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Shipping News

Haze prompts warnings to ships
SHIPS sailing through Asia's busy waterways are being warned to keep a proper lookout to prevent accidents as a choking haze smothering the region reduces visibility.
Eagle Bulk sees bullish freight outlook for 2007
THE head of the largest US-based Handymax dry bulk vessel owner, Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc, predicts a multiyear uptrend for the small dry bulk vessel market, defying some bearish expectations by ship brokers.
Shipbreaking workers want safer conditions
INDIAN and Bangladeshi shipbreaking workers called on the industry's chiefs meeting in London yesterday to bolster regulation to cut deaths and injuries.
Gulf tanker rates may slide on vessel surplus

Strait Talk

Port Shots
TWO seamen were killed and eight others were missing after a Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd commodity carrier ran aground in Japan, the company's third accident in three months.

web site

Shipping News

Haze prompts warnings to ships
SHIPS sailing through Asia's busy waterways are being warned to keep a proper lookout to prevent accidents as a choking haze smothering the region reduces visibility.
Eagle Bulk sees bullish freight outlook for 2007
THE head of the largest US-based Handymax dry bulk vessel owner, Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc, predicts a multiyear uptrend for the small dry bulk vessel market, defying some bearish expectations by ship brokers.
Shipbreaking workers want safer conditions
INDIAN and Bangladeshi shipbreaking workers called on the industry's chiefs meeting in London yesterday to bolster regulation to cut deaths and injuries.
Gulf tanker rates may slide on vessel surplus

Strait Talk

Port Shots
TWO seamen were killed and eight others were missing after a Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd commodity carrier ran aground in Japan, the company's third accident in three months.

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Hanjin Shipping sets up company in India Asia-Europe freight rates rebound Carlisle Leasing to be headed by Joseph Kwok Leadership change at Hamburg Liaison Office in Shanghai Westports' box volume rises 26pc from Jan-Sept Dublin Port to help develop Sabang Port into one of Asia's biggest Malaysia Airlines restores Beirut service, cuts Cairo Menzies Aviation acquires Perth Cargo Centre Continental pays an extra US$70m towards staff pension funds

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SKS (Ship) acquires its 1st ship, m.v. Royal Pisces AMET unveils MBA distance learning course in shipping management INdia shipping summit Begins today Singapore continues with anti-trust immunity for liner groupings Maersk shares value will double by 2010-Danske Bank TSG changes name to GSF Asian-owned vessels swell Marshall Islands Registry Emma helps PSA, Maersk make peace China bans zero & negative freight rates India needs deeper ports to receive giant containerships Reliance Group's Rewas port may draw bigger boxships with 20-23 m draught OCT project: MbPT extends deadline yet again! JNPT posts impressive 21 pc rise in H1 throughput Nitco-A pioneer in cargo transportation Gold to top $ 600 by year-end No limit on number of SEZs-Minister

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
AAPA names Fraser River Port Authority president chair of board German commercial fleet expanding British Airways World Cargo lowers fuel surcharge TNT to take over Hoau's road haulage network in China Worldwide Project Consortium welcomes Hecksher Poland

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
ITF lobbies IMO on scrapping ITF "week of action" in Baltic Teekay ship and fishing boat collide K Line, Gemartrans boost Vietnam service

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
Keppel Kazakhstan launches barge Ezra announces FPSO contract

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Hunt for crew as MOL ship breaks up THE Japanese coast guard last night continued to search for eight Indian seafarers missing from the 1985-built Mitsui OSK Lines capesize ore carrier Giant Step which caught fire and grounded off eastern Japan on Friday. Dutch parliament set to approve €2.9bn Maasvlakte 2 THE Dutch parliament is expected to make a historic decision and vote for the port expansion project known as the Maasvlakte 2 today. Mitropoulos attacks delay over new rules INTERNATIONAL Maritime Organization secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos took the opportunity of his opening address to the Marine Environment Protection Committee yesterday to renew calls for national administrations to ratify the conventions they agree. Hong Kong drafting hits Marpol ratification MOVES by the Hong Kong government to ratify the International Maritime Organization's Marpol Annex VI convention have been delayed because of difficulties drafting the appropriate legislation, writes Keith Wallis in Hong Kong.

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
Crew shortage spurs Conti reflagging HAMBURG 09 October ' German KG financier Conti Group, one of the staunchest supporters of the German flag, has been forced to transfer more of its ships into open registries this year because of the acute shortage of German masters Skaugen ahead despite expense hike IM SKAUGEN, the Norwegian LPG carrier and lighterage tanker company, reported a 3Q06 pre-tax profit of $2.9M, compared with $0.7M in the same period last year PDVSA denies export cut SOURCES claim that PDVSA has curtailed October exports of gasoline to the US and Cuba due to refinery outages - not so, says the Venezuelan oil giant Boxes return to S California US ports continue to experience only minimal congestion at the height of the peak season, but trade is returning to Los Angeles/Long Beach after last year's desertions Reef damage prompts restrictions REEF damage from anchored or inbound vessels has prompted the US Coast Guard to examine restricting anchorages off Port Everglades Teekay tanker collides with trawler A Teekay Shipping tanker departing from Portland for Europe collided with a fishing trawler off the Maine coast late at night on 4 October Barca port in road transport terror Corsica Ferries urges tender delay Houlder buys Hart Fenton Russia takes over Balkan pipeline Indians mourn loss of bulker seafarers Ezra clinches $265M FPSO charter Nuke test triggers stock slide

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
Vancouver hubs plan 'superport' merger Three Vancouver ports agree to merge into integrated 'superport' that would manage marine, intermodal trade in the region. Hanjin sets up India unit CMA CGM seeing rebound in Asia-Europe freight rates TACA trims fuel surcharge British Airways World Cargo cuts fuel charge again Cargo increase for Nehru Air France-KLM traffic up Mumbai volume up 15% Rewas to get $650M expansion Emirates signs for 20 747s

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
Dublin Port to invest in Indonesia's Sabang port The Irish Port of Dublin is poised to invest in Indonesia's Sabang Port, hoping to lure Singapore-destined cargo by upgrading port facilities. Updated: Hanjin hopes to lift 16% more cargo in India Trans-Raks to rail around minor bump in Russian car assembly strategy Mumbai box terminal bid process delayed further Reliance to build India's largest port HMM to link Japan and India Consumer spending drives increases in US intermodal traffic Busan New Port to add seven berths Gdansk shipyard to produce container ships PAN offered for sale Vostochniy claws back more volumes Gastrade may have to go outside Brazil for newbuild financing

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
Ocean Tankers readies IPO First ever shipping offering in Cyprus could raise $14m for Michael Ioannides' operation. "Thanks, Frank", says ITF Leonhardt & Blumberg owner congratulated for putting more ships under union deal. Graig returns to Vinashin UK-based shipowner reported to have signed letter of intent for up to 25 new bulkers. Skaugen struggles with costs Norwegian shuttle tanker and gas carrier owner hit by higher time-charter payments and other expenses in first nine months. Shipowner off to Oxford Rick Stickle to serve 33 month sentence in Wisconsin's country club prison. Fredriksen out of Hanjin Tanker colossus sells 10% stake in Korean liner operator for $160m. Swansea Cork eyes replacement UK to Ireland service is retiring 1972-built ship and wants to bring in bigger vessel. Crewmen feared lost Major loss of life as fire hit capesize breaks up after being driven aground. Half mast for Hermansen Fleet told to lower flags to mark passing of wealthy Norwegian shipowner. Star sublets newbuildings Norwegian owner agrees deal to lease out four new reefers chartered in from Nissen of Japan. Facelift for Swire Swire group boxship owner China Navigation Co to consolidate brands under Swire Shipping umbrella in UK move. Ezra buys Knutsen tanker Singapore offshore firm purchases shuttle tanker for its first ever FPSO conversion project. Danes seek Poles Danish owners face new legal threat as union advertises in Poland for 'under-paid' seafarers. GOC launches rights issue Global Ocean Carriers to raise '13m to help fund purchase of capesize and handymax bulkers. Hanjin tightens security Korean shipbuilder asks Philippines police for help after communist rebels raid field office. George of all trades Economou jumps into CFO role after longtime lieutenant Christopher Thomas quits to join private Greek owner. Reliance lines up biggest port Indian industrial group eyes site in Navi Numbai for INR 30bn west-coast development. Hapag in Africa expansion German container line is increasing its involvement in West Africa with service linking Dakar and Tema.

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
TACA to reduce fuel surcharges Swire to rebrand services Maersk moving cars by container Hanjin to establish own company in India Two British Airways execs resign amid fuel probe BA World Cargo lowers fuel surcharge again GAO report said capacity challenges loom for railroads Union Pacific to build New Mexico railroad terminal facility U.S. railroads' intermodal volumes up 5.4% in September CP Railway names Lambert executive VP, CFO Bush talks biz at FedEx APL Logistics to RFID tag NETGEAR shipments to Best Buy NRF and Global Insight: Big year to continue this month British Columbia ports talking single port authority Savi to deploy RFID at Virginia ports Christensen hired as No. 2 at Port of Los Angeles Portland adds industrial tenant

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
New ferry terminal in Gdynia In two years time, work in a new ferry terminal will commence in Gdynia at a cost of PLN 273 ... Aker Yards could build more for Stolt-Nielsen Aker Yard's deal for four chemical tankers announced last week could be the first of many if Aker succeeds in ... New feeder service from Kotka Newly established Yellow Star Line will in November start a new liner service, connecting Kotka with Hamburg and Bremerhaven. The ...

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OCTOBER 9, 2006
Oil markets snub North Korean nuclear test Traders following OPEC production cut threat closely but ignoring latest international nuclear development. Fuel feared lost in capesize sinking Ore carrier breaking up off Japan as fierce seas hampering crew rescue and salvage efforts. Disagreement over Vancouver spill clean up Tests show high levels of remaining toxicity and shipowner contesting spill management programme. New crude contract for NYMEX Exchange continues expansion following Singapore bunker contract launch. EU marine sulphur directive non-compliance rife There appear to be few new converts to the 1.5% sulphur limit applicable to passenger vessels in the EU. ARA market firming again Independent suppliers await 500 cst ex-wharf availability Priority on supplies of 500 cst given to ExxonMobil's international customers in Hong Kong. Bunker tanker capsizes with fuel oil onboard Bunker tanker capsizes near Karachi Port carrying 70 mt of fuel oil.