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Shipping News

DNV sees soft landing for shipping industry
BUOYED by two years of record new building activity and a booming energy sector, maritime and industrial risk management group Det Norske Veritas is confident the shipping market will remain robust until at least 2009 as it develops a new focus on knowledge based services.
US ports issue turning into political cloud
TWO Republican governors are threatening legal action to block Dubai Ports World from taking over operations in major US ports and some Republican lawmakers say the deal should be closely examined.
Star Cruises' Q4 loss narrows on demand
STAR Cruises Ltd, the world's third-biggest cruise operator, posted a smaller loss in the fourth quarter after economic growth boosted demand for holidays on ocean liners.
Delays boost shipping rates for coal and ore

Strait Talk

Globalisation hits US waterfront
WHETHER the reaction from some US politicians and sections of the country's press would have been similar had PSA won the battle for P&O nobody can say for sure, but the hostility being voiced to the prospect of Dubai-based DP World running six US terminals is visceral and rather frightening.

web site

Shipping News

DNV sees soft landing for shipping industry
BUOYED by two years of record new building activity and a booming energy sector, maritime and industrial risk management group Det Norske Veritas is confident the shipping market will remain robust until at least 2009 as it develops a new focus on knowledge based services.
US ports issue turning into political cloud
TWO Republican governors are threatening legal action to block Dubai Ports World from taking over operations in major US ports and some Republican lawmakers say the deal should be closely examined.
Star Cruises' Q4 loss narrows on demand
STAR Cruises Ltd, the world's third-biggest cruise operator, posted a smaller loss in the fourth quarter after economic growth boosted demand for holidays on ocean liners.
Delays boost shipping rates for coal and ore

Strait Talk

Globalisation hits US waterfront
WHETHER the reaction from some US politicians and sections of the country's press would have been similar had PSA won the battle for P&O nobody can say for sure, but the hostility being voiced to the prospect of Dubai-based DP World running six US terminals is visceral and rather frightening.

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Waigaoqiao ranked number 1 box terminal in China in 2005 Toll looks to buy stake in SembCorp White House defends decision to back DP World's takeover of P&O Ports MPA goes live with online submissions of cargo declarations Asia/W Africa trade agreement members to raise TEU rate Two new shipping services launched from XICT Pilot rights to be withdrawn from port operators in China TNT to delist from London, Frankfurt stock exchanges Dragonair cargo volume up 5.3pc in January CC-Air to speed up fleet expansion Singapore Airlines to fly to Moscow

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Multiple taxes smothering bunkering trade in India Govt may take up issue with WTO India, France vow to widen trade basket Tobacco exports move up by 9 pc in 9 months Dubai Ports World's P&O deal above board m.v. Ocean Paradise becomes 1st vessel to anchor at NMP's new multi-purpose berth Vizag Port excels in handling coal, fertiliser cargoes New 1-day urea handling record set CRISIL Director sees need to double Major Ports' handling capacity Rlys haul in over Rs 29,231 cr. with 17 pc more freight Plan panel studying proposal to link Agartala and Chittagong by rail CWC has ambitious expansion plans in store for Kerala Plea to enlarge list of approved foreign wheel set suppliers Anil Gupta takes over as CONCOR's Director (Domestic) Finance Ministry rakes in Rs 756 cr. with fringe benefit tax Central sales tax may be halved to 2 pc

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
New "K"-Line (Europe) non-executive director Grimaldi increases Finnlines stake Domodedovo goes RFID DB closes down subsidiary Conliner NOL's CMA Logistics seeks Hong Kong listing Switzerland's Astag against alpine transit exchange MHF develops long-lasting sensors to track shipments

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
ILO Convention set for adoption Charters hit Belships IMO head stresses audit implementation Island Offshore orders at Aker

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Bush threatens veto in ports row Frist wants port takeover put on hold Fincantieri to develop Pentamaran ships Ports takeover meets opposition Teekay and PGS in FPSO joint venture New ILO convention set for adoption

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Domino effect as boxes topple off another containership TWO more spills of containers stowed on deck have hit shipping industry operations in northern Europe - but insurers are warning against undue alarm, write Janet Porter and James Brewer. Teekay eyes expansion into FPSOs TEEKAY Shipping plans an assault on the fast-expanding floating production storage and offloading market through an alliance with established operator Petroleum Geo-Services. Recovered Al Salam 'black box' on way to UK experts A DIVING operation over the wreck of the ferry Al Salam Boccaccio 98 has recovered the voyage data recorder from the vessel, lying in one of the the deepest parts of the Red Sea. US lawyers say 'foreign governments should not be in control of our ports' LAWYERS heading the campaign to stop DP World from buying P&O's assets in Florida will seek to extend a ban to any government-controlled foreign entity that wants to invest in US port facilities.

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Heavyweight opposition to DP World THE highest ranking Republican in the Senate, Majority Leader Bill Frist, has just called for the DP World port deal to be blocked Lower charter rates hit OMI OMI Corp's rates dropped in the fourth quarter and for full year 2005, but only as a result of historically strong comparables during 2004 Sestao delivery will not be delayed SESTAO Shipyard in Spain has laid off nearly half the 120 workers dedicated to the construction of a gas carrier after a 270-tonne steel block fell onto the ship Stena Line studies freight options Teekay to pursue FPSO projects Bush crisis over DPW support Protests halt Petroecuador exports Costa to base Marina in Singapore Star Cruises back in black Stena quashes HSS speculation Weather hinders Aviles refloating Gazprom raises output during freeze French shun Med motorway service

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Frist wants to block P&O deal The Senate Republican Leader calls on White House to stop DP World's proposed takeover of P&O and its six U.S. terminals. Dubai deal won't threaten Fla. port security Box charter rates steady Bids wanted for N. Carolina port project Westwood opens U.S.-Canada service FedEx boosting Aussie exports Ferrie named Marine Society president CNF adopts Con-Way name Airbridge, Emirates sign pact New software filters blacklisted traders

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Storms cause Vancouver box congestion and delays Exceptionally bad weather conditions on the Pacific and in the Vancouver area combined to provoke a sudden backlog in container movements at Vancouver terminals. Tianjin to make third listing attempt by May According to a company source, China's conglomerate Tianjin Development Holdings, is hoping to spin off Tianjin Port finally in May, after being rejected by the Hong Kong Stock Exchance twice. North Carolina tenders Cape Fear terminal Only one investor left in Batam project bidding Busan to announce Phase 2 tender winners in March Evergreen takes delivery of fifth Conti-Reederei newbuild Sinokor launches Pyeongtaek-Japan service NYK transforms NEP into EPX

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Blue skies over Blue Star The owner of Greece's Blue Star Ferries is reporting a big jump in annual net profit after ship disposals. Stealthy steps Stealth Maritime bareboats out its four aframaxes and is taking on management for US-listed Stealthgas. Swissmarine takes Quintana capesize US-listed owner gets period cover for one of two vessels bought last year from Lemos. Fincantieri goes offshore Fincantieri has won an order for up to two specialised offshore vessels to stave off a shortfall of work in its minor shipyards. Pomerania facing end of road Polish shipyard could be liquidated after being declared insolvent with debts of $7.5m. About face! Once-chatty OMI Corp shuts down guidances on its tanker rates, saying spot-mad traders undermined its investor relations efforts. Montanari doubles up Italian owner takes up options for two more handysize product tankers at Hyundai Mipo. Sovcomflot boosts revenue Russian tanker owner to seek acquisitions and co-operation deals as it prepares to access capital market. Katya Z free at last More than 30 year old general cargoship reported undamaged after icy ordeal. Al Salam black box found Investigators to study tragic ferry's voyage data recorder for clues to sinking. Cruise giants suffer downgrade Wave season bookings not what they seem, claims Credit Suisse First Boston, in first major cut in months. Panamanian reefer found Registry will send investigator to China after Hengda 1 wreck discovered. Aker books Island ship Norwegian yard group wins yet another piece of repeat business from Ulsteinvik company. Teekay gets into FPSOs Top tanker owner forms joint venture with Petroleum Geo-Services to extend 'midstream' strategy. Star back on track Malaysian cruise company breaks back into profit in 2005 as demand improves. Langh returns to Sietas Finnish owner to add to German-built fleet with boxship order at Hamburg yard. Petronet LNG newbuilding signed Samsung breathes sigh of relief as it racks up first new order since Methane Kari Elin membrane problems. DP World courts US Dubai company to meet officials concerned over its purchase of P&O's US terminals. Belships bleeds red ink Profitable fourth quarter can't prevent near 60% decline in Oslo bulker operator's full-year results. OMI buoyed by disposals But for the sale of two suezmaxes fourth quarter profits would have been down 51% on 2004. Courage maintains profits Despite declining rates Taiwanese bulker player sees full-year profits largely unchanged from 2004.

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
OMI's 4th quarter profits up 4% Consortium to serve Petronet with long-term LNG charter Sperry Marine New Orleans support center back up AirBridge Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo sign interline agreement SpiceJet orders 10 Boeing 737 airplanes, options 10 more Indian Airlines orders 43 A320 family aircraft from Airbus CNF plans to change name to Con-way FedEx helps promote Australian exports CBP publishes catalog of supply chain security best practices CBP seizes Egyptian carpets White House faces storm of protest over Dubai port deal Recovery efforts continue for Arthur Kill oil spill ITS picks Tideworks software for Venezuelan terminal

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
American stevedoring company to sue P&O after sale to Dubai DP World's aquisition of P&O has been met by heavy critisism in the USA, where P&O operates terminals ... Shipping company fined T&C of Svendborg has accepted a fine of DKK 25,000 for its responsibility in the loss of the "Thor ... Maersk Line ship lost containers - again Maersk Line's "P&O Nedlloyd Mondriaan" did it again: it lost a number of containers at sea. The container vessel ...

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FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Exxon dominates Port Arthur barging Oil major leading market in Gulf port so far this year and business steady. Houston market surging despite channel closure High demand prompting firmer prices although fog closing shipping channel and leading to vessel delays. New bunker berths beef up Fujairah's oil throughput Oil traffic in Fujairah nearly doubled in 2005, helped by two new bunker berths in the port. New Castrol barge service in Hong Kong New barge service in Hong Kong to provide a quicker and more convenient delivery of product to customer vessels. South Africa: Trader resigns Refinery expansion set to boost Middle East oil hub status New refineries set to turn region into major oil products export hub as analysts predict future global refining shortage. Castrol: Collaborative approach needed to address paradigm shift Castrol boss David Gilmour calls for a collaborative approach and enhanced dialogue to address the paradigm shift away from price towards supply guarantees. Rotterdam market firm as barge bids move closer to offers Singapore: Demand slows from respite in buying interest Demand down as market players reporting weak buying interest amid firming prices today. More Chinese oil giants may invest in Singapore's oil hub Singapore's oil hub could attract investments from more major Chinese oil companies following PetroChina's participation in the Universal Terminal project. Nigeria sustains cut in oil production, oil prices rise Nigeria lost 20% of oil production after a violent militant attack on the country's oil pipelines, sending oil prices up by more than $1.50 on Monday.