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Shipping News

Business leaders call on Indian ports to boost capacity as volumes surge
INDIAN ports need to increase capacity sharply to handle a surge in trade volumes as they approach saturation in an economy which is growing at 8 per cent annually, a leading financial expert and industrialist said on Wednesday.
Patrick wants to revive talks with Linfox
PATRICK Corp chief executive officer Chris Corrigan said he wants to resume talks about combining Australia's biggest port cargo handler with trucking company Linfox Group as soon as the fate of rail venture Pacific National is decided.
Malaysia to boost security patrols in Malacca Strait
MALAYSIA will step up anti-piracy patrols in the attack-prone Strait of Malacca by adding up to 15 new high-speed police boats and conducting joint maritime exercises with Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, a senior official said yesterday.
Cosco wants stake in major Greek port

Admiralty Casebook

Case of the sham charterparty
THE Singapore Court of Appeal last week upheld a High Court judge's decision that a sham charterparty to get government dredging concessions cannot be relied on for an admiralty action, but overruled the judge on a damages award against the party that arrested the vessel.

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Shipping News

Business leaders call on Indian ports to boost capacity as volumes surge
INDIAN ports need to increase capacity sharply to handle a surge in trade volumes as they approach saturation in an economy which is growing at 8 per cent annually, a leading financial expert and industrialist said on Wednesday.
Patrick wants to revive talks with Linfox
PATRICK Corp chief executive officer Chris Corrigan said he wants to resume talks about combining Australia's biggest port cargo handler with trucking company Linfox Group as soon as the fate of rail venture Pacific National is decided.
Malaysia to boost security patrols in Malacca Strait
MALAYSIA will step up anti-piracy patrols in the attack-prone Strait of Malacca by adding up to 15 new high-speed police boats and conducting joint maritime exercises with Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, a senior official said yesterday.
Cosco wants stake in major Greek port

Admiralty Casebook

Case of the sham charterparty
THE Singapore Court of Appeal last week upheld a High Court judge's decision that a sham charterparty to get government dredging concessions cannot be relied on for an admiralty action, but overruled the judge on a damages award against the party that arrested the vessel.

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Hong Kong cargo vessel blocks Suez Canal CSCL to launch three international services this year Merged Qingwei reports first month volume, revenue Automated gates to boost MICT security Fujian to focus on developing mainly Xiamen, Fuzhou ports by 2010 Tianjin to build largest ship building dock in N China Shijiazhuang cargo volume hits 70m ton mark in 2005 JAL Group to boost cargo capacity KLM to launch new service to Chengdu ANA to add 5 more A320s to international routes Lufthansa Cargo raises fuel surcharge

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SYMS launches Mumbai-China, Japan, S-E Asia service MoF may waive corporate tax on income from sale of ships Sunitrans Logistics completes 6 years of successful operations Bangladesh seeks JVs in garment sector RBI asks IBA to consult export bodies & frame softer credit norms TAMP allows TPT to impose special charges on dusty cargoes US ports may be unable to cope with swelling imports from Asia Simplex Infrastructure bags order to build multi-purpose berth at Haldia Dock Posco to study proposed port's impact on environment PPT to sign new agreement with Iffco for berth usage MoS asks MbPT to extend deadline for bidding: Offshore box terminal Economic growth, trade boom demand for higher handling capacity at ports JNPT gearing up to meet projected surge in container traffic The countdown begins for P&O's take-over CONCOR plans to set up 3 more ICDs in North India this year Pipavav Rail Corp. receives green signal for containerised operations on rail Minister hints at tax holiday for food processing sector

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Automated gates to boost MICT operations Polar Air Cargo returning to New York and Sweden Italian road transport companies to buy Tirrenia ferry group Loxxess scoops up ABX Contract Logistics EU aids intermodal transport in Poland

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Matson C-9 to get ro-ro capacity IMO help in ferry disaster probe Navy submits Long Range Shipbuilding Plan

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Port of Portland places order for new dredge tender, IVANOFF Port of Vancouver, USA hires Brooks for community relations Port of Tacoma holds contest to give new award a name Coast Guard looks for members for towing safety committee Corps building Sea Lion barriers at Bonneville Lock and Dam

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Buoyant BG set for £4.8bn LNG spending spree BG Group has boosted its capital expenditure by 25% to £2bn ($3.48bn) this year and plans to spend '4.8bn in the next three years as it expands its liquefied natural gas supplies and vessel fleet, the company revealed yesterday. Asia-Europe freight rates in 'inevitable' freefall FREIGHT rates for containerised cargo being shipped from Asia to Europe have plummeted by up to 40% since the autumn. Ratings experts warn P&I mutuals still heavily exposed to equity risk MANY mutuals in the shipowners' P&I sector are still placing heavy reliance on the stock market, despite a general recognition of the risks, writes James Brewer. CMA CGM helps get Ellen's challenge under way The first stage of yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur's challenge to establish a series of records in Asia and between the Chinese ports of Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai and Hong Kong started yesterday, when the trimaran B&Q was lifted on to the forward hatches of the 6,662 teu CMA CGM Bizet at Southampton, writes Janet Porter .

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Embattled AWB loses MD Lindberg ANDREW Lindberg, managing director of Australian wheat exporter AWB, has resigned Argentine FMD closes foreign markets MERCOSUR countries have closed their borders to Argentine beef after that country yesterday announced an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease MCA responds to FRB concerns THE UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is planning some research into fast rescue boats in response to an accident that occurred more than five years ago Sharp Pemex decline feared AN internal study by Mexican oil giant Pemex obtained by the Wall Street Journal warns of a potentially disastrous decline in its massive Cantarell field PDVSA, Petrobras spotlight Suape TECHNICAL staff from oil majors PDVSA and Petrobras are visiting Suape next week for groundwork on a giant new refinery at the Brazilian port Fred Olsen raises $29M from paintings FRED Olsen, chairman of Ganger Rolf and Bonheur, has sold eight paintings by Edvard Munch for $29M, close to the $30M paid for the cruise ship Boudicca BP signs flexible gas contract Court rules on Naviera Peninsular sale Panama clarifies seafarer tax position Ashdod in business, but region jumpy HHLA chief exec heads for showdown ACCC launches legal action against Toll Corrosion responsible for lifeboat deaths China bans pork imports Cosco in Greek port talks Ecuador oil flow resumes

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Double-digit gains for LA on-dock rail On-dock rail traffic at Port of Los Angeles increased 23 percent in 2005; at Port of Long Beach, on-dock moves grew by 27 percent from the previous year. Costs to pressure NYK results Fuel cuts "K" Line outlook Cosco, Evergreen plan all-water service MOL lowers forecast PSA-P&O would be top port operator: Fitch Pacer profits improve Hub profits up Three nominated to Tampa Port Authority

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
ACCC takes court action against Toll The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission today launched Federal Court proceedings against Toll Holdings over its proposed acquisition of Patrick Corporation. JICT under pressure, as Transport head indicates 'no' to contract extension Indonesia's Department of Transportation has indicated his refusal of proposals by Jakarta International Container Terminal's shareholders - which include a Hutchison Ports Holding subsidiary ' to extend JICT's operating contract. Belem privatisation suffers as politicians fiddle Prince Rupert kicks off terminal project despite aboriginal protests Updated:OOCL vessel resumes Grand Alliance rotation after Suez blockage Unloading of APL Panama commencing in situ CSX Transportation track-work underway in Carolinas and Virginia

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Tricolor ruling appealed Lawyers for the containership that sank the car carrier Tricolor are taking their case to a higher court. Matson ramps up Matson Navigation is investing another $45m to add rolling capacity to the increasingly competitive Hawaii trade. Umoe action call Norwegian owned company told to review release design after fatal lifeboat drill. Shinwa Naiko nudges up profit Japanese coastal bulker operator improves nine-month result on bigger revenues. Montanari powers to profit Sale of gas carrier business boosted bottom line at Italian tanker owner in 2005. Western India wins barge deal Indian shiprepairer branches out into construction with PMC Projects order. Putin tanker deal Factorias Vulcano wins Rosneft newbuilding contract during Russian president's state visit to Spain. K Line lowers sights Third-biggest Japanese owner improves nine-month net earnings, but full-year operating profit forecast down as fuel prices rise. Steamship Mutual in profit The P&I club that insured tragic Egyptian ferry tells members a $12m surplus is in prospect for the current underwriting year. Strong showing at Iino Japanese tanker, gas and bulker player revises full-year figures upwards after strong set of results. NYK more cautious Fuel prices lower full-year profit forecast at Japanese owner, but nine-month earnings up. ABG builds pollution control ships Indian yard bags order for three vessels from Indian Coast Guard, secures land for new yard. Earnings down at Daiichi Nine month net profits ease down on twelve months ago at Japanese tanker and bulker player. Bunkers blight MOL Japanese owner's third quarter results held back by rising fuel costs and weakening liner trades. Profits slide at Shinwa Continued poor performance drags into third quarter for Japanese tanker and bulker player. Revenues up at ACL Second largest barge operator in the US posts positive numbers in first results since Nasdaq lisitng. Mini-boom for Bergen's Wilson Norwegian owner's fleet of small bulkers pile on profits in 2005. BLT Singapore bound New York looks to have lost out as Indonesian firm plans to join other owners in Lion Republic.

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
ABN AMRO analyst predicts strong tanker rates in 2006 Cargo ship blocks Suez Canal INTTRA adds Malaysia International Shipping to carrier roster Burning UPS cargo jet lands safely in Philadelphia Ex-Im Bank considers Kenyan locomotive finance request ITC rules certain orange juice from Brazil injure U.S. producers Wal-Mart chief says retailer won't abandon Maryland expansion plans Finmeccanica signs on with BAX U-Freight opens Southern California facility Bush underfunds security grants, ports charge Los Angeles-Long Beach ports appeal for customs pre-filing Marseilles throughput up 2.7% in 2005 Virginia Ports handle 1.98 million TEUs Port of Portland replaces 41-year-old dredge tender

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Norwegian government to support shipping Norway's leftist government intends to support shipping and other marine industries, according to the minister of trade and industry Odd ... New campaign for detecting oil spill The Danish Naval Command (SOK) has launched a campaign against oil spills in Danish waters. The campaign is rather unusual ... Start of ice-breaking season in Estonia The Estonian Maritime Administration has announced the start of the ice-breaking season in the bays of Kopli and Tallinn ...

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FEBRUARY 9, 2006
Houston buyers look to Panama US Gulf coast buyers looking south as price gap narrowing between markets. Irving Oil buys out Motiva New England company acquiring new terminal, entering joint venture with CITGO. Trader opens new Turkey office Bunkers International today announcing new office in Istanbul. Rotterdam: New jetty constructed to accommodate growth Construction of a new oil jetty begins today at Vopak's terminal in the Europoort, to accommodate growth. Supplier dismisses employee for fraudulent practices Supplier dismisses employee for acting in conflict of interests, in breach of an agency agreement and for misappropriating agency funds, and warns of wrongful associations with another company. Stena welcomes new bunker tanker, cannot rule out more newbuilds Swedish bunker supplier, Stena Oil announced today the arrival of its latest newbuild bunker tanker, M/T Norden, and says it cannot rule out more newbuilds. Rotterdam market stable late morning Singapore: Stocks of residual fuels down, distillates up Japan: Highest retroactive bunker price agreed for January Nippon Yusen KK and Nippon Oil Corp have agreed on the highest ever retroactive bunker fuel price for January. India to introduce 'Special Pollution Control Vessels' Indian coastguard boosts oil pollution preventive measures with three newbuild orders for highly capable pollution control vessels.