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Shipping News

Shipping industry 'faces serious shortage of experienced officers'
A looming serious shortage of experienced officers due to a rapidly expanding shipping industry has major implications for the safety of the entire industry, according to the head of the industry's largest tanker grouping.
Boom of crane collapses, leaves 3 dead
THREE shipyard workers died and another three were injured when the boom of a crane collapsed at the PPL Shipyard, a subsidiary of SembCorp Marine, yesterday morning.

Strait Talk

Safety 101 for small vessels
AFTER a trip on a wooden tourist vessel on Dubai Creek in January, I wrote in this column about my fears regarding the safety of such vessels.

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Shipping News

Shipping industry 'faces serious shortage of experienced officers'
A looming serious shortage of experienced officers due to a rapidly expanding shipping industry has major implications for the safety of the entire industry, according to the head of the industry's largest tanker grouping.
Boom of crane collapses, leaves 3 dead
THREE shipyard workers died and another three were injured when the boom of a crane collapsed at the PPL Shipyard, a subsidiary of SembCorp Marine, yesterday morning.

Strait Talk

Safety 101 for small vessels
AFTER a trip on a wooden tourist vessel on Dubai Creek in January, I wrote in this column about my fears regarding the safety of such vessels.

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TNWA enhances transpacific services CMA CGM to launch service linking Asia, India and the Middle East PIL orders more boxships, report says US Homeland Security chief tours HK port facilities

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New SCI Director Transferable advance licences may replace DFRC scheme IBA, Canada body to hold meet on globalisation today Anti-dumping duty review on shrimp begins in US JNP handles 2.67 m TEUs in 2005-06 MPT's MOHP sets new unloading record New Mangalore Port handles 1.65 pc more cargo in 2005-06 NMPT to celebrate Maritime Day today Trailer operators at Cochin Port end stir Mumbai Port achieves record throughput in 2005-06 Govt freezes SEZ approvals to review minimum area issue

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APRIL 4, 2006
MOL opens Middle East office Fiege buys TTS and Rewico

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APRIL 4, 2006
Siem orders second MRSV at Kleven Petrojack to sell its rigs IRS cracks down on freight tax filings Noble sells Smedvig stake

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US ports Bill to cause chaos, warns Koch INTERNATIONAL container traffic to and from the US would come to a standstill if one of the more extreme proposals now before Congress is adopted, a powerful group of shipowners predicted yesterday. Hong Kong customs seize a MiG-29 CUSTOMS officers have seized a MiG-29 fighter aircraft that was being transhipped through Hong Kong's Kwai Chung container terminal from the Ukraine to the US, writes Keith Wallis. US hints at fast lane for x-rayed containers THE US is considering "expedited treatment" for customs clearance of import cargo originating in foreign ports and terminals using x-ray and radiation detection technology. Asian owners hit out at Malacca war listing THE ship insurance and liability committee of the Asian Shipowners Forum has hit out at the London insurance market Joint War Committee's retaining the Malacca Strait on its areas of enhanced risk list, writes Mike Grinter. Debut for Hellenic Maritime Day GREECE'S shipping industry is today celebrating Hellenic Maritime Day, the first of what is conceived as an annual date in the calendar to salute the achievements of the world's largest ship owning and operating industry, although there is an eye on the future too. Brokers slam NOS deal as monopolistic THE Forward Freight Agreement Brokers Association has branded the takeover of clearing house NOS by freight derivatives brokerage Imarex as monopolistic and anti-competitive and said it will drive up hedging and trading costs for users of the NOS clearing service.

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APRIL 4, 2006
Chavez seizes oilfields VENEZUELA has seized two oilfields run by Italy's ENI and France's Total and taken control of five more through voluntary agreements with other companies as part of a plan to force state majority control over 32 previously foreign-owned fields Migrant Watch: US/Caribbean THIS week's report on sea routes used by seaborne migrants, where possible incorporating news or statistics on apparent trends Torm to review holding in Norden DS Torm, the listed Danish bulk shipping group that controls 32.7% of the shares in fellow Danish bulk group DS Norden, is to "actively assess its shareholding" in Norden Competition checks at Color Line THE offices of Color Line, the Norwegian cruise ferry group, were visited unexpectedly today by European Free Trade Association (EFTA) competition authorities NASSCO enters Jones Act fray NASSCO shipyard is poised to compete directly with Aker Philadelphia Shipyard (APSI) for future construction of Jones Act product tankers Bahrain toughens dhow safety rules BAHRAIN'S government has ordered dhow operators in the Gulf island state to prove their vessels' seaworthiness Knight rescues Gadani breakers Checks on DPW's Indian assets Koch continues to lecture Congress Cheniere seeks help to exploit planned terminals Backlog builds in Panama Canal Queen of the North: Too soon for crime scene China spends $150Bn on rail Cosco reveals US trade plans No change in balance of China-US trade Russian oil output jumps but exports fall

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APRIL 4, 2006
Containership charter market firms up Market shakes off nine-month decline in rates as carriers hire tonnage for longer periods amid confident cargo growth forecasts. U.S. should welcome foreign maritime partners, says Koch China a growth market for U.S. imports New World Alliance adjusts trans-Pacific schedules Fire clears MOL vessel TNWA adds Asia-Europe services Evergreen adds to China, HK e-commerce services MOL opens Mideast HQ

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APRIL 4, 2006
Opponents of Indonesian shipping law fear disenfranchisement Port-related business associations are urging Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR) to reject a revision of the shipping law which allows only firms with shipping company licenses to operate stevedoring businesses. Engine room fire prompts evacuation of MOL vessel An engine room fire forced the evacuation yesterday morning of an MOL ship, one of the vessels deployed on the New World Alliance's Asia-Europe-North America APX service. Fighter jet with no import license found in US-bound container transhipped in HK JNPT offers alternative accommodation to fire-hit shipping companies Brazil inspector strike continues European north-south partners form 'Sibelit' rail-alliance TNWA and Grand Alliance to jointly offer Asia-ECNA service Updates on TNWA Asia-WCNA services International ratings confirmed for Kazakhstan's box-ambitious railway Keel laid on fourth China-built vessel for Fesco Rio 'regeneration' to reorganise port zone MOL establishes regional headquarters in Dubai

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APRIL 4, 2006
FBI 'all at sea' Turf battles with the Coast Guard, poor planning and undefined goals hinder the FBI in its efforts against maritime terrorism, say auditors. DryShips makes dividend The board of George Economou's stocklisted company DryShips has announced it will pay its regular quarterly dividend. Brits on the warpath London freight-futures brokers say a merger of NOS and Imarex under Tom Even Mortensen gives Oslo an unfair edge. Hull market still fragile Norwegian underwriters ring up a profit as they escape major claims. Norden stake for sale Torm looks for lucrative offers for its 32% stake in rival Danish shipping group. Color raid Olav Nils Sunde's Color Line says it is co-operating after European and Norwegian competition authorities raided its offices this morning. Share sale bonus Both Torm and Norden move higher on Copenhagen exchange as investors savor tasty deal. India breaking the mould India's Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is proposing to turn Alang into a prominent builder of large tanker tonnage. Deutsche Bank celebrates again Pure earnings from maritime activities rise for tenth year running, claim staff. Loaded revolver Mons Bolin-led Aries Maritime Transport Ltd is making acquisitive noises after freshening up its bank credit. Solstad backs DeepOcean Norwegian supply ship player builds stake in domestic survey vessel owner. CalMac confirms Sunday service Scottish ferry operator risks wrath of locals by starting Western Isles link on Sabbath. Algeria flags Singapore investment Algeria is looking to attract investment in port infrastructure from companies in Singapore. Limburg bomber surrenders Escaped Al-Qaeda terrorist involved in attack on VLCC gives himself up in Yemen. MOL ship abandoned Crew flee burning containership as 18 hour battle to control engine room blaze fails. Tankerska beats forecast Croatian tanker owner exceeds 2005 earnings expectations by $10m as costs drop. Greece blocks Chinese advance China Ocean Shipping Group (Cosco)'s plans to buy in to the Piraeus Port Authority have hit a brick wall. Three killed at PPL Crane collapse at yard of Singapore rig builder leaves three workers dead and one injured. Captain blamed for Al Salam tragedy Egypt's transport minister says ferry's master did not send distress signal until boat was sinking. Siem takes option Kristian Siem's offshore shipping company firms up order for additional ROV support ship at Kleven Verft. Goodbye Stolt Offshore... ...and hello Acergy, as offshore shipowner changes its name following Stolt family exit. STX plumps for Hanjin South Korean owner opts to award first LNG newbuilding to Hanjin rather than sister company. Vulcan behind OBO buy Ex-Einar Lange OBO Nobel Foam set for new role hauling aggregates along US-Gulf coast. Tanjung extends charter Malaysian offshore vessel operator wins 15 week extension for anchor handler from ExxonMobil. Nepline orders in China Malaysian tanker owner spends $12m on 7,000-dwt newbuilding at Lin Hin Hong Sheng Shipbuilding.

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APRIL 4, 2006
FBI, Coast Guard don't play well together, report says U.S., Korean shipyards team up to build Jones Act ships New World Alliance enters Asia/Med trade, reshuffles transpacific ports Maersk Line starts Thailand/Japan loop Dongnama starts Intra-Asia service Hamburg Sud opens own Mexico agency MOL appoints Mahe Shipping as agents for Seychelles Engine room fire breaks out on MOL vessel Total extends time charters for two OMI tankers OSG elects Vettier to board Germanischer Lloyd names Enning China manager TSA, WTSA set fuel surcharges rates for May Hyundai Heavy Industries reports record $2.3 billion orders in March World Air Holdings to repurchase up to 2 million shares Delta starts Atlanta/D'sseldorf flights Continental Airlines' March cargo up 5.5% CPR's CFO Waites resigns CFI appoints Cruz regional manager Industry groups continue protest of changes to AES mandatory rules Work resumes at UN on global cargo regime USDA starts electronic program to process import permits LauritzenCool Logistics opens Singapore office Blue Sky Logistics lands contract for New England grocery chain Dutch, Danish Christmas and Easter cacti get a break in U.S. Schenker's Motka joins GeoLogistics

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APRIL 4, 2006
Crew evacuated in new container carrier fire The crew of 26 persons has been evacuated from the 3,800 TEU MOL container carrier "MOL Initiative" off the Japanese ... Donsö sisters delivered from Turkey The Swedish Donsö based companies Sirius Rederi and Veritas Tankers have taken delivery of two 11,250-DWT product tankers from ... Order intake at record level for big shipyard trio The world's three largest shipyards, Hyundai, Daewoo and Samsung, are close to a record order intake for the first quarter ...

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APRIL 4, 2006
Ship main engines to burn distillate fuel by 2010, report says California air agency considering sweeping new regulations in effort to meet clean air targets. Panama congestion worsens Ship buildup increasing but suppliers seeing little rise in bunker demand as resupply worries increase. Spill remains a mystery as officials await fingerprint analysis Fingerprint analysis results expected this week after heavy fuel oil spill detected at Walvis Bay. Major expansion announced for Fujairah terminal Terminal expansion seen as a boost for Fujairah's hub-function for oil products in the Middle East. ARA: Trading begins in 1.5% sulphur barge market Following the launch yesterday of a new 1.5% sulphur fuel oil barge contract, several traders entered bids. Low bidding interest keeps Rotterdam on back foot TSA sets monthly bunker fuel surcharge First announcement of monthly bunker fuel surcharge after shifting away from quarterly adjustments. Singapore bunker firm among delegation to Algeria Accredited Singapore bunker supplier among the republic's delegation to bid for projects in Algeria's energy sector.