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Shipping News

Robust market for new offshore support vessels
SURGING oil prices and an ageing fleet of vessels are among key drivers behind the robust market for new generation offshore support vessels that increasingly need to cater for the unique demands of deepwater support operations.
Oakland port eyes control of inland rival
PORT of Oakland officials want to take control of the financially struggling Port of Sacramento as part of the ongoing efforts to expand maritime terminals to meet the demand for more Asian imports.
Asia freight rates up, on strong grain, ore demand
SHIPPING rates for benchmark Asian routes extended gains on expectations of greater demand for US grain carriers and higher iron ore demand from China where inventories are falling, brokers said.
LNG vessel owners face US$30b bill
Subic takes delivery of 7 harbour vessels
Aramco hires 3 tankers to ship crude to US Gulf Coast

Strait Talk

Shipowners need to act quickly on minimum manning
LAST week's International Shipping Federation Manning and Training Conference was characterised by a degree of goodwill between the employers' and employees' representatives that simply couldn't have been believed five years ago.

web site

Shipping News

Robust market for new offshore support vessels
SURGING oil prices and an ageing fleet of vessels are among key drivers behind the robust market for new generation offshore support vessels that increasingly need to cater for the unique demands of deepwater support operations.
Oakland port eyes control of inland rival
PORT of Oakland officials want to take control of the financially struggling Port of Sacramento as part of the ongoing efforts to expand maritime terminals to meet the demand for more Asian imports.
Asia freight rates up, on strong grain, ore demand
SHIPPING rates for benchmark Asian routes extended gains on expectations of greater demand for US grain carriers and higher iron ore demand from China where inventories are falling, brokers said.
LNG vessel owners face US$30b bill
Subic takes delivery of 7 harbour vessels
Aramco hires 3 tankers to ship crude to US Gulf Coast

Strait Talk

Shipowners need to act quickly on minimum manning
LAST week's International Shipping Federation Manning and Training Conference was characterised by a degree of goodwill between the employers' and employees' representatives that simply couldn't have been believed five years ago.

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DP says agreement has been reached for Exel takeover Oakland seeks to run Port of Sacramento GAC to provide logistics services at Doha Asian Games Hanjin, "K" Line, YML to launch new Asia/Med service Yangshan Port to begin trial operations MOL buys shares in CIG Yangtze Ports No smoke without fire at Port of Seattle Cathay Pacific considers providing flights to Hungary Crewmembers strike at Polar Air Cargo Cebu Pacific, BAX Global shake hands on five-year deal

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Adsteam Agency joins hands with HCLto enhance customer options New security rules for US-bound cargo in offing Brand equity-textile industry to widen market with stamp of its brand Customs adopts new procedure to avoid box congestion at Chennai Port Kandla Port may see cargo boom in 2007 GDL-CONCOR pact on ICD services, port links from ICD-Garhi Harsaru CWC planning to provide box freight rail services Move for uniform highway toll rates Begin your quality journey with basic quality management system to ISO 9001:2000

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
New Vietnam team for Samskip Ecu-Line improves Sri Lanka service Emirates fleet grows to 80 planes Bulgaria: Trakiya highway one step further Exel to handle European exports for Chiron Major trans-European transport network projects TDG upgrades Transform software IACC Expo in Houston

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
UK emergency towing vessel master faces multiple charges Malays "losing seafaring jobs" Ezra sells modern anchor handler Nav system gift for Mississippi pilots

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
Aries Maritime in newbuilding purchasedeal with Stena Fincantieri to build ice-class cruise ship Navy contract for Detyens Tax guidance on Jones Act waiver

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UASC boxship refloated on Scheldt A containership owned by United Arab Shipping Co that grounded on the River Scheldt near Antwerp early yesterday morning was refloated last night. FPSO market lined up as next target for Fredriksen treatment JOHN Fredriksen has confirmed he is planning an assault on the market for floating production, storage and offloading vessels as his next expansion target. Restis set for initial public offering of Golden Energy Marine GREECE'S Restis Group is set to launch its Golden Energy Marine initial public offering with a target of selling about $150m of shares and a listing on Nasdaq next month. US farmers demand own Jones Act waiver for barges and dry bulk THE two-week waiver of the Jones Act for the transport of petroleum products within US waters expired uneventfully as scheduled on Sunday, but now the national farm industry is demanding a similar waiver for grain barges and dry bulk tonnage through the rest of the year.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
Transpetro tender back on track TRANSPETRO'S president, Sergio Machado, says the $2Bn tender to build 42 tankers will be back on course this week Islamic phobia allegation denied MALAYSIAN officials have refuted claims that its seafarers are being discriminated by foreign owners because of their Islamic faith Owners throw money at new tonnage MANY shipowners' decisions to order new ships have been made more in hope than through an assembly of the facts, according to a London-based commercial banker Grounding blocks Antwerp approaches A CONTAINER ship believed to be carrying hazardous cargo ran aground while departing Antwerp this morning, and the Westerschelde has been closed to traffic today LR mulls move from London CLASS society Lloyd's Register is considering moving out of London, possibly to Southampton on the UK's south coast Wilhelmsen, APM in supply vessel jv SUBSIDIARIES of Wilh. Wilhelmsen in Norway and AP Moller-Maersk in Copenhagen have set up a supply ship joint venture to operate in the Middle East Gulf and Far East Everglades prepares to re-open Talks could lead to Solas change RasGas time charter LNG fleet growing Experts disagree on freight rate future Call to stop IF redundancy scheme Dreyfus confirms Channel link STX sets up in Hong Kong Investment funds bid for SNCM Singapore may store oil underground 'Islam phobia' hurts Malaysian crew

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
West Coast imports herald peak season Cargo volumes at West Coast ports picked up strongly in August, as peak shipping season got underway. Boxship blocking Antwerp channel Rita brushes Fla. Export ABCs: Commerce Control List U.S. maritime security plan approved Racketeering trial of ILA leaders begins S.C. Supreme Court hears port case Oracle to acquire G-Log Jones Act waiver for oil ends IBM, Maersk Logistics launch box tracking project MOL expands Africa services Savi launches RFID box tracking

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
Antwerp unchained as UASC ship is towed off The UASC ship Fowairet was successfully towed off its sandbank on the Westerscheldt today at about 17:30 local time, some twelve hours after it ran aground near Antwerp. Australian shippers face phalanx of rising charges Rising Australian port fees have made carriers in all major trades to lift port service charges (PSCs) and terminal handling charges (THCs), while bunker surchargers continue their seemingly inexorable rises. Grounded containership blocks Antwerp Pressure tells as Carena resigns Bandar Abbas aims to compete with Jebel Ali S.Florida preparing to reopen, after Rita passes Patrick takes Toll to court over Pacific National Disgruntled JN Port transporters renew boycott strike MOL announces Africa/Sub-Continent link Minister says China's textile exports to EU won't be affected Deutsche Posts £3.7bn bid for Exel Yang Ming renews leasing contract for Kaohsiung berths DHS grant to fund emergency drill at Sea-Tac STX Pan Ocean establishes Hong Kong subsidiary

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
Restis ungrabs $70m Victor Restis's revived IPO now proposes to pay its principals $290m for nine panamaxes instead of $360m. UASC ship aground Containership Fowairet aground in Belgian port's Westerschelde approach, reported leaking oil. Cantor touts MC Shipping Cantor Fitzgerald points to acquisitions in Enrico Bogazzi-controlled MC Shipping's future as it initiates coverage with a buy rating. Dredger sinks boxship A bunkers leak has hit Namibia's Walvis Bay after a dredge allegedly rammed a Grindrod feeder containership, which sank. Katrina dominates IUMI Not a lot is known about the insured loss but marine insurers are certain the hurricane is an industry changing event. Graig goes to India UK group places trust in Hindustan Shipyard with order for up to nine bulkers. Bollore eyes African ports French financier, flush with Delmas cash, fancies flutter on terminal concessions. Minister urges Irish Ferries to wait Marine Minister Pat Gallagher wants owner to reconsider redundancy plan for all Irish crew. Lyras adds voice to EU row Greek owner lambasts criminalisation of seafarers as threat to safety. OVDS confirms Italian order Norwegian owner orders cruiseship at Fincantieri to build Greenland business. Pakistan approves ferry link Shipping minister Babar Ghauri okays service between Mumbai, Karachi and Dubai. MOL links Asia, Africa Japanese giant teaming with PIL and Laurel Navigation to serve India, Pakistan, Middle East and southern and eastern Africa. Attica slips as fuel bites Greek ferry firm posts lower half-year results as bunker price starts to hurt. Piracy to become war risk London underwriters bid to resolve Malacca Strait quarrel with shipowners by removing violent attacks on vessels from hull cover. Dahej back in business Petronet LNG's terminal functioning despite sustaining damage from tugs blown by storm winds. Rescue tug skipper charged UK emergency towing vessel skipper was three times over the limit when his ship ran aground. Ezra sells Lewek Ebony Sale of three-year-old anchor handler helps Singapore owner reduce gearing and improve cash flow.

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
China Shipping leapfrogs APL as world's fifth-largest box carrier APL sees rise in August traffic, revenue CMA CGM completes acquisition of Sudcargos MOL to continue Asia/South Africa/West Africa service Carriers to link Indian subcontinent, Middle East, Africa Maersk Sealand to open Hawaii office McMullen, naval architect and former US Lines chairman, dies at 87 TSA delays "proof of concept" pilot for air cargo security program UPS, DHL resume service in New Orleans and environs NIT League's Gatti concerned over hazmat train restrictions UP opens intermodal terminal near Dallas CBP to eliminate bond requirement for monthly duty payments Brokers, carriers move closer to resolving demurrage dispute Blust: NSAs expand in ocean shipping Hanjin Logistics hires 3 industry sales veterans Dinner at Smithsonian to mark 50th anniversary of containerization CBP ready for business after Katrina APM Terminals to take control of Dunkirk terminal South Florida ports closed to most traffic West Coast ports host terrorist response drills

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SEPTEMBER 20, 2005
World Fuel Services plans $124 million share offering Fuel marketer announces offering to raise capital for debt payment and expansion. US Gulf picks up as Rita threatens Buyers fixing ahead of hurricane disruption even as Miami closes and New Orleans returns to regular bunkering. OPEC to make spare capacity available Crude prices shed much of Monday's gains after OPEC confirms deal. Chevron Oronite: Limited operations to begin this week Company says limited blending and shipping operations are expected to begin this week, dependent upon road access to the Oak Point facility. Supplier rebuffs talk that buyers will shun shorter credit terms Supplier argues that price, not longer credit terms, is decisive factor in bunker purchasing decisions. Attica: Earnings decline as bunker prices bite Greek ferry operator has partly attributed lower earnings in H1 to the sharp rise in bunker fuel costs. Medium term storage outlook good despite near-term overhang New storage capacity to be added in Southeast Asia could tip the market into oversupply, but only briefly, says Vopak official. OPEC promises swept aside by Rita Oil prices post record gains on fresh hurricane fears despite OPEC readiness to open oil taps to the maximum. SkySails: Fuel savings could equate to $12 billion annually Company believes consistent use of wind energy could equate to annual fuel savings of $12 billion as well as cutting toxic emissions by 50%. Rotterdam firm with crude surge Malacca Strait to get war risk list for piracy A move by underwriters to list piracy as a war risk in the Malacca Strait, rather than a hull risk, may finally resolve the dispute over the strait's designation. Singapore rides on Asia's strong demand for oil Strong demand for oil in Asia can help to generate opportunities in new refining investments and oil storage facilities in Singapore, a local minister said in APPEC yesterday.