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Panama Canal gets high transit auction bid
THE Panama Canal Authority has received a bid of US$125,000 for its daily express transit auctions at a time of heavy vessel traffic, up from its asking price of US$30,000, a high-ranking ACP official said recently.
Evergreen Marine's Q1 profit falls 59%
EVERGREEN Marine Corp, Asia's largest container shipping line by fleet size, reported its smallest profit in almost three years in the first quarter after rates to haul cargo fell and fuel costs rose.
Philippine terminal firm defers plans
PHILIPPINE container terminal operator, International Container Terminal Services Inc reported that expansion plans are on hold for its Manila International Container Terminal until volumes improve.
S'pore marine fuel sales hit record high

Strait Talk

The big test for Panama
LAST week, the Panama Canal Authority announced that it will recommend the building of a new lane along the Panama Canal that will double capacity and cost an estimated US$5.25 billion.

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Shipping News

Panama Canal gets high transit auction bid
THE Panama Canal Authority has received a bid of US$125,000 for its daily express transit auctions at a time of heavy vessel traffic, up from its asking price of US$30,000, a high-ranking ACP official said recently.
Evergreen Marine's Q1 profit falls 59%
EVERGREEN Marine Corp, Asia's largest container shipping line by fleet size, reported its smallest profit in almost three years in the first quarter after rates to haul cargo fell and fuel costs rose.
Philippine terminal firm defers plans
PHILIPPINE container terminal operator, International Container Terminal Services Inc reported that expansion plans are on hold for its Manila International Container Terminal until volumes improve.
S'pore marine fuel sales hit record high

Strait Talk

The big test for Panama
LAST week, the Panama Canal Authority announced that it will recommend the building of a new lane along the Panama Canal that will double capacity and cost an estimated US$5.25 billion.

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Tianjin to take IPO plans on the road Higher surcharges to be levied by IRA lines Shenzhen to hold China's first supply chain exhibition Rickmers-Linie to open subsidiary in Japan Cool box shortage at Jawahar Lal Nehru affects perishables FedEx makes expedited freight services more user friendly Emirates SkyCargo chooses Scand Air Cargo as its CSA in Brazil Delta offers Atlanta-Copenhagen service Air NZ appoints Greater China GM to drive new Pudong service forward

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Cargomar looking at exponential growth CKYH Alliance to add 5th Asia-US East Coast loop Cosco launches new dedicated China feeder Senator to introduce Asia-Med operations CSAV Norasia changes AME port rotation CSCL plans to augment market share ANL boosts AAX service Stephen J. Fletcher joins AXSMarine as Commercial Director Panama Canal set for $ 5.25-bn expansion SITC bifurcates Japan, S. Korea service ...breaks 2 records in two days Hatsu Marine scoops coveted Queen's Award for Enterprise 1st phase of US E. Coast's biggest terminal opens OOIL's first quarter sales move up by 4 pc Export basket gets spicier! EEPC in pact with German engg federation to promote business opportunities Apeda expects 17 pc growth in agri-exports during 2005-06 Korea keen on investing in India Mauritius offers to be strong platform for Indian biz to showcase products NMDP projects cargo traffic growth of 707 m tonnes by 2013-14 NMPT forms panel to suggest measures to attract more box traffic Reliance to use Paradip's oil jetty to bring in petro goods Mumbai Port sets another 'sweet' record JNPCT opens fiscal with new monthly record Public-private partnership cell soon to develop railway infrastructure Better facilities at Wagah to boost trade planned CONCOR set to float fresh tender for container flat wagons by month-end Forex reserves crossed $ 155-billion mark Now, CII suggests Common Economic Zone for nine northern states Ministers' group may decide on SEZ land size on May 10 SEZs, infrastructure to drive banks' credit growth Meeting with S. African team tomorrow

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Lufthansa joining Fraport supervisory board Oil and unit loads grew in Q1 in Gothenburg Lan cargo volumes growing New Cemat national services Rhenus taking over Interspe Hamann Group EU again taking Greek government to court NCA goes for IBS 15th all-cargo conference in Houston

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MAY 2, 2006
IMO agrees fair treatment guidelines UK courts jails one master, fines another for excess alcohol Belships' Q1 profit down Rickmers splits from Japanese agent JR Ship accepts costs for oil spill VLCC fire kills four

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MAY 2, 2006
Indian construction giant enters shipbuilding market OSG profits dip MAN B&W power for Maersk AHTS series

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Thinktank says cut ISM code paperwork COMPLIANCE WITH the International Safety Management Code could be made more effective by slashing onboard paperwork and encouraging ships' crews to help in day-to-day implementation. Hyundai Heavy told to sell back HMM stake HYUNDAI Heavy Industries has been told to resell a 10% stake in Hyundai Merchant Marine back to the Hyundai Group, to end concern that the world's largest shipbuilder planned a hostile takeover of South Korea's second largest shipping line. Royal Caribbean cries Freedom as it targets UK market ROYAL Caribbean Cruise Lines is in the vanguard of developing the UK market, president Adam Goldstein said during celebrations to mark the arrival of the company's 160,000 gt megaship Freedom of the Seas in Southampton. PIL fights on against power cable ruling SEVEN years on, Pacific International Lines is still fighting against a $7.5m damages award in Indonesian courts after one of its vessels allegedly snagged an underwater power cable, writes Marcus Hand in Singapore . Four repair workers killed in blast on BW Shipping VLCC A BLAST on a BW Shipping very large crude carrier killed four workers and injured two others. Singapore-based BW Shipping Managers said that the 153,322 gt Suva suffered a flash fire in an empty cargo tank while the vessel was undergoing repairs on a ballast voyage to Fujairah. QE2 in waste investigation CANADIAN authorities are investigating whether Cunard's Queen Elizabeth 2 illegally dumped waste in Canadian waters. They could prosecute if there is sufficient evidence, Reuters reports .

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MAY 2, 2006
Puerto Rico fears as money runs out PUERTO Rico's government is broke and has shuttered many operations but at this point, maritime commerce appears unaffected Zim captain charged after crane death WOLFGANG Schroder, captain of the container ship that was involved in a fatal accident at Mobile in March, has been arrested in connection with the incident Basques seek new ro-ro designs A technical co-operation agreement has been signed in northern Spain to create a new design of ship for 'sea motorway' ro-ro services using Bilbao and Pasajes OSG expenses offset higher revenues OVERSEAS Shipholding Group (OSG) profits fell 22% on higher expenses, despite a 35% increase in TCE revenues for its products fleet NAT remains confident of spot revenue NORDIC American Tanker Shipping is maintaining its high exposure to the spot market in the belief that returns will be higher than from time charter activity Sea Containers on the ropes SUBSTANTIAL doubt has been raised by independent auditors about Sea Containers' ability to continue as a going concern QE2 in pollution investigation DVB defies pressure on margins Dutch vessel linked to Delaware spill APL Panama leaves bills to be paid Lines await regulatory avalanche Arpeni bonds net $160M PIL sells, charters back eight ships Four killed in tanker flash fire Trucker action hits California ports

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MAY 2, 2006
Senate panel passes GreenLane bill The bill gives the Department of Homeland Security a year to set up an inspection program at three foreign ports. Trucking services return to normal at LA-Long Beach Hoegh christens new ro-ro ship Dubai plans massive airport city NOL's box revenue drops as volume rises Pacer's profit surges Container, breakbulk volumes jump at Port of Virginia Eurotunnel shares suspended Lufthansa lifts fuel surcharge KCS earnings rise 14 percent

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MAY 2, 2006
Hyundai Group: HHI bought too large a stake to be a white knight Hyundai Group has urged Hyundai Heavy Industries to sell a 10% stake in Hyundai Merchant Marine to the Group, in order to block the shipbuilder from taking over HMM. Singapore's first shipping trust to raise US$111-115m Singapore's first shipping trust, Pacific Shipping Trust, plans to offer 222m units at US$0.50-0.52/unit to raise US$111-115m, according to its preliminary prospectus lodged with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Two additional strike-actions to hit Brazil Rhenus scoops Interspe Hamann Group Toll Holdings secures over 90% of SembLog Virginia pilots petition for 6.34% rate-hike EC report upholds basis of Lyon-Turin Trans-European link Sharjah Container Terminal records 45% April-on-April rise

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MAY 2, 2006
Maritrans announces orders Slack utilisation hurt Jonathan Whitworth's Maritrans, which is ordering tugs and doubling up the last of its single-skin fleet. Hyundai to Hyundai: Get out of Hyundai! Hyundai Group's Hyun Jeong-eun is livid but investors are ecstatic at Hyundai Heavy Industries' buy of Hyundai Merchant Marine stock. OSG oil flap is new Chief engineer's alleged waste oil violations are only weeks old, casting Department of Justice investigation into new light. OSG engineer indicted Chief engineeer of OSG vessel accused of records violations, witness tampering after he was "individually indicted" in US Department of Justice oily water separator investigation, company says. Flopec joins PI OSG panamax pool adds first new partner with addition of five tankers from Ecuadorian state oil company, building fleet to 20. Titan gets a slighting Hong Kong tanker owner is still a good corporate risk, says Standard & Poor's, but VLCCs won't make you rich this year. Kiwi collision master rapped Master given slap on the wrists in New Zealand after report into collision with bridge last year. Triple play? Herbjorn Hansson is aiming to treble the NATS fleet on heels of a solid quarter. First quarter cheer at Cosco Corp Singapore shiprepairer and bulker owner optimistic after strong opening performance. OSG profit plummets Morten Arntzen looks on the bright side as second largest tanker owner reports 22% fall in bottom line result. Eimskip orders at Myklebust Icelandic owner back at Norwegian yard for two more combined reefer containerships. NATS goes nuts Nordic American Tankers (NATS) promises large dividend pay-out after profit and revenues increase in first quarter. Belships fails to chime Profit plunges as result is hit by reduced rates earned by fewer ships. Record for Klaveness The bulker fleet of Tom Erik Klaveness company made more money than ever before in 2005. Russian tanker aground Rimsco ship had discharged fuel oil cargo before being holed in Sea of Okhotsk. L&T makes shipbuilding debut Indian construction company to build heavy-lift ro-ros for Zadeko Ship Management. Greece in Qatar ferry talks Qatar looks to Greece to set up new fast-ferry services to neighbouring Gulf states. Aker American in profit Shipbuilding and bareboat owner bullish on prospect for further product carrier charter deals. Yang Ming profit collapses Taiwanese boxship company endures torrid start to 2006, with big operating losses. Flash fire on VLCC Suva Four men killed in flash fire aboard BW Group tanker in Straits of Malacca. ACL to build barges US owner and yard company inks deal with Statia Terminals of New Jersey. Bharati doubles up India's Bharati Shipyard continues to pile on the profit despite increased costs in the fourth quarter. US releases Somalis Ten men captured by the US Navy in March suspected of being pirates have been sent back to Somalia. Samsung to build monster Korean yard wins order for world's biggest drillship from Ferncliff of Norway.

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MAY 2, 2006
China Shipping's average freight rate slips 14% in first quarter Tropical Shipping's 1st-quarter operating profit down 15.6% APL's box volumes up 5% China Shipping receives ninth 4,250-TEU vessel from Dalian Shipbuilding Eimskip orders two reefer ships Dragonair's March cargo up 6.6% Continental Airlines' cargo up 5.5% in April Delta starts Atlanta/Copenhagen flights Deutsche Bahn to start joint logistics venture with Russia's RZD ARL acquires Profleet Transportation and Logistics A1Express names sales director USDA authorizes citrus imports from Peru Menlo wins Jabil Circuit contract Towsley steps down at Miami port Marine Exchange says boycott not too troublesome in L.A.-Long Beach Port of Virginia March volume up 9.8 percent Durban terminal buys RTGs

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MAY 2, 2006
Arlington grows and increases dividends The tanker owner Arlington Tankers which was listed by on the New York stock exchange by Stena in 2004, reports ... Sea Containers in its worst struggle ever Sea Containers Ltd has announced that it is not yet able to file its annual report for 2005. The company ... Different SAR trends in Denmark and Sweden Safety in Danish Waters continues to improve according to the Danish Naval Command. Their latest annual report on Search and ...

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MAY 2, 2006
Stranded panamax refloated No spillage of fuel oil cargo after grounding off Puerto Rico. Isobunkers New York team changes location Service staying the same as personnel shift to Virginia offices. New trader for O.W. Bunker worldwide trading team Lubrizol records Q1 loss on costs and discontinued operations Additive manufacturer records loss in Q1, but keen to stress continuing operations posted a profit in the period. Aegean in the frame for FAMM storage facility Two Greek bunkering companies are said to be in negotiations to take over Chevron's storage facility amid rumours the company is exiting the Gibraltar market. New Turkish Straits bunkering terminal in full swing Turkish supplier Petrol Ofisi says its new terminal in the southern part of the Turkish Straits is now fully operational. Asian bunker prices start month on a firm note Prices start firm into the month with Singapore's firm bunker market as the main price lifting factor. Rotterdam numbers see post May Day surge MPA advises on criteria for Singapore Bunker Award All Singapore licensed bunker suppliers and bunker tanker operators are eligible to vie for Bunker Award.