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Shipping News

Satellites may track ships to fight terrorism: IMO
THE world's supreme maritime body said last Thursday it was reviewing new proposals to track suspect ships by satellite to fight terrorism and prevent the movement by sea of illicit material such as weapons of mass destruction.
Shipping gains may double by 2008: TUI
TUI AG, the German travel operator that bought over CP Ships last year, said shipping profit will more than double by 2008 as the acquired company is integrated more quickly than expected and freight rates recover.
More money for ports security needed: US lawmakers
LAMBASTING the Bush administration for lax protection at US seaports, House of Representatives lawmakers acted last Thursday to increase spending on port security by US$448 million more than last year.
Kuehne & Nagel sees 2006 profit matching Q1 rate
Persian Gulf oil-tanker rates may rise; bookings gain

Port Shots

Port Shots
MISC Bhd said fourth-quarter profit dropped 70 per cent.

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Shipping News

Satellites may track ships to fight terrorism: IMO
THE world's supreme maritime body said last Thursday it was reviewing new proposals to track suspect ships by satellite to fight terrorism and prevent the movement by sea of illicit material such as weapons of mass destruction.
Shipping gains may double by 2008: TUI
TUI AG, the German travel operator that bought over CP Ships last year, said shipping profit will more than double by 2008 as the acquired company is integrated more quickly than expected and freight rates recover.
More money for ports security needed: US lawmakers
LAMBASTING the Bush administration for lax protection at US seaports, House of Representatives lawmakers acted last Thursday to increase spending on port security by US$448 million more than last year.
Kuehne & Nagel sees 2006 profit matching Q1 rate
Persian Gulf oil-tanker rates may rise; bookings gain

Port Shots

Port Shots
MISC Bhd said fourth-quarter profit dropped 70 per cent.

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'K' Line quells overcapacity fears in annual report NYK and Yamato form alliance to enhance logistics services Manzhouli to build international logistics park Higher bunker, inland transport costs drive NOL Q1 net profit down US Port of Vancouver to install jumbo harbour crane Cathay Pacific sees cargo volume rise 3.8pc in April Singapore Airlines reports profit Royal Brunei starts flying to Ho Chi Minh

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Globelink WW India scores a six! Tide turning for another Alang bound 'toxic' ship IGTPL brings about notable improvement in RGCT performance CONCOR offers volume discount scheme for FCLs at ICD-Pithampur from June 1 Ircon to re-lay tracks in Liberia Rising interest rates squeezing logistics players' bottomlines Rlys haul 58 m tonnes of freight in April Global consultants to be appointed to weave handloom export strategy Feasibility report on Mumbai's 2nd airport sent for approval India climbs 10 notches up competitiveness ladder Gujarat cotton growers seek share of export earnings Assocham sees need to amend SEZ rules CII wants import duty on second-hand construction gear hiked GAIC to make things easier for big houses to export farm products IMC's ERTF to hold training programme on FTP & procedures Seize the hour to foster trade & investment, urges Lavin

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MAY 12, 2006
Alexander Liehske new port of Sassnitz development manager APL launches Pacific China Express (PCX) Emirates passes 1 million t hurdle Kombiverkehr offers more trains from Hamburg to Hungary Pirelli and TNT Logistics continue partnership

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MAY 12, 2006
MOL Logistics wins green ISO certification USCG warns on recalled hand flares Camillo Eitzen profits drop NOL sees profits slide

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Oglebay Norton sells six lakers

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MAY 12, 2006
TSA works with Coast Guard on new transport ID program Command of Neah Bay station changing hands for Coast Guard Citizens manning VHF radios fill Coast Guard communications gap Vancouver, USA port commission Oks purchase of Cadet facility US rail freight numbers have up, down April

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Yard risk revamp due as losses mount LONDON underwriters are about to launch a substantial revamp of the 18-year-old standard clauses for shipbuilding risk as the speciality lurches from dispute to dispute and sustains heavy losses. NI launches bulk carrier safety drive PEDDLING statistics that show heart-warming improvement in bulk carrier safety is a failure of conscience, according to the Nautical Institute, writes Hugh O'Mahony. LNG sector hits back at Marsh's premium increase warning INSURANCE broker Marsh's suggestion that premiums on liquefied natural gas carriers are poised to increase because insurers no longer view the sector to be as watertight as previously believed has drawn fire from a pair of senior executives in the US. Rotterdam aims to be halal goods hub BOTH MISC Integrated Logistics and the port of Rotterdam are targeting the emerging market for halal logistics estimated to be worth as much $25bn a year worldwide. MOL profits dip despite income rise MITSUI OSK Lines suffered a sharp drop in profits from container shipping in the latest fiscal year as costs soared.

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MAY 12, 2006
Japan tonnage tax 'distant prospect' THE introduction of a tonnage tax in Japan could save Japanese owners ¥95Bn ($850M) in tax annually, a conference in Tokyo was told yesterday Brazil forced to reassess gas imports BRAZIL needs to reassess its gas import capability after Bolivian president Evo Morales accused energy major Petrobras of acting illegally and unconstitutionally Quintana seals transformative deal QUINTANA Maritime has confirmed the purchase of 17 bulkers for $735M, drastically increasing its fleet size from the current 916,000dwt to 2.3Mdwt by mid-2007 PDV ships are part of $70Bn expansion FURTHER details have emerged of PDV Marina's $1.3Bn agreement with Chinese builders to construct 18 oil tankers to carry crude between Venezuela and China Transneft facing hostile takeover bid RUSSIA'S state-owned oil pipeline agency Transneft could be taken over if a merger plan advocated by a faction of former federal transport officials gets Kremlin approval Santos port authority 'a cash cow' SANTOS port authority Codesp is variously a 'political football' or 'cash cow' for Brazilian federal interests, but the size of its debt has brought its future into question Piriou to build yard in Nigeria Sailings suspended as typhoon nears Australian wheat shipment delayed MOL posts first $1Bn results Durban security lapses exposed Clémenceau back in France next week

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MAY 12, 2006
New Senate security bill introduced Senate panel leaders repackage transportation and supply-chain security legislation from 2005 in apparent challenge to GreenLane bill. TSA wants one company to manage TWIC EU scraps U.S. tariff plan Costs sap NYK income Port of Houston endorses Panama Canal expansion Portland boosts budget IPO for China port Funding for Kingston expansion Hub to split stock Quintana to buy 17 ships

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MAY 12, 2006
Transport Workers' card rollout continuing, with call to private sector Implementation of the proposed US transport-worker identity card (TWIC) has finally hit the fast track, with the Transportation Security Administration opening up competition for a 'single integrator' to take over. China's MOC rules standardised THCs are 'non-binding' China's Ministry of Communications is requesting liner conferences allow their members to depart from the standardised THC stated in earlier conference notices. NYK expects lower profits for FY2007 Jakarta invites private investors to fund six deepsea ports North Korea to build one more container berth CK Line and Taiyoung to run Korea/Japan service US$23m boost for Libra Terminais JN Port Trust floats tender for fourth container terminal Vladivostok terminal increases throughput nearly 40%

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MAY 12, 2006
Quintana nets Metrostar ships New York-listed Quintana Maritime of Greece splashes out $735m for 17 vessels in compatriot owner Metrostar Management's fleet. Biometric IDs for Filipinos Manila claims it will be first among Asian labour suppliers to issue seafarers with new electronic cards. Bunge jumping Stamatis Molaris-led Quintana has sold $191m worth of equity and revealed a suite of charters to Bunge on its whole new fleet. Burnt offering If you are looking for a containership bargain then the Hyundai Fortune might be just the ticket. India won't stop Blue Lady Cruise liner continues its journey to Alang but India's Supreme Court orders a committee report into the scrapping fiasco by July. NYK at all-time high Japanese giant survives higher fuel prices to post record annual result, aided by impairment losses in previous year. SNC builds shipbuilding Construction work accounting for 70% of revenues at busier Romanian shipyard. More for NSCSA Profits still rising for Saudi VLCC owner after strong first quarter. Steamship on course Surplus of over $20m achieved by P&I club despite claims from tragic Egyptian ferry and other major incidents. Azuma in strong debut Newly listed Japanese bulker owner makes reporting bow with bigger annual profit. Ceco counts cost Axel Eitzen's diversified shipping company pushed to lower first quarter net profit by interest expenses. Greek fans trash ferry Disgruntled AEK Athens supporters go on rampage on Lane Lines ship after team loses cup final. KLC kicks off lower Korean bulker and LNG player sees profits and revenues slide in first quarter. Taiheiyo picks itself up Taiheiyo of Japan steadies the ship in the final quarter to turn around losses but sees annual profit slashed to a third. Inui profit slips Full-year earnings down at Inui Steamship of Japan despite increased revenues and a positive third quarter. Diana profits drop 20% US-listed Greek bulker player hit in first quarter as charter rates drop by one-third from last year. Jutha numbers jump 100% With no worries over bunker prices Thai shipowner sees first quarter profits nearly double.

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MAY 12, 2006
Europe/South America carriers to raise northbound rates NYK's profits up 29%, expects downturn for shipping Delta posts $2.1 billion 1st quarter net loss Lufthansa's 1st quarter net loss improves American to raise fuel surcharge United consolidates cargo, airport operations Chemical group denounces rail fuel surcharges as unfair Landstar to start warehousing business IANA: Intermodal growth 6.3 percent in last quarter RailAmerica's April carloads down 6.6% U.S. farm groups warn Congress against striking ethanol import tariff WFP restarts food aid program in North Korea U.S. seeks to improve trade in environmental technologies Movie industry tries dogs to sniff out counterfeit DVDs REI breaks ground on Pennsylvania DC IES launches extranet for centralized services USAID publishes 2007 guidelines for Food for Peace program FMC ruling revives NVO case against Alianca Kuehne + Nagel opens Cancun office today FMC to review 17 OTI license applications TSA releases initial TWIC rule Portland port commission approves 5% operating budget increase Port of Vancouver USA approves new mobile harbor crane Port of Ningbo courts U.S. trade

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MAY 12, 2006
Mongstad/Sture threathened by tug strike Norway's major oil and product terminals at Mongstad and Sture in Western Norway are threathened by a tug strike from ... Swedish administration reports solid profit The Swedish Maritime Administration, SMA, reports a SEK 120.1 million (EUR 12.8 million) profit for 2005. Half is placed in ... New rules for alcohol use on board Danish ships A Danish law bill on alcohol limits at sea has been changed before being issued to the Parliament, Folketinget. Strong ...

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MAY 12, 2006
US: Bunkers ride crude's peaks and troughs Prices moving with market fundamentals as week ending quiet. Russian river shipments shrinking, but not ending Russian ministry official seeks to allay concerns and says dredging work will keep Russian oil products flowing. Fuel costs prompt NYK to predict lower profit NYK reports 13% decline in operating profit in the financial year just ended, and predicts more of the same in the current year as fuel costs weigh heavy. Rotterdam supplier takes steps to meet growing LSFO demand Increased interest prompts AFT Chemoil to dedicate barge to service the new LSFO market, where prices currently vary widely from port to port. Quiet end to week in Rotterdam MOL: Fuel costs will prompt 2006 profit drop Despite posting a profit increase for the fiscal year just ended, MOL predicts fuel costs will hit hard in the coming year. Japan: April retroactive bunker price touches new high NYK will pay the highest price ever to Nippon Oil Corp for its April bunker fuel bill. Thai-listed firm posts 51% drop in Q1 profit Thailand's sea-transportation firm attributes its profit drop to high bunker costs and low freight rates.