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UN backs IMO calls for action against piracy
THE United Nations Security Council backed International Maritime Organisation calls for action over rampant piracy in Somali waters, urging member states to use naval vessels and military aircraft to combat the pirates.
Malacca Strait war blacklist should be lifted: KL
MALAYSIA yesterday urged insurance companies to remove the Malacca Strait from a list of dangerous waterways as it launched a new coast guard to boost security in the area.
Singamas's H2 profit drops 42% on lower sales
SINGAMAS Container Holdings Ltd, the world's second-biggest maker of shipping containers, made its first half-yearly profit decline in six years after customers held off orders in anticipation of lower prices.
SSA Marine weighs sales, acquisitions
Freight rates from US Gulf to Asia edge down
Shenzhen port's Feb box volume rises 7%
Vietnam police probe deadly crash involving S'pore ship

Port Shots

Port Shots
QUEENSLAND state, the largest coal exporting state in Australia, said it approved A$186 million worth of ports expansions to meet rising demand for the fuel in Asia.

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Shipping News

UN backs IMO calls for action against piracy
THE United Nations Security Council backed International Maritime Organisation calls for action over rampant piracy in Somali waters, urging member states to use naval vessels and military aircraft to combat the pirates.
Malacca Strait war blacklist should be lifted: KL
MALAYSIA yesterday urged insurance companies to remove the Malacca Strait from a list of dangerous waterways as it launched a new coast guard to boost security in the area.
Singamas's H2 profit drops 42% on lower sales
SINGAMAS Container Holdings Ltd, the world's second-biggest maker of shipping containers, made its first half-yearly profit decline in six years after customers held off orders in anticipation of lower prices.
SSA Marine weighs sales, acquisitions
Freight rates from US Gulf to Asia edge down
Shenzhen port's Feb box volume rises 7%
Vietnam police probe deadly crash involving S'pore ship

Port Shots

Port Shots
QUEENSLAND state, the largest coal exporting state in Australia, said it approved A$186 million worth of ports expansions to meet rising demand for the fuel in Asia.

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DP World's takeover of P&O's India facilities hits possible snag HK shippers protest new OnePort charge Coscon launches Med-W Africa service Strike by truckers causes problems at Indonesian ports TNT delists from London Stock Exchange No peak summer congestion expected at Port of LA LA, LB truckers face higher fees ICTSI 2005 net income up 17pc Dragonair to launch Shenyang service FedEx to establish Chengdu branch American Airlines to offer cargo service to Shanghai Boeing, Japan Airlines sign supply-chain deal

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MSC launches dedicated S. India feeder service APLN reaches 500th milestone Baalu off to South Africa; may sign merchant shipping pact 2006-07 export target fixed at $ 104 bn Centre empowered to offer rebates on service tax to exporters Marine exporters want DEPB scheme extended by 6 months SEZs may be major beneficiaries of free rupee float Fieo workshop on 'Export Strategy' at IMC on March 27 Importers given facility of 'better-access sourcing' by US China aims to triple trade with India by 2010 Annual supplement of 2004-09 FTP to be released only on April 7 KoPT makes bid to attract more container traffic by rail to/from northern hinterland Rlys plans to generate revenues from use of surplus land; integrated logistics parks in offing Sitapur SEZ phase-II getting ready CEOs seek clarifications on Budget amendments Mangalore SEZ may attract investments of Rs 1,00,000 cr. Programme for leather sector Seminar on 'National Consultation Reg Economic Cooperation in S. Asia'

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MARCH 21, 2006
Birkart Globistics announces promotions Eurogate wins tender to operate JadeWeserPort Emirates to Argentina Rail Cargo Austria will pay "almost anything" for ZSSK Cargo Thiel Logistik registers substantial growth in 2005

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MARCH 21, 2006
NAT sees positive future for tanker market Stolt-Nielsen buys into Antwerp terminal Keppel and Qatar Gas Transport in shipyard project PGS orders Ramform vessel at Aker

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MARCH 21, 2006
BW Gas plans stake in Angelicoussis newbuilds Sherwood retires from Sea Containers More questions on Port Security Grant process PGS orders new

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Hapag-Lloyd demands yard price cuts HAPAG-Lloyd has told Korean shipyards it will not place any more orders for super post-panamax containerships until newbuilding prices have dropped. TEN could go private again in protest at under-valuation of shipping sector FRUSTRATION with the undervaluation of publicly trading shipping companies led to press reports this week that the Tsakos family might consider taking New York-listed tanker owner Tsakos Energy Navigation private again. American Club in shock extra call AMERICAN P&I Club has been downgraded by Standard & Poor's and is likely to make a shock extra premium call on shipowners, writes James Brewer. Sohmen firm takes half share in Angelicoussis VLGC newbuildings The Sohmen family's Norwegian owner Bergesen Worldwide Gas yesterday said it had taken a 50% stake for an undisclosed sum in the four 84,000 cu m vessels.

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MARCH 21, 2006
CMN blow to SNCM's survival FRENCH ferry operator SNCM has seen its chances of winning the concession to run between Marseilles and Corsica suffer a serious blow BW Gas acquires new ship stakes BERGESEN World Wide Gas is continuing to expand its VLGC fleet by acquiring a 50% stake in four newbuildings on order at Daewoo shipyard in South Korea Sea Containers' Sherwood steps down JAMES Sherwood has stepped down from Sea Containers, the company he founded in 1965 and served as president and chief executive until October 2005 Uruguay wants stronger Mercosur AFTER threatening to pull out, Uruguay is now saying it wants to strengthen the Mercosur trade bloc CMA CGM eyes Atlantic opportunities CMA CGM is watching the Europe-North America trade for further opportunities after the launch of its first trans-Atlantic service Borgestad sells shipping division BORGESTAD, the Norwegian shipping and industrial group, is to sell its shipping division to Gearbulk and withdraw from ship owning Fesco future yet to be decided Indonesian ports back in business Trasmed bid for Euroferrys accepted Shipping's image making little progress DPW stance 'not xenophobia': Kurz

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MARCH 21, 2006
Trucker, shipper co-op key to short sea To succeed in domestic coastal shipping you must partner with a trucker or at least think like a trucker, conference told. Hyundai ship burns near Yemen SSA Marine mulls sale Two records for Panama Canal EU firm on WTO deadline Hamburg Süd shifts Miami calls to Port Everglades SeaCo's Sherwood steps down Canadian Pacific backs outlook Kirby raises Q1 estimate

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MARCH 21, 2006
Dramatic twist sees Peijs reject Betuwe consortium Dutch transport minister Karla Peijs announced last night that she will grant the first five-year concession to market and operate the Betuwe line to ProRail alone after all. NLE reconstruction to open southern Russian gateway Novorossiisk Port's NovorosLesExport terminal is on the verge of agreeing plans for a reconstruction lifting annual capacity to 350,000TEU, accommodating ships of up to 2,500TEU on one berth. Minister scraps VAT and ends Indonesian trucker's dispute PSA to invest in Tianjin Port Phase III AADA to drive rates up in 2006 China's Tielong Container to expand into specialised box business Otago crashes Lyttelton's Hutchison party BLS Cargo records massive growth again

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MARCH 21, 2006
Top owners team up Bergesen Worldwide and Angelicoussis venture to share ownership of very large gas carriers. Euroseas sells bulker Greek bulker and boxship owner offloads 1981-built handysize for just under $5m. MCA holds eight Eight vessels detained in February by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA). Minoan profit rises Greek ferry operator beats bunker burden to boost result by 40%. Tallink scoops Superfast three Expanding Estonian operator buys out Greek ferry owner to consolidate position in the Baltic. Nenaco earns parental love Philippine ferry owner's major shareholder is backing its recovery by converting debts to stock. We're in the money FAL Group of the United Arab Emirates gets a $90m loan injection to continue fleet renewal. Tsakos hits back Greek tanker giant Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) quashes rumours of a delisting from the New York Stock Exchange. Gati heads to Thailand New feedership to provide first direct service from Chennai to Krabi or Phuket. American Club falls again Prospect of yet another cash call leads to Standard & Poor's slashing rating of New York based P&I club to a weak B. Suez Canal numbers up again Revenues and vessel transits rise year-on-year at Egyptian waterway during February. Dex chief for Gard Mark Carter to be Norwegian insurance group's managing director in London. Kirby a cut above US oil barge giant raises earnings guidance for first quarter as weather delays fall. India looks south South Africa the latest target for international liaisons as India's maritime ambitions continue to grow. Haisheng on a roll Chinese chemical tanker and bulker owner sees 2005 earnings soar as revenues jump. Blue Star offloads Seajet II Greek ferry owner focuses on conventional ro-paxes after sale of catamaran. Westfal-Larsen orders six in Korea Norwegian owner forks out $296m for six chemical tankers at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Korea. Five vie for yard business Consultants put in bids to advise Croatian government on restructuring of industry.

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MARCH 21, 2006
CMA CGM, China Shipping start transatlantic loop NOL chairman Cheng buys 1 million shares Yamagata appointed chairman of NYK Line (North America) Germanischer Lloyd opens Ningbo office American Airlines to start U.S./China flights Gulf Air appoints Vertannes to run cargo unit Dragonair's cargo volume up 14% in February ANA pilots threaten strike Old Dominion Freight Line to raise rates Renewed Patriot Act hits U.S. exporters with bigger civil penalties APX Logistics files for Chapter 11 Cadre, LDS to link up Nestle Chile awards distribution and transportation contract to Ryder TNT delists from London Stock Exchange SSA Marine tests the water for buyers Maitland deplores 'Maginot Line' approach to security Long Beach picks green flag recipients for vessel speed reduction compliance

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MARCH 21, 2006
Sweden to be audited by IMO The Swedish government has decided to participate in the new IMO Voluntary Model Audit Scheme. An independent audit group will ... Color Line abandon Fredrikshavn next month From 3rd April the Color Line passenger ferries "Peter Wessel" and "Color Festival" change Danish port from Fredrikshavn to Hirtshals ... Westfal-Larsen orders six IMO II chemcarriers Bergen-based Westfal-Larsen & Co has ordered six 46,000 DWT, IMO II product/chemical tankers worth USD 296 million at ...

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MARCH 21, 2006
Port rewards compliant shipowners with 'Green Flags' Long Beach acknowledging compliance with its vessel speed reduction programme in special ceremony. US markets on the move Prices seen softening in main ports, LA readjusting, but trending firmer with crude. South Africa seeks IMO support on pollution South Africa has made an urgent plea to the IMO to designate a total prohibition zone for oily discharges. Serbia: New bunker/lubricant company formed Ex-Bunker Holdings bunker manager forms his own company in Belgrade for the supply of bunkers and lubricants. Belgium joins ranks with MARPOL Annex VI The recent ratification of MARPOL Annex VI by Belgium leaves the Netherlands and one Baltic state in relative isolation. Crude fall silences Rotterdam barge market FAL Oil secures syndicated loan for fleet expansion Various banks have granted the company a syndicated loan of $90 million. Oil prices drop more than $2 Crude prices down on strong US crude inventories, despite renewed tensions in Nigeria over the weekend.