to port or supplier DNV Petroleum Services 2004 review shows that 'off-spec' or poor quality fuel can occur in any port and involve any supplier; highlights polymeric in bunker fuel has become more prominent. Fujairah bunker market not ready for single-hull ban Fujairah bunker market could see exodus of suppliers if government enforces early ban on using single-hull tankers for fuel oil storage; potentially threatening its prominant bunkering hub-status. Competitive numbers boost Hong Kong demand Suppliers in Hong Kong enjoy healthy demand amid favourable regional price level, while Taiwanese prices show little movement so far this week. Saudi posted price update Domestic requirements leave Kuwait tight until February Smaller parcels still offered in Kuwait, but market remains tight until month-end. Rotterdam market surges with crude Yanbu cargoes likely source of de-bunkered fuel Players say source of de-bunkered fuel is almost certainly from a batch of high-sodium cargoes. Crude oil futures surge in after hours trading Crude oil futures surge in after hours trading on US heating oil worries and Middle East supply concerns. Singapore suppliers confident of meeting shipping's demands Bunker suppliers told Bunkerworld today that they were optimistic of meeting demand for fuel through January, despite depleted supplies of IFO380 due to high sodium supplies in the Republic. Dwindling 'on-spec' IFO380 stocks see suppliers inactive Independent supplier Global Energy reportedly focusing on meeting contract requirements as ex-wharf players also suspend deliveries.

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JANUARY 18, 2005
Alcatel for Bothnia Line China to encourage inland shipping Alpha Express targets Hong Kong Hupac group posts double-digit traffic growth rates Kuzu Airlines Cargo has new official Iata code Port of Lome: CMA CGM and Progosa group sign agreement Altas Air Worldwide Holdings appoints new board director

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JANUARY 18, 2005
Panama charges "should go up" Aker reaches Finnish job cuts deal Golar outsources technical management US gives Lykes US$145m contract Port terminal demand "to double by 2015" Farstad orders at Brevick

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JANUARY 18, 2005
NTSB opens S.I. ferry docket New MSP line-up Ship management shake up at Golar LNG Two fined in pollution case

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Aker Finnyards scales back job cuts NEGOTIATIONS and a higher than anticipated workload leads to Aker subsidiary scaling down previously announced job cuts. Volgotanker assets frozen in tax crackdown RUSSIAN shipping giant Volgotanker has seen its tanker and oil terminal assets frozen by federal tax officials in the aftermath of the Yukos tax affair and during tax troubles of its own. Sanity to reign in Brussels over crew criminalisation EUROPEAN Union transport ministers are expected to tone down controversial new sanctions for seafarers, a key Euro MP has told Lloyd's List, raising hopes of a victory for the maritime industry's lobbying campaign. Spate of chemical tanker blasts sparks probe by owners and ports ANXIETY over a recent spate of chemical tanker explosions has led to the setting up of a special steering committee which held its first meeting in London yesterday, writes Sandra Speares. ExxonMobil bid to build Bonny Island LNG plant EXXONMOBIL has signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to conduct a feasibility study on building an liquefied natural gas plant at Bonny Island in south east Nigeria, Reuters reports.

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JANUARY 18, 2005
ISPS raises US safety detentions HEIGHTENED maritime security in the post-ISPS world has led to a spike in the number of vessel detentions in US waters, the Coast Guard tells Fairplay Dubai receives world's largest gantries DUBAI Ports Authority has taken delivery of the world's largest gantry cranes, for Dubai container port La Goulette tenders for cruise berth THE Office of Shipping and Ports in Tunisia is seeking interested parties to build and operate a cruise terminal at La Goulette, Tunisia Seven Seas pulls cruise after fire Engineers sentenced for dumping Boxship year begins slowly Mozambique-Malawi link upgrade UK court fines Sea Containers Mersey Docks confirms bid talks Khor Fakkan expansion begins Pelepas surpasses 4M TEU mark Bunbury trials steam coal shipments Seafarers killed in tanker blast

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JANUARY 18, 2005
Weather delays Canada rail traffic Shipments to and from the U.S. affected as Canadian railroads battle severe winter weather. FedEx says fuel charge restored margins Airbus rolls out A380 superjumbo Union Pacific slates route re-openings 32 stowaways in LA containers Horizon Lines adds Florida call CMA CGM, PONL in East Med-Black Sea co-op MOL forms United Arab Emirates subsidiary Gain for Lake Superior shipping Martinair adds Beirut flight

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JANUARY 18, 2005
Immigration officials launch investigation into LA stowaways Immigration officials continued their investigations today on 32 stowaways found in two containers at the Port of Los Angeles over the weekend. Direct cargo stalls Hong Kong throughput growth Direct shipments, the most important source of cargo for Hong Kong, grew just 0.5% last year, despite a first double-digit growth for Kwai Chung in the last three years. Ningbo signs development deals with OOIL and Hutchison Russia's Baltic and Black Sea twins exceed 20% growth Commission TENs support dips slightly, but boost due in 2007-2013 Adelaide awaits dredging decision Australian imports surpass exports as NZ commodities slip FESCO 40-footers will help expand Asia-Pacific position New Korean maritime minister reveals plans for Busan Port PONL agrees Black Sea slot deal with CMA CGM Seattle predicts sustained growth for the year WTSA lines raise scrap metal rates Transhipment cargo still driving Le Havre growth Mersey Docks company in talks with private equity house

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JANUARY 18, 2005
Axel Eitzen swings again The acquisitive Camillo Eitzen is after Finaval's chemical tanker fleet despite previous denials. US slaps Mass spill bill Justice Department sues Massachusetts for usurping federal powers with oil-spill law. Tet offensive for Can Gio Vietnam's prime minister has gotten involved in the seizure of a Danish general cargoship. Shanghai-on-the-Elbe China's Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard is taking a foothold in Europe as builder of river vessels. Volgotanker assets frozen Tax bill row jeopardises Russian owner's summer oil export volumes. Nedlloyd nabs slots Dutch line buys space on CMA CGM ships linking Asia to Black Sea and Med. Croatia ups Jadroplov price Controlling stake in bulker and boxship owner to go for at least $44m in new tender. Filipinos send $1.4bn home Seafarer remittances rise 12% last year as Philippines provide a quarter of world crew. Livanos 'not selling out' Sources close to Peter Livanos play down his latest sale of Odfjell stock as demand-driven. Fisher lands another minnow UK marine group builds nuclear services portfolio with design firm acquisition. Golar swings the axe Over half of LNG company staff face redundancy as Barber and Thome are brought in as ship managers. Smaller cuts at Finnyards Finnish unions have persuaded Aker Yards to step back on planned lay-offs. Varun fundraising again Indian owner to sell shares and warrants as it posts third quarter earnings rise. Flying Dolphins beached Gerassimos Strintzis launches Hellenic Seaways in second rebranding since Express Samina tragedy. Safmarine adds Scottish call South African line now going to Aberdeen as part of Oil Ports Express service. China Ocean seeks $350m loan Proceeds will be used to buy Cosco Pacific stake ahead of massive IPO. Algoma picks up tanker pair Canadian shipping firm stays in acquisition mode as it snaps up modern and elderly tankers. Green private placement Investors have handed Oslo-listed Green Reefers $9.3m in a private placement. US holds nine offenders Cosco (Hong Kong), Cosmoship and Malaysian Merchant Marine make last detention list of 2004. Dividend debut for Arlington New tanker owner prepares to pay out $6m to investors for its first 51 operating days. PTP passes 4m-teu barrier Record year sees up and coming Malaysian container terminal post 15.2% throughput increase.

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JANUARY 18, 2005
Lykes to get $145-million in MSP subsidies over 10 years U.S. judge blocks antitrust case against Stolt-Nielsen U.S.-to-Asia carriers raise metal scrap rates Coast Guard inspects hull of "Athos I" at Alabama shipyard P&O Nedlloyd signs $35 million IT network contract P&O Nedlloyd takes space on Asia/eastern Med/Black Sea services Crowley Liner Services acquires new 45-foot, 53-foot containers, chassis Horizon Lines to add Jacksonville calls in February Safmarine adds Aberdeen to Europe/West Africa multipurpose link First Geest North Sea ship built to handle 45-foot European containers Wolff joins TT Club as senior underwriter Opera house given by Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller opens in Copenhagen FedEx chairman seeks reciprocal cargo access for U.S., Europe markets Airbus unveils "superjumbo" jet Continental wins labor concessions United Airlines appoint Foland as North America sales VP Cardig Air awards cargo-handling contract to Menzies Calexico is FAST capable Tanjung Pelepas tops 4 million TEUs in 2004

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JANUARY 18, 2005
Reduction of the workforce at Aker Finnyards The negotiations with the employees have been concluded concerning the restructuring of Finland's largest shipyards into a new company Aker ... BIMCO appoints Niel Kinnock as EU liaison officer The former transport commissioner and vice president of the EU Commission Niel Kinnock has become the international shipping organisation BIMCO's ...