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Shipping News

Call to examine foreign ownership of US ports
TWO Republican lawmakers said the procedure for reviewing transactions such as a Dubai company's takeover of some US port facilities needs to be overhauled and responsibility shifted to the Homeland Security Department.
MSC-PSA joint venture terminal opens at Pasir Panjang
WITH the opening of the MSC-PSA Asia Terminal yesterday, the Mediterranean Shipping Company became the second major shipping line to jointly operate a container terminal in Singapore in cooperation with PSA Corporation.
NOL posts decline in cargo volumes, first in 2 1/2 years
NEPTUNE Orient Lines, the world's ninth-largest container line by capacity, recorded in January its first decline in cargo volumes in two-and-a-half years, providing further evidence of an impending downturn for the container shipping sector.
S Africa's Transnet names advisers for asset sales

Port Shots

Port Shots
HIGH oil prices will drive up costs for state-run China Shipping Co by 5 per cent this year and increased capacity will make shipping firms more difficult to operate, group president Li Kelin said on Sunday.

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Shipping News

Call to examine foreign ownership of US ports
TWO Republican lawmakers said the procedure for reviewing transactions such as a Dubai company's takeover of some US port facilities needs to be overhauled and responsibility shifted to the Homeland Security Department.
MSC-PSA joint venture terminal opens at Pasir Panjang
WITH the opening of the MSC-PSA Asia Terminal yesterday, the Mediterranean Shipping Company became the second major shipping line to jointly operate a container terminal in Singapore in cooperation with PSA Corporation.
NOL posts decline in cargo volumes, first in 2 1/2 years
NEPTUNE Orient Lines, the world's ninth-largest container line by capacity, recorded in January its first decline in cargo volumes in two-and-a-half years, providing further evidence of an impending downturn for the container shipping sector.
S Africa's Transnet names advisers for asset sales

Port Shots

Port Shots
HIGH oil prices will drive up costs for state-run China Shipping Co by 5 per cent this year and increased capacity will make shipping firms more difficult to operate, group president Li Kelin said on Sunday.

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Japanese firms to establish 80-city logistics network in China Equipment to boost Shanghai railway station's throughput Prologis to open 2 warehouses in Chengdu March start for Globelink Vietnam operations Sinotrans to build US$20m logistics park in Hefei Nantong sets 100m tons handling target MSC-PSA Asia Terminal opens in Singapore Proposed maritime corridor expected to benefit PTP Menlo establishes Malaysia unit Boeing to help with Malaysia Airlines turnaround Emirates to add Bangalore to schedule Moscow now being served by Singapore Airlines

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Continuous innovation, strategising & market-orientation vital to surmount challenges-SCI CMD tells global agents With higher stake in EPIC service, Hamburg S'd set to play bigger role in India-Europe trade Cabinet clears SCI proposal to form LNG JV with 3 Jap cos in Panama UTi Worldwide to offer more specialised services APL's new Haiphong-China Express (HCX) boosts reliability, connections in rapidly growing Vietnam region Zim revises AMP service V. Ships MSI ties up with CSCL to manage world's largest boxships MOL upgrades Haiphong box service MOL & "K" Line announce new Asia-Mexico/W. Coast S. America service Hamburg Sud takes over Ybarra Sud Export incentive schemes to be restructured AIEC hails Budget proposals Mormugao Port's MOHP blazing new trail of records Tuticorin Port handles highest-ever cargo throughput New bauxite loading record set at Okha port Truck/trailer overloading ban hits ICDs, ex-im community & forwarding agents Forex reserves up by $ 811 million to $ 1,41,240 million Faster refund of taxes proposed

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MARCH 6, 2006
P&O appeal bid to be heard today APL beefs up Atlantic services DNV boosts revenues Fredriksen buys salmon farm share from Stolt-Nielsen EMMF sets up shop in Houston Chinese officials downbeat on freight rates Marad wraps up US Gulf mission

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MARCH 6, 2006
Lifeboat drill claims life of OOCL Britain crewman Hoax distress calls earn teens pobation, monetary penalties Corps closing small Ballard lock for annual maintenance work Schnitzer Steel names Larsson to company's board of directors Port of Portland schedules PDX noise committee meeting

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Container collapses prompt recall of automatic twistlocks THE loss of 400-500 containers in heavy weather in northern European waters has prompted MacGREGOR to replace thousands of fully automatic twistlocks used to secure the deck stacks aboard containerships. Owners must act quickly to avoid pollution fines, warns American Club SHIPOWNERS have been warned that they will have to prove they did all in their power to prevent pollution incidents, if they are to get any fines reimbursed by insurers, writes James Brewer. European maritime policy paper to be published in May JOE Borg's Green Paper on European Union maritime policy will be published on May 31 this year and followed by legislative proposals in 2007, the maritime affairs commissioner said yesterday. Costa Allegra gets makeover before cruising into China ITALIAN cruise company Costa Crociere is breaking into the Chinese market having been authorised to operate from local ports. Judge rejects US objections to DP World deal DP World's $6.8bn acquisition of P&O is set to proceed after the Court of Appeal in London yesterday turned down objections brought by US ports company Eller & Co.

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MARCH 6, 2006
Ferry victims' families offered $26,200 EL Salam Maritime Transport, operator of the ferry Al Salam Boccaccio 98 that sank in the Red Sea early in February with the loss of more than 1,000 lives, is offering to pay E'150,000 ($26,200) for each victim Costa spearheads Carnival Asia offensive CARNIVAL Corp has confirmed that its Costa division will lead the company's long-anticipated Asian strategy Dispute savages Irish Ferries result Co-founder of Beluga goes into broking Seals cause major rescue alert Le Havre tug delay goes on and on Italian towage specialists pull apart TMM buys Smit's stake in tug venture Grimaldi applauds Maltese institute American Club warns on MARPOL Third Katrina vessel leaves port One drowned in OOCL safety drill

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MARCH 6, 2006
Trans-Pacific import growth to slow Declining growth in import traffic will push down freight rates by 15 percent and container industry profitability will fall, perhaps to a loss, over the next two years, according to forecasts by two economists. CFIUS opens 2nd Dubai review Eller loses UK Dubai bid New hurdle for Dubai ports deal Bonding, NVO on tap for FMC meeting DHL gets Ohio air hub funding Northwest avoids pilots strike Rand completes towing buy Industry cites logistics savings from C-TPAT

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MARCH 6, 2006
UPDATE: Appeal against DPW-P&O deal rejected Eller & Co's legal challenge to DP World's acquisition of P&O has been heard and rejected in the Court of Appeal, paving the way for the acquisition's completion this week. Australia's Toll confirm minimum 60% acquisition of Singapore's SembLog Australia's Toll Holdings has finalised a deal with SembCorp Industries to purchase its entire 60% share in SembCorp Logistics (Semblog) at a consideration of up to S$793m (US$488m). KC Chang calls box industry to action today India's first private boxtrain from first week of April NOL figures reveal market toll on APL volumes and revenues No decision on P&O Surabaya terminal Transnet strike postponed OOCL sets up New Zealand office

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MARCH 6, 2006
Fosen ups Eidsiva stake Norwegian transportation group buys more shares in ro-ro specialist Eidsiva. Pong Su four freed Australian court clears North Korean cargoship's crew of smuggling heroin into country. DNV trebles profit Norwegian classification society sees strong growth in newbuildings and demand for Arctic technology. South Africa braced for fresh strikes Industrial reaction to resume next Monday after union talks break down over the weekend. MacGregor safety recall Top equipment manufacturer orders replacement of thousands of fully automatic twistlocks after container stack collapses. Carnival begins China assault Cruise giant announces first ever service out of Shanghai using Costa brand. Handy result for PacBasin Richard Hext is in confident mood as his handysized bulk outfit reports 42% profit growth. Freighter sinks off Estonia All crew members rescued after Russian freighter suffers collision and sinks in the Gulf of Finland. Huxley makes a break for it Legandary Hong Kong S&P broker leaves Clarksons to go into shipowning but will not escape the old firm entirely. Baltic owner picks up 'Igloo' Green Reefers disposes of another 1980s ship as part of rejuvenation programme. Irish Ferries pays crew price Dublin-based operator pushed to 2005 loss by cost of laying off staff to bring in cheaper eastern Europeans. Hamworthy wins Daewoo order UK gas systems maker to supply five reliquefaction kits for LNG ships in Korea. Smit pulls out of Mexico Towage and salvage group sells stake in Manzanillo harbour company to TMM. Boxship grounds on beach Swimmers warned not to enter water after vessel ploughs through shark nets in Hong Kong to avoid sinking. More fish for Fredriksen Norwegian tanker owner buys out Stolt-Nielsen's and Nutreco's interests in aquaculture company Marine Harvest. Seaboard exec killed US shipowner's Honduras chief shot dead in his car. Thoresen unloads Thai bulker player is disposing of two ships, one for further trading and the other for scrap. APL speeds up Singapore box line claims fastest transit times from northern Europe to southern US with new service. Cheng buys Golden Stream Brokers link Tokyo-based Fred Cheng with purchase of ex-Golden Ocean single-hull VLCC. Virus strikes Explorer Over 260 passengers and crew aboard Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas struck by norovirus.

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MARCH 6, 2006
Tripartite Shippers' Group urges dialogue in "post-conference world" Drewry Shipping reports double-digit drops in Asian freight rates MOL to start Montreal service APL's container traffic, revenue down 2% OOCL opens New Zealand subsidiary Delta reports $300 million net loss in January Delta, China Airlines extend codeshare agreement International aircraft financing treaty takes effect U.S. international air cargo up 2.8% in January United's February cargo volumes drop 0.6% BA's cargo down 1.1% in February U.S. Sugar to use rail technology for harvest season Evergreen America resumes rail services to hurricane affected areas U.S. meat industry ready for free trade with Colombia U.S., India resolve 17-year trade dispute over mangoes GAO to Ex-Im Bank: Improve reporting on direct support for small firms DGX selects Management Dynamics tool FMC reviews 12 OTI applications, revokes 11 licenses Legislators target foreign-owned terminals, as port dispute rages PSA, MSC officially open Singapore container terminal joint venture

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MARCH 6, 2006
No bidders for Gotland ferry traffic ' tender cancelled The tender for state subsidised ferry traffic between the Swedish mainland and the island of Gotland has been cancelled by ... Esvagt record: 15 years at sea without accidents Esvagt and the crew on the standby/rescue vessel "Esvagt Preserver" last week celebrated a rather unusual record: 15 years ... Røkke retires as Aker chairman Norwegian industrialist Kjell Inge Røkke will retire as chairman of Aker ASA ' the holding company ' to develop some business ideas ...

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MARCH 6, 2006
FAMM: Changing times in the marine lubes market FAMM VP (Marine lubes) discusses changing nature of the supply/demand balance for marine lubes and their components, and what changes these may bring on the behaviour of both suppliers and buyers. Total enters US Gulf supply fray Bunker arm starting operation in Port Arthur area with barge supply from local refinery. Qatar becomes biggest client for emissions monitoring system 12 MariNOx' systems ordered for Qatar Gas II project, with more expected. Union mobilises on ship emissions California dock workers union calling for 20% reduction in ship pollutants by 2010. Slow start to the week in Rotterdam market Bunker Holdings launches new service New agency service offers bunker-only calls in the Far East. South Korean refiner decides on April refining runs Rebound in refining margins prompts no change or slight increase to Hyundai's refinery run rate in April. Vietnam endorses construction of new oil terminal Vietnam-Singapore JV aims to build modern terminal that can compete with other Asian oil storage facilities. Oil output cut unlikely at OPEC meeting The next OPEC meeting is scheduled on March 8, where the oil cartel will decide on production plans.