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Panama to double canal tolls to pay for US$5.25b expansion
PANAMA plans to double tolls for its famous canal over the next 20 years to finance an ambitious US$5.25 billion expansion of the waterway, and its payments to the government should not fall in coming years.
UAE was 'dismayed' by US ports furore
THE United Arab Emirates was dumbfounded by the political storm in the United States over a move by one of its companies to manage six American ports and is now watching for the reaction to another planned takeover, the Gulf country's economy minister said on Tuesday.
SCI eyes parallel routes of growth via more JVs
STATE-run Shipping Corporation of India Ltd plans to pursue more joint ventures to help unshackle itself from lengthy government approvals for buying vessels that cap its growth, its chairman said yesterday.
PSA Int'l to take US$2.6b loan to buy Hutchison stake
Lloyd's stand on Malacca Strait disappointing: Najib

Port Shots

Port Shots
HYUNDAI Heavy Industries Co, the world's largest shipbuilder, said it received an order valued at US$540 million to build four container ships.

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Shipping News

Panama to double canal tolls to pay for US$5.25b expansion
PANAMA plans to double tolls for its famous canal over the next 20 years to finance an ambitious US$5.25 billion expansion of the waterway, and its payments to the government should not fall in coming years.
UAE was 'dismayed' by US ports furore
THE United Arab Emirates was dumbfounded by the political storm in the United States over a move by one of its companies to manage six American ports and is now watching for the reaction to another planned takeover, the Gulf country's economy minister said on Tuesday.
SCI eyes parallel routes of growth via more JVs
STATE-run Shipping Corporation of India Ltd plans to pursue more joint ventures to help unshackle itself from lengthy government approvals for buying vessels that cap its growth, its chairman said yesterday.
PSA Int'l to take US$2.6b loan to buy Hutchison stake
Lloyd's stand on Malacca Strait disappointing: Najib

Port Shots

Port Shots
HYUNDAI Heavy Industries Co, the world's largest shipbuilder, said it received an order valued at US$540 million to build four container ships.

	web site

Dalian Q1 throughput up 17pc CSCL determined to stabilise freight rates, increase profits in 2006 1st phase of US east coast's future biggest terminal opens Globe Express seeks to double Malaysia throughput Deutsche Bahn revenues grow 20pc in Q1 US' Vancouver to implement alternative fuels programme Singapore lease firm orders 10 Boeing 737s Singapore Airlines expected to handle escalating fuel prices better than rivals Cargolux 2005 net profit up 7pc to US$90m

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Zim announces new service linking Indian Subcontinent with US E. Coast Aframax rates in Asia fall SCI casts off for less regulatory waters via JV route Ignazio Messina adds Djibouti as direct port of call from Mundra Port Indo-Bangla team to study trade bottlenecks on border Auto component exports post 33 pc growth in 3 years First shipload of Australian wheat arrives at Chennai Port Adani Group acquires 49 pc stake in Dholera port Kuala Lumpur to host Asean port and shipping conference in June Indian shipbreakers now seek asbestos-laden cruise liner! German Railways keen on JVs for containerised freight operations, port facilities Containerised rail cargo from KDS to ICD-Birgunj resumes Service tax on 15 new categories to be applicable from May 1 Bumper crop may lift sugar export ceiling this year Now, special economic regions catch govt's fancy! Phytosanitary norms on import of wheat to be simplified NCAER suggests full float of rupee Tea export subsidy to tap Pak market potential sought Blend perfectly to markets' tastes-UPASI Nayan Patel, Niraj Bajaj take over reins of IMC

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Thiel Logistik expands board of directors PSA buys USD 4.4 billion slice of Hutchison Ports Lufthansa to sell Thomas Cook shares Record profits for Emirates Prospect of becoming a DB subsidiary horrifies Duisport DHL opens third UK Unilever logistics centre China to open air cargo market to foreign firms Control Instruments acquires Tripmaster

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APRIL 26, 2006
Bunker costs cap Höegh profits Deep Sea's new charters Hamburg Süd warns of tougher times Hanjin in Busan terminal deal "Unsafe" tanker thrown out of US port

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APRIL 26, 2006
CNO says shipbuilding tops Navy budget priorities ACL reports soaring revenues DHS to run background checks on port workers

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APRIL 26, 2006
First cruise ship of 2006 calls at Port of Seattle Crowley expanding service from Port Everglades to Nassau Washington Ecology Department calls for Governor's Award entries Panama Canal Authority plans to add new lane Royal Caribbean takes delivery of world's largest luxury liner

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US revives McCarthy era law for port workforce ID checks SPYCATCHER legislation designed to weed out Communists in the 1950s McCarthy era is being revived as part of a new US worker identification regime designed to protect ports and terminals from terrorists. MAIB issues alert on cruiseship balcony fire risk WHILE investigations into the cause of last month's fire aboard the cruiseship Star Princess continue, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch has today issued a safety bulletin warning of the shortcomings in fire protection on ships' balconies. Atacama deal first of many, says DryShips DRYSHIPS has wasted no time in putting its recent refinancing to use, announcing the purchase of its 29th ship attached to a 22-month time charter, writes Rajesh Joshi in New York. Aon rates Malacca Strait high risk in new piracy threat map A LEADING insurance broker has introduced a ratings guide for piracy hotspots, which could add to pressure on London underwriters to ease their risk weighting for the Malacca Strait.

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APRIL 26, 2006
DFDS head expected to make changes THE new head of DFDS has a stable base from which to go forward but is likely to make some adjustments in the passenger shipping division, analysts believe Concordia falls back in first quarter SWEDISH tanker operator Concordia Maritime is heading towards its earlier forecast of full year earnings after 1Q06 figures came below those of the same period last year Iranian tanker awaits its fate THE Iranian 27,360-dwt tanker Rashleigh, which arrived at Alang for demolition with 17 crewmembers, has been trapped in the Arabian Sea for three weeks Jamaica-Trinidad gas deal confirmed TRINIDAD & Tobago has officially agreed to supply Jamaica with natural gas beginning in 2009 Docker checks boost security: Chertoff US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff has announced that longshoremen across the country are to be checked against terrorist watch lists Japanese charter for Russian cargo JAPANESE operator Uyeno Transtech is believed to have agreed to charter two 12,400-dwt newbuilding chemical tankers from Kyowa Sansho for Russian Far East business Fifth China-USEC loop for CKYH Migrant Watch: US/Caribbean #2 Star steady despite seasonal delay

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APRIL 26, 2006
House panel rejects scan-all proposal The Homeland Security Committee rejects a proposal requiring scanning of all containers at foreign ports before they are loaded on ships bound for the United States. Nadler vows to fight on for scan-all bill Puerto Rico faces shutdown NWA pilots union chiefs safe CKYH upgrades all-water U.S. East Coast loops Shippers driving further consolidation of liners, terminals Tap industry data to secure containers: Horizon CEO Record intermodal revenue for Norfolk Southern INTTRA bike ride to benefit seafarers APL adds U.S.-S. America service

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APRIL 26, 2006
Eurogate and SSA form partnership in bid for DPW's US terminals Eurogate, the European terminal and logistics operator, is keen to shed its geographical strait jacket with a bid for Dubai Port World's former P&O terminals in the US. Consolidation under consideration at every stage of supply chain Consolidation is being considered at every stage of the supply-chain, from terminal operators and ocean carriers down to shippers' co-operations, according to participants in today's Containerisation International conference in London. Bigger feeders bolster charter market PSA to finance Hutchison deal with bank loans Road/Rail separation project to tackle Melbourne bottleneck Dispute between Capital Lease and Shekou port over depot charge Draught restrictions sees Ampac move to TPS Asian alliance to launch fifth all water service Emirates to debut with Indus Express

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APRIL 26, 2006
Transatlantic heads south First-quarter profit takes a dive at Transatlantic of Sweden but the company remains positive for the full year. V Ships claims Leeds Castle Ship manager confirms that its subsidiary, and not BNavi, managed bulker at time of captain's arrest for alcohol intoxication. Charter cheer Taiwan Navigation clocks second year of profit increases on the back of long-term contracts. Havila pockets issue cash Norwegian offshore shipowner raises money from private placement, while Saevik family retains control. Up and down for Concordia Sales up but profit down at Sweden's Concordia Maritime as vessel purchases take over from vessel sales. Alliance boosts US service K Line, Hanjin, Yang Ming and Coscon ready eight ships for run from Asia. Rettig adds another Subsidiary Bore buys Dutch ro-ro as expansion continues apace. 'Close, but it's not us' Greece's Attica Holdings says compatriot Magna Marine is behind the expected sale of two bulkers by Jinhui Shipping. Teco lifts net Profits are up at US ocean and river dry-bulk carrier Teco Transport even with a $2.7m hangover from Katrina. Money rolls in at Losinjplov Croatian ro-ro owner sees earnings and revenues soar in 2005. Jinhui booking gains Jinhui Shipping peppers vessel sales with old and new units in effort to spruce up fleet and turn a quick profit. Excelerate pops up in the UK Houston-based LNG player unveils first gas project outside the US. Five missing in Marmara Sea Authorities investigate reports Turkish freighter may have sunk after colliding with tugboat. ACL back in business US barge operator emerges from Chapter XI protection with shiny new profit. People power at Gdansk? As the sale of the birthplace of Solidarity drags on, yard workers could make a bid. Spare me a quarter? Cosco Shipping (Coscol) continues to lose change in the first quarter as high fuel costs burn through healthy sales figures Thun back at Ferus Smit Swedish owner teams with Brostrom for products tanker duo in the Netherlands. Star starts better Norwegian reefer owner sees policy of buying chartered-in ships pay off in first quarter as costs fall. Zodiac orders at Hyundai Sammy Ofer group places order for four large containerships at South Korean shipbuilder. MMM's Iraq plans on ice Malaysian Merchant Marine's plans to rebuild Iraq's tanker fleet thwarted by political upheaval. US to screen port workers US Department of Homeland security to check 400,000 names against terrorist watch lists. Hatsu down Mexico way Evergreen's UK subsidiary is launching a new service linking Europe with the US and Mexico. AWB takes Nirefs US-listed Diana Shipping fixes 2001-built panamax to Australian Wheat Board for 18-21 months.

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APRIL 26, 2006
CKYH alliance to add fifth Asia/U.S. East Coast loop Crowley increases Port Everglades/Bahamas calls Total Airport Services takes over SAS's cargo handling at Newark BNSF's 1st quarter net income up 28% CP Railway's income rises 38% as Ritchie leaves UP partners with OCEMA to develop inland chassis pool High-level talks to resume over AES spat TNT promotes Melton, Morgan RILA latest industry group to blast SOS bill Duty drawback payments up sharply FMC reviews 8 OTI applications, revokes 2 licenses DHS to begin name checks on port workers Hanjin Shipping awarded four berths at Busan New Port

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APRIL 26, 2006
Broström and Thun order tanker pair Swedish owners Broström and Thun has on a 50/50 basis ordered two product tankers from Ferus Smit in Holland ... Better and worse for Transatlantic Swedish owner Transatlantic reports a SEK 18 million (EUR 1.9 million) operating profit for Q1 this year, better than in ... No change in expectations for Concordia Tanker operator Concordia Maritime reports a SEK 17.2 million (EUR 1.8 million) after tax result for the first quarter, down ...

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APRIL 26, 2006
Engine fuel rule expected in two weeks California Air Resources Board reviewing final version of auxiliary engine regulation ahead of 15-day comment period. California LNG carriers powered by natural gas BHP confirming its alternative vessel fuel plans for its off-shore gas supply project. Volgotanker problems could hit St. Petersburg fuel oil exports Volgotanker unable to ship volumes to southern ports, while shipments on northern route are also under threat as river navigation season is set to commence. Crude surge to push Russian export duties to new highs Finance Ministry official predicts new record highs when the current monitoring period is over. Lubrizol: Board declares quarterly dividend Big is beautiful in Rotterdam's marine fuel sector Rotterdam's marine fuel industry is scaling up to meet the demands of new-generation containerships and should stay on course for continued growth. Crude drops fail to dent strength in Rotterdam bunker market South Korea: Price spread widens for distillates Huge price spread of $55 for MDO and MGO, demand healthy ahead of May.