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Shipping News

$1m info network to back regional anti-piracy efforts
THE region's collective fight against maritime piracy and armed robbery took another step forward yesterday with the appointment of ST Electronics to develop the $1 million information network which will form the backbone of regional information sharing.
Viet shipbuilder to step up oil tanker business
VIETNAM's largest shipbuilder, Vinashin, plans to make more oil tankers to meet robust demand at home and abroad, a senior company official said on Wednesday.
Subic port buying 4 cargo-handling cranes from Japan
THE Philippines' state-owned Subic BayFreeport is acquiring four new pieces of cargo-handling equipment from Japan as part of its US$215 million ongoing port development project.
Tanker rates to stay near 10-month low on high oil prices
BW to float offshore unit on Oslo bourse

Admiralty Casebook

Employer of crew can't be called ship's 'operator', court rules
MERELY providing the crew and being their employer is not, of itself, sufficient to make the employer an 'operator' of a vessel, a Federal Court in Sydney ruled last month.

web site

Shipping News

$1m info network to back regional anti-piracy efforts
THE region's collective fight against maritime piracy and armed robbery took another step forward yesterday with the appointment of ST Electronics to develop the $1 million information network which will form the backbone of regional information sharing.
Viet shipbuilder to step up oil tanker business
VIETNAM's largest shipbuilder, Vinashin, plans to make more oil tankers to meet robust demand at home and abroad, a senior company official said on Wednesday.
Subic port buying 4 cargo-handling cranes from Japan
THE Philippines' state-owned Subic BayFreeport is acquiring four new pieces of cargo-handling equipment from Japan as part of its US$215 million ongoing port development project.
Tanker rates to stay near 10-month low on high oil prices
BW to float offshore unit on Oslo bourse

Admiralty Casebook

Employer of crew can't be called ship's 'operator', court rules
MERELY providing the crew and being their employer is not, of itself, sufficient to make the employer an 'operator' of a vessel, a Federal Court in Sydney ruled last month.

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CSCL net profit decreases in 2005 Singapore throughput up 3.4pc in March, HK's rises 10.5pc Wan Hai christens 2,646-TEU newbuild China vital for CMA CGM Sun Hing Agencies changes English name to Star Shipping Agencies Sydney Airport's profit rises 5.6pc in 9 months to March Air Canada cargo from Ireland surges 52pc Tung named Bax Global's S China Logistics director

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Emirates Shipping Line FZE now 'up and running' Varun Shipping posts whopping 121 pc growth in net profit Is ship's agent owner of the cargo? Ficci signs 2 MoUs in China to foster trade ties, research activity India emerges largest pepper importer from vietnam South Indian tea exporters expect orders from Pakistan 27 pc growth in electronics, IT exports projected Iron ore exports from Goa touch 35.8 m tonnes in 2005-06 Mormugao Port Trust receives 3 global offers to develop cruise-cum-container berth Work suspended at Gangavaram port IAPH Forum sessions throw up interesting, far-reaching options for rapid, all-round development of ports' capacities Kandla Port Trust to invite global tenders for mega shipbuilding yard DPW to float tenders for Cochin ICTT design, construction soon Govt plans 13 ICDs on public-pvt partnership model New export schemes go out of 'focus' for Finance Ministry Reliance strikes 'black gold' in Krishna-Godavari basin Foreign Trade Policy Analysis: Current Trends - By M. Sreedharan

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APRIL 20, 2006
UK's key insurance role "under threat" Pacific box lines "over 90% full" Euroseas' vessel deals Tug master jailed Busan and Los Angeles in sister port agreement

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APRIL 20, 2006
Rem orders OSV's at Kleven Noble profits surge SeaDrill reorganizes after Smedvig acquisition Blocked car deck drains led to Egyptian ferry disaster Fincantieri christens fast ferry

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APRIL 20, 2006
Washing State Ferries loses services of ELWHA Port of Olympia looking for new planning committee member Carriers forming new service linking Mexico/North Europe Anthony's Restaurants moving in to Bellingham's Bellwether location Union Pacific sees record for first quarter net income

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Ladyman flies flag for Red Ensign BRITAIN'S shipping minister, Stephen Ladyman, held out the prospect of the Red Ensign one day returning to its position as the world's biggest flag in a show of support for the country's maritime industry this week, writes Janet Porter. Evergreen division honoured for British enterprise EVERGREEN Group's British subsidiary Hatsu Marine is one of four maritime companies honoured in the Queen's Awards for Enterprise today. 'Wicked collaboration' by safety chiefs and owner blamed for Al Salam tragedy "WICKED collaboration" between the shipowner and Egyptian maritime authorities resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 passengers when the ferry Al Salam Boccaccio 98 sank in February, an Egyptian parliamentary investigation has concluded.

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APRIL 20, 2006
Safety failings sank Al Salam 98 ALTHOUGH blocked drains on the car deck of the ferry Al Salam Boccaccio 98 were the chief cause of the ship's sinking on 3 February, an Egyptian parliamentary committee report has exposed a catalogue of safety failings and mismanagement both by the owner and maritime authorities Argentine beef ban bites harder ARGENTINA'S beef export shipments suffered further delay on 15 April when Customs officials prevented 100 reefer containers from being loaded Somalis jump the gun on US Navy pact THE US Navy has denied reports of a deal that it will serve as a de facto coastguard for Somalia and the fight against piracy in East African waters Standardisation is key for Maersk CONTAINER ship operator Maersk Line believes standardising and automating commercial functions is one of the key challenges for the future THE International Council of Cruise Lines has urged "immediate action" after the Star Princess fire highlighted the risk of combustible materials on cruise ship balconies Balearia charters to strengthen service SPANISH ferry operator Balearia has chartered the ro-pax ferry Sonia for its service linking Barcelona with Sant Antoni on the Balearic island of Ibiza Baltic Reefers seeks modern tonnage UK flag mobilises for expansion WSC opposes 'Sail Only If Scanned' Fredriksen acts as Global Ocean hit Concern over Indonesian car venture Global Carriers sells box ships

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APRIL 20, 2006
Canada moves on proposal to make Vancouver port trucker pay scheme law Proposal by Ottawa looks to head off a repeat of 2005 strike that left truck gates empty at Port of Vancouver (left), boxes on docks. China factor helps UPS profit climb in Q1 WTO to miss ag deadline Hapag-Lloyd profit falls Robust container volume for Hong Kong ports Hatsu Marine joins new U.S. trans-Atlantic service Intermodal leads record growth for Union Pacific LA, Busan in port pact Emirates liner debuts

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APRIL 20, 2006
COSCO Pacific to increase interest in Shanghai Waigaoqiao COSCO Pacific has reached an agreement with Shanghai Industrial Holdings to acquire its 10% stake in Shanghai Pudong International Container Terminal (Shanghai Waigaoqiao Phase I) for RMB465m (US$58m). Containerships to expand NW Russian container investment Containerships have signed an agreement with the administration of Leningrad Province (Lenoblast) ' where St Petersburg port and city are located ' on developing as many as two new container facilities. Container trucker issues rise again at Vancouver Netherlands MPs approve Betuwe Line concession Chinese ports maintain growth Solomons destruction will increase demand as rebuilding begins Complaints see Port Klang Depot charge suspension Hapag-Lloyd reports 19% increased container sales, though profits flat New services for Tasman, South Pacific Gunsan gives stevedoring subsidies to shipping lines Northeast Asia feeder update Czech Republic assesses combined transport schedule

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APRIL 20, 2006
CMB quarterlies slip But Belgian owner says full-year prospects 'quite favourable'. Hanjin heavy hand? Filipino families say they must live in demolished houses as Hanjin Heavy Industries clears ground for the island nation's largest shipyard. Job for mini-LNG carriers Hiroshima Gas finalised an expected contract today that will keep 20,000-cbm LNG carriers in motion from Russia for 20 years. Glovis in turmoil Wilh Wilhelmsen will keep its 20% of Glovis after the chairman of Hyundai Motor donated his 60% to the government. High flyer for DFDS Niels Smedegaard finds a tasty new job after troubles of Gate Gourmet. Hansa Treuhand orders pair Hermann Ebel's KG house Hansa Treuhand has signed up for two Chinese panamaxes to add to its big boxship portfolio. Farstad doubles up Farstad Shipping of Norway doubles its profit on the back of vessel sales and a buoyant offshore market. Fulford-Smith pockets £2.7m Bonus and salary leaps 80% for London's most high-profile broker. More for Rem at Kleven Norwegian yard group adds to orderbook with more offshore business from Rem Maritime. Slow. Whales crossing US administration mulls shipping speed limit as German containership is implicated in another whale death. Just one for now... Containerships Ltd of Finland sets the record straight on its Russian terminal expansion plans in the Baltic Sea. Hemen hikes Golden stake Analysts prepare for overhaul at drybulk spinoff as Fredriksen picks up more stock on the cheap. Q-Ship slides in Q1 The cost of expansion hits Qatar Shipping Company (Q-Ship) as first-quarter profit goes downhill. Aratere at it again Another engine failure for problematic New Zealand passenger ferry. Smedvig to go private SeaDrill files to delist Norwegian drilling group as it starts compulsory takeover for last remaining shares. MCA holds seven Detentions down at the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) in March but some of the usual suspects re-appear on the radar. Malaysians get tougher Malaysia's Maritime Enforcement Agency wants 4,000 more staff to combat piracy by end of next year. Blocked drains sealed ferry's fate Water pooled on car deck of tragic Al Salam Boccaccio 98 because rubbish was preventing it flowing away. Rescue tug skipper jailed Skipper of UK's Anglian Sovereign faces eight months behind bars for worst incident since Braer. Black Sea Shipping hopes for loan EBRD could finance deal for five cargoships at Kherson for Ukrainian cargoship owner. Euroseas buys and sells Greek bulker and boxship owner acquiring multipurpose dry cargo ship, but selling bulker. Signs mixed for OOCL First quarter volumes up at Hong Kong container line, but average revenue per box falls. Spinning down TOP Tankers downgraded to 'hold' by firm that brought Evangelos Pistiolis' company public. Knutsen sells shuttle tanker Norwegian shipowner Knutsen OAS lets another ice-class shuttle tanker go to Bluewater Energy Services of the Netherlands. MISC inks chemical tankers State-owned Malaysian owner confirms order for four handysize ships at STX Shipbuilding.

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APRIL 20, 2006
Koch outlines problems with cargo screening legislation China Shipping's profits down 11% in 2005 Maersk to charter transpacific slots to Westwood China Shipping leaves Round the World service of CSAV Norasia, Zim MSC adds Dubai, Iran calls to Asia/East Med loop CSAV Norasia to switch Belgian calls on Asia Europe Middle East service AMR Corp. posts 1st quarter $92 million net loss Iberia Cargo chooses WFS for Heathrow handling CN to spend $100 million upgrading Johnston Yard in Memphis Delano named president of Kansas City Southern de Mexico U.S. WTO liaison: China not playing fair U.S. corn shippers applaud Canadian trade decision U.S. continues push for free trade agreement with Southern African bloc U.S. meat exporters give advice to packers DHL Exel Supply Chain opens U.K. distribution center for Unilever

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APRIL 20, 2006
Knutsens sell shuttle tanker "Hanne Knutsen" Knutsen OAS in Haugesund sells a second shuttle tanker, this time the 123,800 DWT ice-classed "Hanne Knutsen", built 2000 ... Cargo handling growth in Swedish ports Swedish ports handled 47.2 million tons of cargo the last quarter 2005, an increase by 3.3 million tons compared to ... Licensing on Norwegian ferries scrutinized A fatal accident at Hirtshals,when a drunk. Norwegian 17-year old fell overboard and drowned, has led to calls ...

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APRIL 20, 2006
California endorses new emissions controls ARB considering at public meeting its plan for reducing environmental impact of goods movements through local ports. Bunkers follow crude oil to fresh peaks Crude prices retreating after hitting new all-time highs today, with bunker prices in key ports also posting new records. 'Reckless' captain jailed for drunken pollution offences Captain of anti-pollution tug faces eight months in prison after running vessel aground and causing fuel leak. Imminent pipeline launch holds promise for Caspian bunkering With the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline due to be launched, bunker supplier anticipates increased vessel traffic will boost bunkering volumes in Baku. Container line earnings under pressure Q1 results for major container line show reduced revenue per unit as bunker prices hit new records. Singapore: Stocks of residual fuels and distillates up Crude pushing Rotterdam bunkers ever higher Taiwan posted bunker prices reach new record high levels Posted prices lifted by regional bullish bunker price trend and high crude oil prices. Titan considers floating VLCC storage in Malaysia New VLCC storage will be Titan's third floating facility at Tanjung Pelepas.