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Shipping News

Close watch on Aussie stevedoring prices
AN industry grouping, Shipping Australia Ltd , said its members will keep close tabs on the impact on stevedoring prices of Toll Holdings' recent acquisition of Patrick Corp, and push for a third stevedoring player if necessary.
Malacca Strait remains on high-risk list
THE Malacca Strait remains a high-risk area for shipping, according to London underwriters following a recent review of the Hull War, Strikes, Terrorism and Related Perils Listed Areas.

Strait Talk

Mediterranean lessons for Asia
LAST week, representatives of 65 ports from 18 countries bordering the Mediterranean met in Gibraltar for the 28th general assembly of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports .

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Shipping News

Close watch on Aussie stevedoring prices
AN industry grouping, Shipping Australia Ltd , said its members will keep close tabs on the impact on stevedoring prices of Toll Holdings' recent acquisition of Patrick Corp, and push for a third stevedoring player if necessary.
Malacca Strait remains on high-risk list
THE Malacca Strait remains a high-risk area for shipping, according to London underwriters following a recent review of the Hull War, Strikes, Terrorism and Related Perils Listed Areas.

Strait Talk

Mediterranean lessons for Asia
LAST week, representatives of 65 ports from 18 countries bordering the Mediterranean met in Gibraltar for the 28th general assembly of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports .

	web site

NYK's net profits up 29pc for FY2005, but operating income down Port of Amsterdam to open Shanghai office Security charge to be levied at mainland Chinese ports Hong Kong throughput up 8.6pc in April, Singapore's rises 3.6pc Security officials at Cebu say port vulnerable to terrorist attack ABC to launch HK services with new Boeing freighter Cargo throughput at HKIA continues to grow in April NCA to add two more planes

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Ships may soon be tracked by satellite Mercator Lines to join hunt for black gold offshore Iran to ship 7.5 m tonnes of LNG by 2009 Baalu asks scientists to take up challenges facing maritime sector S. S. Rangnekar elected IPBCC Chairman Chinese have business to discuss with Chennai industrialists Aussie supplier blames strict quality norms for delays in delivery MoS sets fiscal cargo handling target at 465.7 m tonnes Chennai Port Trust extends bidding deadline for second box terminal to Sept. 15 Bengal's 2nd port plan gets stuck in Hooghly silt 3 m tonnes of imported wheat to be delivered at 5 ports Air cargo rates on Chennai-NY route drop steeply Mega gems & jewellery park with SEZ status planned in Bangalore SEZ area norms for old applicants to be relaxed Policy stability essential'PHDCCI After steel, Essar going in for 1,200-ha multi-product SEZ near Jamnagar Exim Bank to help boost export of rural products Major portion of highway projects to be implemented via PPP model Nasscom sees merit in scrapping minimum area requirement for IT-SEZs Commerce Min. official to speak at IMC

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MAY 16, 2006
MOL nominates Yoko Ishikura as outside director Eurogate reports record results Thai Airways increases profits BoxXpress launches new North Sea'Hungary blocktrains Kuehne + Nagel opens new office in Cancun EU/US open sky agreement still on the cards but not imminent

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MAY 16, 2006
Pirates kill four in S China Sea attack GL approval unchanged for container locks PSA volumes up Quintana buys 17 ships

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MAY 16, 2006
ABS to class first UAE built jackups New U.S. military contract for Westpac Express Spanish order for 98 m Incat

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Orient ship arrested for 'unpaid bills' ORIENT Steamship, owned by rising shipping tycoon John Koo, has had its 1990-built 152,056 dwt capesize Orient Alliance arrested in South Africa for alleged non-payment of bills. Prosecutor demands life sentences for CNAN chiefs A PUBLIC prosecutor has recommended the Algiers criminal court to impose life imprisonment on the former chairman and four senior executives of Algerian state-owned shipping company CNAN for their role in the sinking of one of the company's vessels off the port of Algiers with the loss of 16 members of its 18-man crew. Relief for Cyprus and Malta as they finally make Paris MoU's white list CYPRUS and Malta have both been upgraded to the white list in the flag assessment system maintained by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, reflecting years of effort by both maritime administrations. Shell puts safety first in Nigerian oil fields ROYAL Dutch Shell is seeking tenders for up to 70 boats, hovercraft, landing craft and small ships to strengthen crew transport operations in its oil fields in Nigeria as it also seeks to boost security in the region.

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MAY 16, 2006
UXB delays Mersey operations FERRY operations at Norfolkline's Twelve Quays terminal at Birkenhead were brought to a halt today after the discovery last night of an unexploded World War II bomb Piracy: Jamaica SIX robbers armed with knives boarded a general cargo ship at Kingston outer anchorage on the morning of 9 May, according to the IMB's latest Weekly Piracy Report Carnival's Caribbean bookings fall CARNIVAL Corp says it is suffering "weakness in bookings, principally for sailings in the Caribbean during the second half of 2006" Scandlink postpones service launch Star warns on cruise demand Quintana harvests grain deal Puget pilots win major pay increase Massive pollution fine for Navalmar AWB denies chartering conflict Crewmen die after inhaling gas Small fine for ISPS non-compliance French assess 'clean shipbreaking' Cruise faces protest challenge

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MAY 16, 2006
U.S. plans to fight freight congestion Secretary of Transportation Mineta announces national initiative to solve growing issues of freight and passenger congestion. Deutsche Post sees weaker profit, but raises outlook APL warns on U.S. gridlock Deadly Typhoon Chanchu threatens Hong Kong DP World plans IPO Zim calls Portland BAX opens China office Ocean rates increasing for India-Europe freight Growth in global markets aids Hellmann sales

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MAY 16, 2006
Typhoon Chanchu may affect South China port operations Tropical cyclone Chanchu, which was centred within about 800km of Hong Kong at 5.47pm Hong Kong Time is forecast to move further north, and may impact southern China port operations. 'SAFE Port' bill seeks safe harbour in Senate One of the most successful bills to come out of the US political frenzy over DP World has made it out of the House of Representatives into the Senate. Shipping industry: security delays may cost Mumbai and Chennai projects Lines warn Toll of stevedoring scrutiny Heung-A suffers Q1 loss Chittagong port blockade move withdrawn, after talks Maersk expands its Charlotte offices Road links Yantian to northern Guangdong highway network Inchon and Gwangyang volumes surge Kaliningrad terminal to double equipment, seeking efficiency-gains High energy cargo stimulus for new NYK Russian offices

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MAY 16, 2006
Holding Analyst Cantor Fitzgerald is neutral on mammoth Quintana expansion, citing stronger earnings power but also big debt burden. OSG fattens credit chest New York owner up to $1.8bn in new finance facility as two banks step up their lending commitment. One missing from cruise ship Search continues for American man presumed overboard from Royal Caribbean's Mariner of the Seas. Exmar plans offshore listing Nicholas Saverys appoints DnB NOR to explore spin-off of non-shipping activities. No ferry across the Mersey Suspected World War bomb detains two ferries and over 300 people on Liverpool's River Mersey Grieg hatches surprise order Open-hatch bulker quartet order comes as a surprise as Norway's Grieg group backtracks on 'no rush' comment. Another exit at Galbraith's? Martin Ashford looks to have exited the panamax desk of Galbraith's but no word yet on where he may resurface. Filipinos' $2bn paycheck Seafarers' remittances set for record as booming trade pushes demand for crews up 10%. Orsova cuts losses Romanian shipbuilder improves in first quarter as it targets better annual profit. Second straight loss for Star Malaysian cruise group suffers $35m deficit after occupancy levels dip in Asia. Charter woe for GO UK-listed bulk owner accepts lower rates on three new charter deals. Korea agrees Greek pact Two big maritime nations grant freedom of operation for ships in each other's waters. HOSC orders standby quartet Q-Ship subsidiary heads to Singapore yard for new offshore vessels. Police await QM2 Filipino crewman to be arrested over death of colleague when liner arrives in Southampton. NYK goes it alone in Russia In-house shipping agency to handle container business for Japanese giant, leaving Rusmarine in the cold. IHI doubles its money Japanese engineering group helped by weaker yen as profit soars, but shipbuilding loses money. MC steps on the gas New York-listed LPG player sees 80% jump in first quarter results with promise of more to come. Workers injured in yard fire Blaze on Italian tanker at Adriatic Shipyard in Montenegro hospitalises 12 men. Kansai Kisen crumbles Japanese ferry owner continues to struggle with another loss despite revenues remaining steady in the first quarter. Oman opts for Austal Sultanate follows up recent order in Italy with $70m worth of work for Australian fast ferry builder. Montanari ups profit Revenues fall at Navigazione Montanari of Italy but profit increases 50% in the first quarter. Missed! Toei Reefer is wide of the mark on 2005 earnings. Matson lifts fuel surcharge US-to-Hawaii container line is to increases fuel surcharges for the third time this year. Tallink denies Algerian sale Fantaasia ferry will not go to Africa, but future uncertain after replacement on Stockholm route. Foreign ports boost PSA PSA's year-to-date volumes reach close to 16m-teu as overseas ports continue to drive growth.

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MAY 16, 2006
Greek ocean carriers agree to U.S. security efforts Zim moves to Portland COSCO to charter 8,204-TEU ship Tropical Shipping opens Trinidad facility Exel takeover boosts Deutsche Post's logistics profits Atlas Air parent loses $3.7 million in first quarter Nippon Cargo Airlines aims to triple revenue Cathay Pacific selects Unisys ahead of IBM STB chairman chides Wall Street on rail picks U.S. close to resuming beef trade with China Mexico restores trade in California wheat Ag groups, shippers back Schwab's U.S. Trade Representative nomination USDA prepares for trade mission to Kazakhstan Konica Minolta extends contract with NYK Logistics (Belgium) IGL secures 3PL contract with Prestige Products Colombian firm purchases Savi RFID technology DP World reiterates intent to sell U.S. terminals Hong Kong's container volumes just better than Singapore in April

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MAY 16, 2006
Cyprus and Malta to the white list The quality improvement work done by the flag state authorities in Cyprus and Malta has been successful. The two nations ... New operator wants to start new Faroese ferry service The Faroese Smyril Line could face competition on the trade between Denmark and the Faroese Islands. A new company called ... Rig shortage in North West Europe this year Only eight drilling rig are available for contracts from now and well into 2007. In all 76 mobile units are ...

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MAY 16, 2006
Long Beach goes greener New report charts 'green policy' progress, including new technology for ship main engines. Richards Bay bunker operations affected by pipeline leak Bunker supply suspended at two berths out of three following a leak on a fuel oil line. West-East arb flows to remain high in June With Singapore bull play coming to a close, traders hope falling fuel oil prices will spur Chinese demand as arbitrage arrivals remain high. Rotterdam recovers slightly from early crude drop Singapore supplier wins support to continue operation Court ruling in favour of bunker supplier to continue business following firm support from most of its creditors. Singapore bunker prices on strong retreat Bunker prices weaker following more than $2 drop in crude prices last night.