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UAE company poised to oversee six US ports
US lawmakers and others have raised concerns that Dubai's DP World is poised to take over significant operations at six American ports with its purchase of the United Kingdom's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
Morgan Stanley lowers ratings on Asian lines
EVERGREEN Marine Corp, China Shipping Container Lines Co and other Asian shipping lines had their stock ratings and earnings estimates cut by Morgan Stanley, which cited a decline in cargo rates.
Rotterdam Port, Vopak start work on jetty
ROTTERDAM Port, the world's second largest, and Royal Vopak NV, the world's largest oil and chemicals tank-storage company, began building Rotterdam port's largest jetty, to keep pace with rising oil volumes.
Zhenhua bags US$200m deal

Strait Talk

Those other ferry tragedies
LAST week this column was focused on the Red Sea ferry disaster, for obvious reasons.

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Shipping News

UAE company poised to oversee six US ports
US lawmakers and others have raised concerns that Dubai's DP World is poised to take over significant operations at six American ports with its purchase of the United Kingdom's Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.
Morgan Stanley lowers ratings on Asian lines
EVERGREEN Marine Corp, China Shipping Container Lines Co and other Asian shipping lines had their stock ratings and earnings estimates cut by Morgan Stanley, which cited a decline in cargo rates.
Rotterdam Port, Vopak start work on jetty
ROTTERDAM Port, the world's second largest, and Royal Vopak NV, the world's largest oil and chemicals tank-storage company, began building Rotterdam port's largest jetty, to keep pace with rising oil volumes.
Zhenhua bags US$200m deal

Strait Talk

Those other ferry tragedies
LAST week this column was focused on the Red Sea ferry disaster, for obvious reasons.

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P&O shareholders approve DP World takeover Qingdao, Chiwan throughputs up in Jan Maersk Line, Maersk Logistics brands come into being Portek interim net profit rises 1.1pc Jurong Jan throughput increases 2.6pc FPS partner relocates offices in Vietnam CX postpones launch of Moscow service New Kobe airport expected to boost regional economy BA to introduce Ankara-London service

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West Asia Maritime in deal with MOL to charter bulk carrier SC to seek opinion of new panel on Clemenceau issue Fewer VLCCs to dot the oceans Recovery in Asian dry-bulk shipping rates seen Orders for OSVs flood shipyards Acme Shipping celebrates 5th anniversary today DGS to crack the whip, recall detained ships Rubber exports up by 20 pc during April-Jan. DP World wins P&O hands down! KPT's dry cargo berths project attracts slew of potential investors At 52 m. tonnes, KoPT may well post highest throughput among Major Ports in 2005-06 Pondicherry port to be deepened CII training programme on global trade payment mechanisms

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Hoyer-Talke elects new director Hamburg Süd to open Mexico office London-Heathrow to be sold? GKB and LTE expanding to Germany Pacorini partners ADS in the USA ATA endorses idling-reduction bill Sri Lankan customs authority to launch electronic cargo clearance Animal transportation conference

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
P&O shareholders vote to sell Q4 boosts Knightsbridge MOL starts new Vietnam service Disputes hit Finnlines

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Transpetro competition narrows Seaspan buys two 3,500 TEU newbuilds Kleven to build advanced offshore vessel for Siem $93.8 million LHA(R) award to Northrop Grumman

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Pod woes force Queen Mary 2 back into dry dock CUNARD flagship Queen Mary 2 is to be drydocked for six days at Blohm+Voss' Hamburg yard in May to remove a propulsor pod damaged when leaving Port Everglades last month. Europe yards stage recovery of Titanic proportions European shipyards have recovered from the worst crisis since the Second World War by posting the best performance of any economic region in the world. Shipowners slam failure to enforce Singapore bunker supply standards DESPITE a raft of bunker regulations and quality initiatives introduced by the Singapore authorities, shipowners are still complaining of being short changed by suppliers. MSC threat to Alstom-Aker deal ALSTOM Marine's biggest customer, MSC Cruises, has warned that it could challenge Aker Yards' planned takeover of the French shipbuilder before the European Commission.

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Cruise sector suffers Grease Lightnin' THE owners of the rights to the Broadway musical hit 'Grease' have filed suit against the majority of the North American cruise sector Knightsbridge decides growth course KNIGHTSBRIDGE Tankers has reported a significant profit fall-off compared to 2004, and its board has decided to pursue further growth within its existing business sector Spain regroups in yard feeding frenzy BILBAO shipyard Astilleros Zamakona has presented a dramatic last-minute bid for the publicly-held Sestao shipyard Sagunto receives first LNG shipment SPAIN'S new euro340M LNG regasification facility at the port of Sagunto is receiving its first shipment of LNG Genco first year solid BULK newcomer Genco Shipping & Trading closed its first year with profits of $54.5M and has put in place a solid foundation for future growth, according to its president Stowaways use pirate cover New Jersey oil cleanup underway Imarex profits follow shipping markets down Oglebay sheds more floating assets WTO threatens US over tax breaks Portsmouth wins Vigo service Spanish union gives new ultimatum Brazil buys the cruising lifestyle Life is sweet for Cosan Good times roll for Aker Yards

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Yang Ming to call at Portland The Taiwanese carrier will switch calls from Vancouver. Zim also is considering new services at the Oregon port. Bush toughens stance on China trade EU investigates air-cargo carriers Intermodal growth slows Expeditors posts record profit Schneider to acquire US forwarder Hutchison buys stake in New Zealand coal terminal Russian piracy costs US companies $1.8 billion China's airlines post $1.2 billion profit since 2000 Pirelli extends TNT contract

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Murmansk tables two box projects The search for alternative cargo-routes has put Murmansk on the table alongside other plans for Northwest Russian container-handling development in the near future, with at least one project already underway. Queensland Rail and Babcock & Brown snap up ARG Australia's rail freight market has contracted to just two major players following today's sale of the Australian Railroad Group for A$1.3bn (US$960m). Voting in CI Awards ends Friday Readers' last chance to vote in the first CI Awards will end on Friday February 17, winners will be announced at the CI Awards 2006 ceremony, IN New York on March 23. Maersk move shakes up Caribbean transhipment MOL's Vietnam/HK service to expedite North American transits HPH set to make first NZ investment Mediators called to evaluate ESM joint venture Australian Customs finally reviews the troublesome ICS Evergreen and Cosco continue co-operation with new Asia-US service CMA CGM replaces Asia-Black Sea partnership with solo service Thunder Bay remains key CP centre, despite paper cuts Opposition brewing to Indian ruling on overloading

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Passengers flee Riga Latvia's Freeport of Riga continues to lose passengers by thousands after the collapse of a ferry operator. Seaspan signs Coscon first Owner agrees first ever charter with Chinese giant after snapping up containership resales from Conti. LSC auctions oldies Lithuanian owner reduces fleet with sale of two 1970s-built bulkers. WAM 'to double fleet' Indian bulker owner West Asia Maritime (WAM) is signalling ambitious growth plans to match those of its parent ETA-Ascon. Then there were four Only four shipyard groups remain in contention for massive Transpetro tanker tender in Brazil, but Daewoo and STX to appeal disqualification. Ship explodes during blaze Firefighters struggle to contain fire on vessel at shiprepair yard in Azerbaijan Ince shakes it up in the 'Mushroom City' UK law firm opens office in the fastest growing city on earth. Strong 2005 for Sembcorp Shiprepairer and rig builder benefits from high oil prices and strong freight rates. Imarex hit by falling markets Oslo derivatives exchange builds number of trades in 2005, but sees profit slump. MOL adds to Vietnam network Japanese shipping giant launches boxship feeder link to Hong Kong. Finnlines profit drops 40% And problems already in 2006 as ro-pax delay hampers summer ticket sales. Siem orders again Norwegian group signs for third offshore ship this week, this time at Kleven Maritime. Aker rolls on Expanding Norwegian yard group builds earnings from offshore vessels and containerships in 2005. Genco up on third quarter Peter Georgiopoulos' US listed bulker operation ends 2005 with 20% plus jump in net profits. Knightsbridge shows improvement Traditionally strong fourth quarter helps to lift bottom line at Frontline-managed VLCC operator. Oglebay sells Reserve Great Lakes shipowner disposes of ship and says terms of fleet sale continue to be negotiated.

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Maersk Line is born COSCO, Evergreen to start China/U.S. East Coast loop TACA maintains bunker rates MOL to start Hong Kong/Ho Chi Minh feeder Cargolux starts weekly Luxembourg/Indianapolis service Beer quits American Airlines' parent Schneider National acquires American Overseas CSX to pay Baltimore $2 million for tunnel fire cleanup FCS's Import2000 service ready for ACE truck manifest CPR to end operations at Thunder Bay terminal RailAmerica's carloads up 7% in January EU calls for end of U.S. tax breaks for exporters COAC undergoes organizational change FEMA logistics contractors must track shipments, Chertoff says U.S. pork exports rise, beef shipments slowly recover TNT finalizes sales of remaining French logistics units P&O shareholders agree to DP World's offer

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Crew is to leave bulk carrier A court in Fredericia yesterday ruled, that the crew from the bulk carrier "M. Pioneer" is to leave the vessel ... Maersk Line vessel lost containers in bad weather The Maersk Line container vessel "P&O Nedlloyd Mondriaan" lost some 85 containers during a voyage from Rotterdam to Hamburg ...

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FEBRUARY 14, 2006
Oil at six-week low, drags bunker prices down Crude posting new low levels today with US bunker prices softer in key ports. Damaged tanker safe in Port Angeles Tesoro tanker due in Puget Sound for inspection and cargo unloading after running aground in Alaska. Japanese lines' outlook, shares, hit by fuel cost Japan's three biggest shipping lines have lowered their full-year operating profit forecasts as surging bunker costs, combined with a drop in freight rates, are expected to bite. Lower fuel oil arrivals keep markets supported European traders capitalise on strength in Asian markets as low March fuel oil arrivals and pricing play keep markets supported. Rotterdam market holds steady Tuesday morning Broker warns of pitfalls of following price over service Bunker fuel prices are set to remain high until end-2006, but this should not coerce buyers to acquire cheaper priced bunkers OPL, says broker. Burning gas may be an option for marine fuel CIMAC to look into burning gas as marine fuel, as emission concerns loom large. DNVPS introduces Total Fuel Management Solutions DNVPS is introducing a concept of Total Fuel Management Solutions aimed at meeting the current and long-term needs of ship operators.