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Shipping News

Ever larger cruise ships raise concerns in tourism industry
A trend towards building ever bigger cruise ships, such as a 3,600-passenger vessel to be launched in June, has some industry experts wondering whether it might be too much of a good thing.
Patrick's proposed A$142m bid for FCL faces antitrust probe
PATRICK Corp's proposed A$142 million acquisition of FCL Interstate Services Pty will be investigated by Australia's antitrust regulator.
Fredriksen sells ships, buys Deep Sea stake
JOHN Fredriksen, who controls the world's largest oil tanker fleet, has sold 22 rig-supply ships to Norway's Deep Sea Supply ASA for US$394 million and will buy a stake in the company to profit from offshore exploration by energy companies.
US Navy warship fires on suspected pirates off Somalia

Port Shots

Port Shots
EIGHT crew were missing yesterday after a South Korean fishing boat sank off the country's south-eastern coast, police said.

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Shipping News

Ever larger cruise ships raise concerns in tourism industry
A trend towards building ever bigger cruise ships, such as a 3,600-passenger vessel to be launched in June, has some industry experts wondering whether it might be too much of a good thing.
Patrick's proposed A$142m bid for FCL faces antitrust probe
PATRICK Corp's proposed A$142 million acquisition of FCL Interstate Services Pty will be investigated by Australia's antitrust regulator.
Fredriksen sells ships, buys Deep Sea stake
JOHN Fredriksen, who controls the world's largest oil tanker fleet, has sold 22 rig-supply ships to Norway's Deep Sea Supply ASA for US$394 million and will buy a stake in the company to profit from offshore exploration by energy companies.
US Navy warship fires on suspected pirates off Somalia

Port Shots

Port Shots
EIGHT crew were missing yesterday after a South Korean fishing boat sank off the country's south-eastern coast, police said.

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Panalpina net profit surges 20pc US urged to spend more on infrastructure to ease port congestion, report says Spencer Logistics to form Shanghai JV with 2 Chinese partners `Way different' LA terminal hailed as model of efficiency Yunnan to set up regional transport system with Asean Jade Cargo to take off in July Oriental Air Transport Service opens CEPA subsidiary Aer Lingus buys two A330s Atlanta Hartsfield gets US$26m to build new taxiway

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Heung-A to launch direct, weekly service ex-Nhava Sheva to China & Far East TSA carriers report 90-95 pc vessel utilisation on Asia-US WC route Excess capacities won't jeopardise market, believes Evergreen chief GATI Coast to Coast launches weekly Chennai-Colombo service Schenker India bags GF-X Champions' Advisory Council Award Commerce Ministry sets $ 104-bn target for exporters in 2006-07 Cabinet panel clears import of 5 lakh t. wheat Cotton exports to China soar by 3,000 pc in January Forex reserves swell by $ 773 m MICT handles its largest vessel till date DP World gears up for bigger challenges Kakinada ports climbing new peaks of performance CONCOR runs 1st scheduled-day, dedicated service for Maersk Line Bidding deadline for Mumbai offshore box terminal extended to April 15 Formula for success of telecom revolution in India spelled out Rs 100,000 cr. investment in SEZs cleared WTC to conduct programme on LoCs

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MARCH 17, 2006
Rail4chem launches new container train services to Netherlands US Customs releases revised C-TPAT criteria

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MARCH 17, 2006
Fredriksen in Horizon newbuilding deal IMO - EC meeting MOL looks to Vietnam for seafarers US Navy kills Somali pirate suspect in shoot-out

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MARCH 18, 2006
Navy opens fire on pirates

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MARCH 17, 2006
CKYH Alliance members shaking up service routes All three rail freight sectors roll to positive weekly total First public meeting planned for Hillsboro Airport issues group Port Angeles Port Commission Oks Oak Street property sale Seaman with hand injury medevaced from merchant ship

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UN approves IMO Somalia piracy plan THE United Nations security council has issued a call for the deployment of military vessels and aircraft to protect merchant shipping of the Somali coast. Malaysian clampdown cuts attacks MALAYSIA'S new coast guard says it has dramatically cut piracy in the Malacca Strait. Furore as DP World executive Sanborn joins MarAd POLITICAL bile surrounding DP World has resurfaced in the appointment of an executive of the Dubai company as the next US maritime administrator, with one Democratic senator suggesting he would block the nomination. Box lines pledge to help US on security SHIPOWNERS from across the world hope to salvage some good from the nationalistic mood that has swept through Washington over the past fortnight.

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MARCH 17, 2006
MOL looks to Vietnam for seafarers JAPAN'S government has responded to a Vietnamese request to lift the suspension of seafarer training under the Development Assistance scheme; MOL stands to benefit MarAd nominee hostage to DPW sale US SENATOR Bill Nelson has decided to hold President Bush's nominee to head the Maritime Administration hostage to the sale of DP World's US holdings Kingston hosts PFSO training Second Aboitiz ferry in for repairs No way to treat a friend: UAE about US India, China commit to trade agreement Australia to boost LNG exports Fuel shifts itinerary strategy Cruise cascade steps up a gear MOL warns of tonnage surplus Indonesia's $280Bn maritime legacy Hurricanes set to spoil cruise party

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MARCH 17, 2006
Hanjin Shipping expects lower income The South Korean liner expects lower operating income year-on-year as a result of falling freight rates and higher costs. NCBFAA backs confidential data Canada wins round in softwood dispute with U.S. Seattle volume drops 12% Intermodal leads rail gains Horizon to charter new ships Nober to join law firm Panalpina profits up Starbucks plans anti-tamper detectors in containers Long Beach's Teofilo leaving

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MARCH 17, 2006
Truckers to strike over Indonesia's port service tax Indonesia's Land Transport Association (Organda) said that its members will stop operating container trucks at five ports on Monday in protest at Jakarta's failure to abolish VAT on port services. All water and intermodal bottlenecks to sustain Pacific rates Carriers are expecting eastbound Pacific rates to come under some pressure as the service contract season gets into full swing with predictions of 88% load factors and some excess capacity. Industrial action avoided as unions strike deal with Transnet OnePort's customers give rate freeze the cold shoulder DB drops SBB Cargo transalpine collaboration Global growth drives Panalpina's returns Kalmar acquires US crane construction firm Australia doubles promotion budget in Japanese beef market

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MARCH 17, 2006
Dubai no threat to US Participants in TradeWinds' poll do not buy the argument that an Arab owner of a terminal operating company poses a port security risk. Fredriksen behind US boxships Jones Act liner player Horizon Lines is chartering five US-flag newbuilding boxships from Ship Finance International. Hot times at Sungdong New tanker builder Sungdong of South Korea has been entertaining Greeks. Omega flogging mixed fleet US broker Bob Flynn will serve as chairman of $240m IPO project Omega Navigation with a fleet of two bulkers and 10 tankers. Slick response Threat to Finnish and Estonian coastlines from heavy fuel oil leaking from sunken Russian cargo vessel. Offen makes KG bet Claus-Peter Offen is willing to do without his share of earnings on a 14-ship fleet if fellow KG investors don't see returns. MC growth strategy Further expansion planned as LPG carrier owner reports record profit. Like father, like son Seaspan founder transfers entire share holding to trust set up for eldest son. More money for SSN Polish yard lines up second commercial loan to help complete full orderbook. Count us in Brostrom of Sweden expands fleet with Dunya chemical and product tankers currently on order in Turkey. Schoeller buys a bank But Cyprus based shipowner stays mum about his latest diversification into the financial sector. SFI cancels accommodation Rig deal with Consafe pulled as US-listed owner's latest attempt to diversify falters. Mitsui raises cash with share sales Shipbuilder will divest entire stake in oil exploration firm after a difficult year. HKF on the slide Higher fuel prices pushed down earnings for Hong Kong shipowner's ferries in 2005. Fire at Long Beach Firefighters attempt to fill hold with water as unidentified cargo vessel ablaze at busy US west-coast port. Color Line falls back Norwegian ferry operator could not translate more passengers into bigger profit during 2005. Bulyard keeps it in-house Owner of Bulgaria's Varna Shipyard to build two multipurpose ships for its parent company. Energa agrees deal for Gdansk Polish energy company will buy historic shipyard and birthplace of Solidarity movement - if shareholders agree. Cheng backs NOL stock Neptune Orient Lines chairman buys 1m shares in Singapore liner operator as stock sinks to year low. Taiheiyo orders tankers Listed Japanese owner orders chemical and MR products tankers at domestic shipbuilders. DOF builds at Aker Two construction ships with two options to cost Norwegian owner more than NOK 1.5bn.

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MARCH 17, 2006
CKYH alliance to boost capacity to Pacific Northwest ANL joins CMA CGM's Australasia/U.S. East Coast/Europe pendulum OOCL receives ninth 8,063-TEU ship UPS: suspicious behavior in Fritz unit stopped after merger Lufthansa, SWISS to harmonize summer schedules Swiss WorldCargo adds Zurich/New York flight, adds Santiago to network AAR: Class I railroads to invest $8 billion for infrastructure in 2006 Indiana legislature wants Congress to pass stringent ballast controls Con-Way Supply Chain promotes Boyer Davis joins board of Air Expedited Motor Carriers Association Massive California bond measure stalls in legislature DHL's Sartor named vice chairman of RosettaNet standards council Atlas Freight picks IES supply-chain software Panalpina's earnings up 20% in 2005 GAO slaps Corps of Engineers for faulty planning study actions Congressional delegation to tour Los Angeles, Long Beach

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MARCH 17, 2006
Polish state company buys Stocznia Gdansk The Polish state-owned energy company Energa buys the problem-stricken Gdansk Shipyard, according to Polish newspaper sources. Energa pays ... Consafe and SFI terminates deal The sale of the Consafe Offshore rig "Safe Concordia" to Ship Finance International is off. In January, the parties agreed ... Half a dozen newbuildings to Broström Six 17,000-DWT product/chemical carriers will be added to the Broström fleet during 2006'2008. The vessels will be ...

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MARCH 17, 2006
New bulk lube barge service for Argentine ports Newbuild barge exclusively for bulk lube oil deliveries in Argentine ports, can deliver products from all suppliers. Freeport: PDVSA barge out for maintenance Barge scheduled to be temporarily withdrawn from service for maintenance, restrictions apply to pipeline deliveries. Panama: Suppliers capitalise on canal transit delays Heavy demand reported in Panama as canal transit delays boost enquiry levels. Colombian trader moves to 'dynamic' opportunity Former trader with Areda taking new position with CI International and looking to increase business for Colombian bunkering. Latest report from Rotterdam World Fuels boosts earnings, profit Broker and trader reports 39% net income increase with total revenues also up. Singapore: 380 cst premiums up on tight supplies Premiums rose further while terminal congestion and tight supplies continue to persist. Tokyo Bay: Zero enquiries seen on weak demand Ample fuel oil supplies but low demand as some bunker traders reported zero enquiries in Tokyo Bay. 4% fuel savings prompt full fleet installation of software After achieving fuel savings of 4.3% in pilot program cruise line decides to install software throughout fleet.