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Shipping News

Tanker orders triple as shipowners invest in vessels
SHIPBUILDERS received more than three times as many orders for oil tankers in the first half as they did a year ago, as owners invested record profits in new vessels, according to Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd.
Greeks spent US$6.7b on H1 new vessels
GREEK shipowners more than doubled first-half spending on new vessels, shipbroker George Moundreas & Co said.
Keppel Batangas will aid effort to refloat barge
KEPPEL Batangas Shipyard said it will support efforts to refloat the sunken barge Billy Star and dispose of its cargo of sulphuric acid.
Finnish nod for Tallink takeover of rival Silja Line
Indonesian freighter capsizes off Taiwan
Nod for referendum on widening panama canal

Port Shots

Port Shots
SEVERAL people are believed to have been injured in a fire on an LPG tanker at Aqaba, Jordan.

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Shipping News

Tanker orders triple as shipowners invest in vessels
SHIPBUILDERS received more than three times as many orders for oil tankers in the first half as they did a year ago, as owners invested record profits in new vessels, according to Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd.
Greeks spent US$6.7b on H1 new vessels
GREEK shipowners more than doubled first-half spending on new vessels, shipbroker George Moundreas & Co said.
Keppel Batangas will aid effort to refloat barge
KEPPEL Batangas Shipyard said it will support efforts to refloat the sunken barge Billy Star and dispose of its cargo of sulphuric acid.
Finnish nod for Tallink takeover of rival Silja Line
Indonesian freighter capsizes off Taiwan
Nod for referendum on widening panama canal

Port Shots

Port Shots
SEVERAL people are believed to have been injured in a fire on an LPG tanker at Aqaba, Jordan.

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Cosco transfers ownership of two overseas units to Coscon Hanjin moves office in Shanghai as business expands Cinko sets new ro-ro shipping record Emergency terminal congestion surcharge increased by Asia-W Africa trade Maersk signs 20-year deal with Savannah Overland transport route connecting China and South Asia to be formed Malaysian Airlines receives money for terminating domestic air service agreement Volga-Dnepr, Antonov Airlines form new marketing venture - Ruslan Intl GAC Qatar to transport airport terminal from Europe to Qatar

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300th voyage by m.v. Sinar Riau! SKS (Ship) to buy 4 vessels Base import prices of edible oils hiked sharply Exports up by 40 pc in JUne! Faster development of port projects evacuation of containers Security beefed up at JNP & Mumbai Port Now, 'railer' from Railways! Rail-side warehouses may be handed over to private sector on minimum cargo traffic guarantee Forex reserve continues relentless climb SEZs allowed to use 75 pc of area for non-export activities Fieo welcomes changes in drawback rates

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JULY 14, 2006
ICTSI names new MICT finance officers Luca Ronzoni of Nord Cargo elected new president of ERFA Simon accepts Montauban offer British Airways launches service to Calgary Hamburg: more goods on barges Finland Post acquires Universal Spedisjon in Norway

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JULY 14, 2006
Beirut port closed US set to demand crew lists prior to leaving foreign ports Tanker Industry updates safety guide LPG carrier blaze American club expands screening programme

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JULY 15, 2006
More magic pipe indictments

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JULY 14, 2006
Port of Bellingham moving Liebherr crane to Oregon Port of Corpus Christi expanding trade with Cuba Trinity plans to sell European rail business New baggage system eyed for Portland International Airport US rail freight delivers strong month o June

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Beirut port attacked by Israel BEIRUT'S port came under attack Saturday evening as Israel continued to pound Lebanon and target the country's transport infrastructure. Damage was said to be light. Finns lower flag on state control rules THE Finnish EU presidency has abandoned the flag state control directive because it is too controversial in many national capitals. Singapore corruption bureau sets up Consort Bunkers investigation CORRUPTION allegations could be rearing their ugly head again in the Singapore bunker industry with Consort Bunkers under investigation by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, writes Marcus Hand in Singapore. Petrobras pledges $87bn to double oil exports by 2011 PETROBRAS plans to double crude and oil product exports over the next five years and raise production levels as part of an $87bn investment campaign.

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JULY 14, 2006
Seville workers clash with police SEVILLE 14 July - Police officers yesterday clashed with shipyard workers who were trying to gain entry to the city hall in Seville, southerm Spain, in protest against the sale of their shipyard You can run but you can't hide A BRITISH man wanted in the US for over seven years on drug-smuggling charges surrendered this week to US Marshals in London after losing his bid to avoid extradition Stolt appeal unlikely to be heard STOLT Nielsen appears to have been unsuccessful in its bid for a stay in proceedings against the company on conspiracy and price fixing charges Gazprom, Sonatrach talks stall NATURAL gas majors Gazprom of Russia and Algeria's Sonatrach have signalled that efforts to negotiate a strategic agreement have hit serious difficulties Threatened Trasmed strike cancelled STRIKE action that would have affected Acciona Trasmediterranea ferries has been cancelled because the union involved failed to win support from other unions LPG carrier crew injured in blaze The LPG carrier Benegas suffered a fire at the port of Aqaba, Jordan, yesterday morning Four Bangla breakers die Atlantico Sul tanker award criticised Stolt Australia deal hammered out Cosco bulker refloated off Papua NG Singapore defends liner exemption

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JULY 14, 2006
Shanghai first-half box volume up 18% The addition of containers from new Yangshan deepwater port saw total throughput rise to a record 10.1 million TEUs from January-June. Trade bill filed in Senate Senate passes funding bill for Homeland Security Panama Canal trims slots Canada aids IMO security program Texas group eyes Mexico trade Singapore exempts liner agreements from anti-trust Customs Update: A bond that kills trade Finnlines sells feeder K&N wins Sony pact Martinair appoints vice president for Americas Maersk in 20-year pact with Georgia Ports Authority

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JULY 14, 2006
'Novo' goes with the flow, for over 30% H1 rise Russia's Port of Novorossiisk is riding an import wave of affluence, while new market competition improves attractiveness of containerised exports, according to the local office of a pan-Russian logistics company. Teething troubles for Indonesia's domestic fleet financing institution The private multi-finance institution set up to boost Indonesian domestic carriers' fleet-financing has got off to a rocky start, with widespread ignorance about its existence and attacks on its management. Korea Maritime Institute predicts freight rates to rise in Q3 PSA's H1 throughput boosted by overseas port growth Atlantic North-South Service doubles up to Venezuela Ocean carriers oppose Cochin rate-hike COSCO Pacific H1 throughput climbs 23.5% Baltic Sea keeps bringing growth, despite shifting currents Vostochniy Port sees new service CMA CGM group to add Yokkaichi to Japan/Busan loop Safmarine Agulhas future to be decided in a week Fake product smugglers arrested in Busan

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JULY 14, 2006
Stolt gets a letter Stolt-Nielsen is reiterating that it will co-operate with an informal SEC inquiry. Owner indicted Bulker owner Evangelos Madias and employees could spend years in prison if found guilty of using a magic pipe and covering it up. Citius bill rises again Aries Maritime has upped the cost of repairs to one troubled products tanker and found new work for another. Jones Act job for Coscol A Coscol ship can carry an oil rig from the US Gulf to the Cook Inlet after US authorities waived the Jones Act. Hoegh on the up Car carriers and LNG ships bring in more profit in first six months of 2006. Weaving on the Weser Bremen authorities stopped a Norway-bound ship after its 'serpentine' course betrayed the 0.27 alcohol level in the master's blood. Stolt in Aussie deal Dispute on chemical tanker ends as owner promises to replace ship bound for Cayman Islands flag. Jinhui in bulker buy Hong Kong-based owner spends $40.25m on re-sale handymax currently under construction in Japan. Stolt for Supreme Court Chemical tanker owner confirms it will ask US final court to uphold immunity from criminal prosecution. Mehrotra takes tanker plunge London-based reefer owner buys two aframaxes from Qatar Shipping. Garware hunts European owner Ambitious Indian offshore player is in talks to buy a four-ship fleet in Europe. Gotland pulls ferry Swedish owner's newbuilding suffers engine room fire after less than a week in service in Baltic. Bharati confident of growth Increased ship order levels mean Indian yard's revenues should rise another 35% this year. Russian casualty claims lives Up to five feared dead after search-and-rescue vessel's hull ripped open off coast of Kamchatka, Russia. Fire on LPG ship Four seriously hurt as fire ravages Benelux Overseas' 8,100-cbm gas carrier Benegas off Aqaba. Tallink seals the deal Swedish competition authority gives final clearance for Estonian owner's buy-out of Silja Line. Numbers up at PSA State-owned port operator has reported a 28.6% year-on-year increase in first half volumes. NYK seals Baosteel hat trick Japanese owner to import Australian iron ore under third long-term COA with China steel giant. Stolt denied US appeals court declines to put roadblock in front of indictments in antitrust case, leaving chemical owner more vulnerable than ever to criminal charges.

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JULY 14, 2006
NYK signs 3rd bulk transport contract with Baoshan Iron & Steel "K" Line takes another LNG carrier for "Snøhvit" project MacAndrews names Wiltshire head of deep sea trades SAS Cargo to take over Spanair's cargo sales Pilots demand better fire safety rules for all-cargo planes Demand for rail transport remains high USDA offers guide to help farmers protect nation's food supply Sony selects Kuehne + Nagel for Mexican warehousing, distribution Menlo Worldwide leases N.J. warehouse Maersk Line signs 20-year agreement with Georgia Ports Authority

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JULY 14, 2006
"Scandinavian Star" case closed again The Ministry of Justice in Denmark has finally closed the "Scandinavian Star" case. Yesterday the final answer was given to ... Denmark to abandon mines a sea The Danish Navy is about to skip its mining division and abandon the use of all kinds of naval mines ...

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JULY 14, 2006
DNVPS bemused by e-mail and on-going supplier boycott DNVPS says 'Whistle Blower' e-mail allegations are false and comments on supplier boycott of the firm. Petrol Ofisi plans significant investment at Ceyhan Turkish oil firm seeking permission for refinery, storage and bunkering facilities. Lintec offers advice on borderline SECA fuels Lintec reports numerous cases of samples testing slightly above 1.5% sulphur, but advises owners to 'act, not panic'. Tropical storm passes Taiwan, bunkering largely unaffected Rotterdam market firms Friday morning Singapore's 2006 bunker sales on target for new record Total bunker sales volumes for the first six months of 2006 show solid gains despite 12% monthly drop in June. E-mail circulation ''mischievous'', fuel testing firm says Following an e-mail circulated by a 'Whistle Blower', fuel-testing firm Maritec urges the relevant government agency to take appropriate action. Vancouver: Barge operator denies spill liability Contrary to reports, barge operator says oil spill liability lies with bunker buyer. Fuel testing companies deny 'Whistle Blower' claims An e-mail distributed to bunker players claims DNVPS is working closely with two other fuel testing agencies in Singapore in bid to get around supplier boycott.