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Adventure race to alter maritime image
THE eyes say it all. This motley bunch - ranging from students and nurses to engineers and professionals - is eyeing the top cash prize of $10,000 and MP3 players in a Singapore version of the reality show the Great Amazing Race.
RCL sails to record profits of 3.7b baht in 2004
RECORD liftings and steadily rising freight rates during 2004 helped Thai-listed container feeder operator, Regional Container Lines , sail to record profits, up nearly four and half times over 2003.
Keppel's shipyard ownership upheld
THE Philippine Supreme Court has upheld the sale of a state-owned shipyard to a consortium controlled by a local unit of Singapore's Keppel Corporation.
Persian Gulf oil tanker rates at 2-month high

Strait Talk

Passenger ships' bridges need to be less vulnerable
BY a strange coincidence just a couple weeks after abnormal waves were the subject of a conference in London and also featured in this column, a substantial cruise ship was disabled by a big wave.

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Shipping News

Adventure race to alter maritime image
THE eyes say it all. This motley bunch - ranging from students and nurses to engineers and professionals - is eyeing the top cash prize of $10,000 and MP3 players in a Singapore version of the reality show the Great Amazing Race.
RCL sails to record profits of 3.7b baht in 2004
RECORD liftings and steadily rising freight rates during 2004 helped Thai-listed container feeder operator, Regional Container Lines , sail to record profits, up nearly four and half times over 2003.
Keppel's shipyard ownership upheld
THE Philippine Supreme Court has upheld the sale of a state-owned shipyard to a consortium controlled by a local unit of Singapore's Keppel Corporation.
Persian Gulf oil tanker rates at 2-month high

Strait Talk

Passenger ships' bridges need to be less vulnerable
BY a strange coincidence just a couple weeks after abnormal waves were the subject of a conference in London and also featured in this column, a substantial cruise ship was disabled by a big wave.

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TSA warns of further rate increases in 2005 Currency revaluation won't affect China's competitiveness: report Norman Li voted new HK USSPA president PWC Logistics acquires Trans-Link Group Development of Hamburg's port to cost US$974m Dragonair posts higher cargo volumes in January CX receives new B747 freighter; voted top HK firm Growing volumes underline bright future for British Airways

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GE Shipping takes delivery of Aframax crude carrier India is part of Norasia & CSAV's overall growth strategy'Alejandro Pattillo Financial Planning-Insuring wisely and well Maritime sector in for sea change MoF may impose 5 pc cess on cargo handled 9 gardens attract bouquets & garlands for MbPT DGFT hikes duty drawback rate on furnace oil supplied to EOUs/SEZs EPCES to open offices in 7 SEZs

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
Tramp Oil secures more US Defense contracts Global bunker operator Tramp Oil has secured two more contract extensions with the US Defense Energy Support Center (DESC). More Singapore staff moves Crude markets surge on weather, supply and weak US dollar Crude markets make gains well in excess of $2 per barrel as cold weather returns and old worries about supply and the weak US dollar resurface. Societies team-up to improve surveyor safety New initiative identifies a number of clear and simple expectations that need to be in place if serious injuries and even fatalities are to be avoided. Aegean launches new operation in Jamaica Aegean X and the Aegean Tiffany barges on site as Aegean launches new operation. Fujairah: Seacor signs up to clean seas Spill response company which began operations in Fujairah due to the flourishing bunker market has joined the Regional Clean Seas Organisation. Risler upgrades and expands barge fleet Argentinean bunker supplier and trader has re-built one of its bunker barges to meet international regulations, and also expects delivery of a new double-hull vessel later this year. Rotterdam firm this afternoon Off-spec fuels reported in Rio Grande DNV Petroleum Services has issued a bunker alert after receiving several samples of fuel oil with density exceeding the ISO 8217:1996 specification. Market applauds tax relief incentives Singapore's Minister for Transport highlights the government's new Approved Marine Fuel Trader Scheme, introduced 1 January 2005. Iraqi-Malaysian bunker venture: Developments next month Developments in the establishment of Iraqi--Malaysian bunker venture are expected in March.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
Tobruk Air Transport launching London-Libya flights TOPS transport software incorporates working time directive controls US budget boosts border security spending New logistics centre in the port of Hamburg Green Cargo lands major contract MOL expanding into the Baltic Aab new inet-logistics Deutschland manager

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
LR to class Cosco giants Farstad confirms Aker option BV issues Cork with green safety certificate Master and engineers face up to 20 years in US jail

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
Trico Marine set to exit Chapter 11 Management appointments at Conrad Industries

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Raets makes bold move on niche market A SIGNIFICANT challenge is to be launched later this year across much of the marine liabilities market, in an attempt to win the insurance business of hundreds of operators. Liu slams eastbound rate rise threat John Liu, chairman of the Asian Shippers Council, has blasted the container line members of the Transpacific Stabilisation Agreement over their warnings of possible eastbound rate rises later in the year. Panalpina revives part-flotation plan SWISS logistics group Panalpina has revived the idea of an initial public offering and is planning to do it this year. Sukawaty sees marine boost for Inmarsat INMARSAT chief executive Andy Sukawaty has predicted that the share of revenues from its maritime business will rise for the first time in four years when the company unveils its 2004 results in April, writes Neville Smith.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
TSA sets stage for more rate hikes MEMBERS of the Trans Pacific Stabilization Agreement set the stage this week for another round of rate hikes during meetings in Seattle Shippers hit out at container lines ASIAN shippers have hit out at proposed move by container lines to hike eastbound rates Mindanao seeks port operator A private port operator is being sought to run the Mindanao Container Terminal in the Philippines after two earlier open bidding exercises were unsuccessful RCL net surges to $93M INTRA-Asia operator Regional Container Lines has achieved record profit of $93M for 2004 on the back of booming trade EneRmaR breaks into Croatia GENOA-based ferry operator EneRmaR is to open a ground-breaking ferry link to Croatia, starting in May Tea strained over sticky rice A STAND-OFF in a trade row between Islamabad and Nairobi over rice imports has threatened Kenya's tea trade as Pakistan prepares a tit-for-tat response Athos I claims to go to trust fund Star Cruises steady despite costs Mangouras returns to Spain Zakynthos threatened by casualty Sea Containers/Eugenides ferry link Court clears way for Erika trial Turkey to move toxic wreck Tax break for bunker suppliers Suez bulker Polaris refloated Cosco Pacific eyes Long Beach

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
TSA: Further rate hikes possible Trans-Pacific carriers, citing rising operating costs, said additional rate increases and/or fees are possible later this year. Container ship orders surge DOT tentatively awards China flights Seattle, Tacoma set box records OCEMA backs chassis-maintenance bill Alabama State Port Authority completes land deal Dubai Ports International signs Indian pact China pushes for cross-Straits air cargo Alianca revises rotation on Andes service Singapore Air adds freighter flights New terminal opens at Port Kelang Bill would allow ports to impose security, infrastructure fees PWC Logistics acquires Trans-Link Group

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
Shipping and port developments overtake Port Elizabeth New Safmarine ships and the development at Coega Port will herald the beginning of the end for container handling at Port Elizabeth (PE). Hanjin replace Pacific NW ports on CHKY alliance service Market reacts against IPBCC freight hike Motorola benefits from Chinese government co-ordination network Yang Ming's San Pedro facility to provide all hoot gate service State rail companies woo TUI daughter VTG, but German operators object Sinokor and Pan Ocean to co-operate on Korea/Japan service Waigaoqiao Bonded Area leads the way in trade boost SembLog results grow following K+N stake sales Penang Port targets its 1m one year early Kaohsiung throughput up 4% in January

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
Shipyard shock Security heightened after double shooting at Mississippi yard. Surveyors eyeball Gerrita Damaged Ugland aframax shuttle tanker undergoes inspection at Sullom Voe. Topping $21 Greece's Top Tankers continues strong surge with 10-week shares high. Star slashes loss Slim down dramatically reduces red ink on the books of Asian cruise shipping group. Jinhui splashes out $68m Hong Kong shipowner spends massive profit on two Allied Maritime handymaxes. MSC launches Turkish cruise Swiss owner teams with Arkas Holding to develop its cruiseship offshoot. Green takes Lagoa duo Norwegian owner snaps up two Greek sisterships to build its reefer pool. Coscol counts cash Shanghai-listed Cosco heavy-lift and ro-ro unit trebled net profit in 2004. MacAndrews plans reefer route Boxship line looking to lure business away from trucks in the Mediterranean. Mipo seals Schuldt quintet Korean yard reveals details of 4,300-teu series for subsidiary of Germany's NVA. Toll triumphs in 2004 Australian shipping and logistics group's earnings rise 28% as New Zealand operations kick in. Global Carriers sails into profit Malaysian tanker and boxship owner reverses losses of twelve months ago with fourth quarter profit. RCL results jump six-fold Stellar performance at Thai intra-Asian operator on the back of strong containership market. Profits double at Algoma Profits soar at Canadian shipowner on increased operating days, reduced costs and vessel sales.

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
MacAndrews finds short-sea reefer option Inchcape receives agency tender from Maersk Tankers Northwest applies for India authority Rutges joins Cargo 2000 OmniTRAX to operate stretch of CSX track Exel implements e-booking interface PWC Logistic acquires Trans-Link Group KOM International opens Monterrey office Hyundai shipyard reports 240-ship order backlog Port of Brisbane appoints Dinning

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FEBRUARY 22, 2005
Negligence behind "Polo M" grounding The officers on the Greek-owned, Bahama-flagged, "Polo M" didn't notice that the vessel started to drag its anchors ... German owners concerned over Finnish ice class rules The German shipowner association Verband Deutscher Reeder (VDR) has in a letter to a number of Finnish Members of Parliament ... Aker Kvaerner buys into Finnish RR Offshore Aker Kvaerner has taken 26 per cent share (43.3 per cent of the voting shares) in Finnish contractor RR Offshore ...