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Coast Guard to re-inspect all P&O ports in US
THE US Coast Guard has entered the fray saying it will re-inspect all existing Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co port facilities in the US as controversy continues to rage over the impending transfer of six container terminals to Dubai Ports World following its acquisition of the P&O Group.
Greek seamen suspend crippling week-long strike
GREEK seamen yesterday called off a week-old strike that crippled the country's shipping and deprived hundreds of islands of basic necessities.
Stolt-Nielsen posts 6% decline in Q4 profit
NORWEGIAN shipping group Stolt-Nielsen reported an unexpected 6 per cent drop in fourth-quarter operating profit yesterday but said it was cautiously optimistic about the chemical tanker market in 2006.

Admiralty Casebook

Ship's telecom equipment subject to maritime lien
A US appeals court has upheld a lower court decision that telecommunications and Internet services equipment on a luxury cruise ship are part of the ship's operational gear and would be subject to any enforceable maritime lien.

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Shipping News

Coast Guard to re-inspect all P&O ports in US
THE US Coast Guard has entered the fray saying it will re-inspect all existing Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co port facilities in the US as controversy continues to rage over the impending transfer of six container terminals to Dubai Ports World following its acquisition of the P&O Group.
Greek seamen suspend crippling week-long strike
GREEK seamen yesterday called off a week-old strike that crippled the country's shipping and deprived hundreds of islands of basic necessities.
Stolt-Nielsen posts 6% decline in Q4 profit
NORWEGIAN shipping group Stolt-Nielsen reported an unexpected 6 per cent drop in fourth-quarter operating profit yesterday but said it was cautiously optimistic about the chemical tanker market in 2006.

Admiralty Casebook

Ship's telecom equipment subject to maritime lien
A US appeals court has upheld a lower court decision that telecommunications and Internet services equipment on a luxury cruise ship are part of the ship's operational gear and would be subject to any enforceable maritime lien.

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Zim adds Oakland to RTW service Bush threatens to veto bill to block DP World deal HPH confirms bid for Turkish port Boxes recovered from stricken APL vessel stuck off Mexico USTDA Conference to promote US-S Asia trade Qinghai-Tibet Railway to start rail freight service in March CAAC vows China will loosen grip on airfreight industry FedEx, Austrade work together to boost Australia-US trade Xbox 360 charter programme extended Continental to restore New Orleans departure capacity in May

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Lucrative trade in ice-class tankers catches shipping majors' fancy Shipping market to remain robust until 2009, asserts DNV COO MOL-SCI consortium orders new LNG carrier from Samsung Clemenceau affair reminds Europe of need for ship-breaking yard Wide discrepancies in DGCI&S & RBI import data prompt PM's advisory body to step in Govt approves Rs 15 cr. for EEPC's participation in Hanover fair Ministry proposes certification of genetically-modified soya oil imports Bilateral trade with Mongolia may double in 5 yrs Ficci asks govt to address barriers to trade in services during WTO negotiations France launches 3-year campaign to double bilateral trade Software parks want to be accorded SEZ status Natural rubber exports may cross 60,000 t. GDL gets in-principle approval to operate ex-im & domestic container trains AAI may issue bonds to raise $ 1 bn for airports upgradation PM may lay stone for Vizhinjam box terminal project on March 10 or 11 Cabinet clears Rs 22,500-cr. SPV for rail freight corridor Finance Ministry aims at higher Customs collections

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Hermann new PTS Logistic partner Sillamäe'Kotka line launched Etihad adds Manchester services Samskip launches UK'Continent reefer distribution Swiss Post to spin off parcel services Finnish truckers want Russian trucks to be charged UPS CampusShip extending reach Canadian Aviation Security Conference

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
ILO adopts Superconvention Keppel to dock Qatargas LNG fleet Stolt to convert tankers to double hulls Genmar ship in Bosphorus scare

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Court challenges to Dubai Newark takeover Stolt to double skin three tankers Boxer seeks hold on Maritime Administrato nomination

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Port of Port Angeles Commissioners receive Oak Street land purchase proposal Boeing taps Ross Bogue as 747/767/777, Everett manager Maritime Administration backing expanded Maritime Day observance Matson begins new service linking Long Beach with Shanghai Carriers come together for LNG carrier for India service

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Greeks make case against 'unsafe' common rules GREEK shipowners have laid bare the full extent of their objections to class society common structural rules for tankers and bulkers, claiming the new standards represent 'an unacceptable regression' over existing rules. Evergreen's Chang honoured with Lloyd's List Lifetime Achievement CHANG Yung-fa, founder and chairman of the Evergreen group, was last night honoured with a lifetime achievement award from Lloyd's List. Facts fail to dull DP World uproar FACTUAL arguments have failed to quell the uproar in the US over DP World's $6.8bn takeover of P&O. Vafias group nets dry bulk trio DESPITE being thwarted as it closed in on one bulk fleet earlier this month, the Greek Vafias group has managed to conclude a trio of dry bulk acquisitions in the past fortnight or so, it has emerged, writes Nigel Lowry in Athens. Dredger help for stranded boxship A DREDGER that is to be deployed to "clear a channel through the sandy beach" is the latest twist in the tragic-comic case of the APL Panama , the German-owned containership stuck 1.5 miles off Ensenada since Christmas, writes Rajesh Joshi in New York . Teekay two tanker deal worth $442m TEEKAY Shipping of Canada will buy two tankers after securing long-term charter contracts for two suezmax and one aframax shuttle tankers, expected to generate $442m in revenue over the 13-year life of the charters starting this year and next.

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Landmark labour convention adopted THE adoption today by the International Labour Conference in Geneva of a consolidated maritime labour convention has been warmly welcomed by the ITF, on behalf of seafarers, and the ISF, on behalf of ship owners DP World blames media for storm SENIOR executives at DP World have blamed the media for whipping up controversy in the US over the company's $6.8Bn takeover of P&O port interests Qatar venture to manage LNG ships QATAR Shipping (Q-Ship) and Qatar Gas Transport Co, locally known as Nakilat, are soon to launch a 50:50 joint venture to own and operate LNG vessels Lithuanians launch Baltic link Strong demand for product tankers Teekay slips as rates slide Philippines dismisses training critics Top US agencies cleared DPW deal Fourth stowaway found dead Ferry master guilty in Colregs case Bulker salvage progresses at Aviles Leaner GenMar slashes debt Bullish Grindrod sees further growth

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Ports buy required full probe: Senators Armed Services Committee said U.S. law required a full 45-day probe of DP World's acquisition of P&O's U.S. port assets. Dubai won't sell U.S. terminals Marad nomination of DP World executive delayed Port of Vancouver OK with Dubai deal Delays at Mexico-U.S. border Hanjin to order five mega-vessels Labor standards proposed in ILO seafarer charter Dubai eyes global airports Crowley taps inland director

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Vancouver box backlog easing A backlog in container movements in Vancouver provoked by exceptionally bad weather which slowed down ships on the Pacific as well as causing congestion at Vancouver terminals is steadily easing. DPW agreed to ongoing US scrutiny over ports deal HK Green Lane project to get pilot scheme STX and Korex consortium wins Gwangyang tender Wan Hai to launch intra-Asia service Busan cargo decline makes history Great Eastern eyes potential box profits Port users rail against Kokata restrictions Port of Baltimore to employ eModal security system

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Seaspan sifts coinage Canada and Hong Kong-based Seaspan is boasting of kept promises in its first full quarter of results as a public company. Let's chat! Genmar and Peter Georgiopoulos are happy to be leaner if not meaner, chatting about their newer fleet, better hire rates and even John Fredriksen. Teekay closes Sandefjord office Tanker giant is also moving 55 technical-management jobs from Vancouver HQ to Singapore, Glasgow and Houston during 2006. Tankers beat turbot There is money in both for Stolt-Nielsen but the former is many times more profitable. Lenac dock up for grabs Court orders sale to help pay off bankrupt Croatian yard's creditors. Green eyes "tomorrow's reefers" Norwegian owner hatching plan to order four new-generation cargoships. More horses for MAN B&W Costamare's 9,200 teu newbuildings get first diesel of more than 100,000bhp. Greek strike over Week-long action that crippled ferry services to islands called off. New owners for Andrea Joergen Antonsen sells Danish S&P broker as he opts for retirement. Shipbroker suspended Leading Italian bulk charterer and its brokers rocked by allegations of unfair practice. Namura slashes losses Japanese shipyard posts operating profit in first nine months, but net losses persist. SSN moves into the black Polish shipyard has profitable 2005 after finishing two ships in fourth quarter and selling shares. Attica blames bunker bills Greek ferry owner hit by higher fuel costs in 2005 as net result falls. Chang warns over recession Evergreen chairman says major carriers could risk bankruptcy in downturn with delivery of huge 10,000-teu ships. Knutsen LNG carrier damaged Newbuilding block reportedly falls on natural gas carrier under construction in Spain. Stolt buys and doubles up Shipowner exercises purchase options on three ships with intention to convert them to double-skin. Teekay earnings shrink But firm buoyed by $571m profit for year and gain of long-term contracts with Petrobras for shuttle tankers.

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Wan Hai to start intra-Asia loop Crowley's first ever Russian-flag ship to serve oil industry Hanjin to open office in Bangkok, Thailand Colography: 2005 record year for U.S. air exports UPS, El Salvador government sign co-op agreement Liberia to receive GSP benefits Eurinpro building warehouse in Germany for Schenker Florida program will help promote agriculture exports OH Logistics appoints Eichler Ryder names new CFO FMC reviews 9 OTI applications, revokes 3 licenses Bush mounts late defense of port sale Port of Thamesport adds two silos for U.K. resin importer Senator cites Snow conflict of interest in DP World deal

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Five on Silja short list According to the Finnish business daily Taloussanomat, five bidders for Silja Line remains when the first phase of the sale ... Agreement reached between Tallink and Riga Port AS Tallink Grupp and Freeport of Riga has signed an agreement for a ferry service between Stockholm and Riga. Traffic ... Fjellstrand plans new yard for bigger ferries Fast ferry builders Fjellstrand in Western Norway wants to invest NOK 150 million (EUR 18.6 million) in a brand new ...

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FEBRUARY 23, 2006
Shipowners protest fuel switching safety clause California may still collect emissions fees despite vessel engine safety concerns, critics saying. Buyers wary of low-sulphur fuel US East Coast market seeing low-sulphur fuel oil bunkers but engine lubricity issues concern buyers. Castrol Marine joins IMarEST Marine Partners scheme Castrol Marine is the latest organisation to join IMarEST's Marine Partners programme, to promote the sharing of knowledge and expertise. Lubrizol appointment to focus on growth in emerging markets Additive manufacturer appoints new board member to focus on growth, particularly in emerging markets. DOE & API at a glance: Latest key US inventory data API reports reduced stocks from last week, while the DOE reports mainly gains on the week and gains across the board for the year. Ballooning bunker bills hurt Attica Ferry operator blames 21% profit drop on extra fuel cost. Viswa Lab to inaugurate Singapore operation MPA Chief Executive will officially open Viswa Lab's Singapore laboratory next week, preceded by two full days of comprehensive seminars. Rotterdam prices down in quiet market Singapore: Residual fuels up, distillates at 6-week high PetroChina looks to process more crude in Japan The aim is to process a third more crude at Nippon Oil. Philippines: Reduction in excise tax on bunker fuel oil Excise tax on bunker fuel oil was reduced on increase in EVAT.