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US House panel rejects overseas container checks
A US House of Representatives committee on Wednesday rejected a Democratic proposal to require overseas inspection of all US-bound marine containers but approved a plan for more screening in American ports and possibly abroad.
AB Ports says H2 expansion is on target
ASSOCIATED British Ports Holdings plc, the biggest UK operator of ports, said at its annual general meeting that it has made a 'satisfactory' start to 2006 and will meet its second-half growth targets.
China to expand port capacity by 80% in 5 yrs
CHINA plans to expand total sea port capacity by at least 80 per cent to about 7.5 billion tons by the end of 2010, as trade rises in the world's fastest growing major economy.
Hyundai Merchant's Q1 profit drops

Admiralty Casebook

The importance of a proper lookout
THE master of a UK-registered cargo ship was asleep on the bridge while his ship missed a course alteration and ran aground in the Baltic Sea, but an investigation report said the proximate cause of the incident was his failure to have a lookout.

web site

Shipping News

US House panel rejects overseas container checks
A US House of Representatives committee on Wednesday rejected a Democratic proposal to require overseas inspection of all US-bound marine containers but approved a plan for more screening in American ports and possibly abroad.
AB Ports says H2 expansion is on target
ASSOCIATED British Ports Holdings plc, the biggest UK operator of ports, said at its annual general meeting that it has made a 'satisfactory' start to 2006 and will meet its second-half growth targets.
China to expand port capacity by 80% in 5 yrs
CHINA plans to expand total sea port capacity by at least 80 per cent to about 7.5 billion tons by the end of 2010, as trade rises in the world's fastest growing major economy.
Hyundai Merchant's Q1 profit drops

Admiralty Casebook

The importance of a proper lookout
THE master of a UK-registered cargo ship was asleep on the bridge while his ship missed a course alteration and ran aground in the Baltic Sea, but an investigation report said the proximate cause of the incident was his failure to have a lookout.

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CKYH Alliance to add fifth Asia-US east coast loop Hamburg Sud transports 10pc more cargo in 2005 Schenker opens new Chongqing office Rate increase for Far East-W Africa trade coming in June CSCL to add more services to network Panama Canal expansion to allow bigger vessels to use it Penghai International Shipping Agency starts operation China opens new airway connecting Asia and Europe Boeing's Q1 net income up 29pc SAS signs cargo handling services deal at Newark

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A.S. Shipping Agencies sets record in handling granite blocks at Chennai Port Marimed Group opens own office in India Odyssey of world's largest cruise liner begins Software exports log in 36 pc growth Chinese market for mangoes, grapes opens up with signing of trade protocols India, Uzbekistan sign 7 memoranda of understanding Garment exports from Tirupur touch Rs 8,000 cr. Paradip Port to witness crude throughput surge in Q4 Railways aims to haul over 700 m tonnes in 2006-07 by producing more electric locomotives CONCOR forms strategic alliances to run parallel with private operators Centre wants Safta to come into effect from July More details of mega SERs outlined Nafed chief seeks transport subsidy for export of onion Bahrain team visits IMC to explore business prospects Fieo (WR) to hold open house with DGFT chief Meeting with Mauritius mission at WTC today

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APRIL 27, 2006
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 27, 2006
BW GAS buys Yara fleet Camillo Eitzen set to buy Fouquet Sacop MAIB warns on cruise ship balconies Aker's record backlog Panamax bulker runs onto the Varne

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APRIL 27, 2006
Bourbon orders 12 tugs Kirby reports record earnings Warning on cruise ship balcony fire risks

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APRIL 27, 2006
MedBlulk ships calling Port of Longview terminals Korean Air Cargo announces three-times-per-week service to Sea-Tac Chinese delegation in Bremerton to sign Sister Port Agreement Department of Homeland Security eyes port worker background checks CKYH Alliance members to begin new AWE-5 service

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BW Gas in $347m deal for Yara fleet BERGESEN Worldwide Gas is extending its leadership in the liquefied petroleum gas shipping industry through the acquisition of Yara International's fleet of ammonia carriers in a deal worth almost $350m. Eitzen eyes chemical listing after Fouquet Sacop takeover ACQUISITIVE Norwegian shipowner Camillo Eitzen is to consider setting up a listed company for its chemical tanker business after announcing plans to buy French small tanker operator Fouquet Sacop for €219m ($256m). Product tanker refused entry to US over alleged deficiencies THE PRODUCT tanker Aral Wind remained 12 miles off Port Canaveral yesterday after the US Coast Guard again refused it permission to enter port. Maersk in league of its own with 13,000 teu boxship THE world's first 13,000 teu ship may be just weeks away from entering service.

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APRIL 27, 2006
Sanborn laments political 'silliness' DUBAI Ports World operations director David Sanborn, whose US Maritime Administrator nomination was withdrawn in the wake of the US ports controversy, has highlighted the risks of uneducated politicians HHI buys into HMM to block Fredriksen HYUNDAI Heavy Industries has acted swiftly to shore up the defences of Hyundai Merchant Marine against possible takeover from John Fredriksen-controlled Geveran Urgent balcony safety warning THE UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is urging immediate short-term measures to prevent a recurrence of the balcony fire that struck the Star Princess Aliança boosts cabotage capacity BRAZILIAN liner operator Aliança Navegaçao is transferring three vessels onto the cabotage trade to meet rapid increasing demand Jamian exit leaves MarAd rudderless THE departure of Deputy (and acting) Administrator John Jamian tomorrow will leave the US Maritime Administration lacking a guiding hand Rina 'has checked and is confident' THE head of Italian class society Rina has declined to join the debate as regards why the Al Salam Boccaccio 98 went down, but says it fully carried out its responsibilities Outsourcing 'now crucial': GAC Tanker aground off Puerto Rico Camillo Eitzen to buy Fouquet Sacop UK cruise sector attracts more capacity Solid growth for Aker Yards

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APRIL 27, 2006
Container ship charter rates rising Revival following a near year-long bear market is gathering strength as cargo volumes rise faster than expected on key long-haul trade routes. Senate diverts some war money to port security U.S., Canada reach tentative agreement in lumber dispute Software optimizing U.S. container terminal operations Fuel no drag for Canadian Pacific profit Matson net off in Q1 Hanjin signs for Busan berths FEC Railway net gains

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APRIL 27, 2006
Going global: Dongnama reveals grand development plans South Korea's Dongnama Shipping has outlined its plans to become a major liner operator in four clear phases and finally get listed on an overseas stock market by 2014. Hyundai Heavy rescues HMM from hostile M&A South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries has saved its biggest client Hyundai Merchant Marine from facing the risk of a hostile merger and acquisition attempt by a foreign investor. Bigger motherships see ports differ on how to satiate feeders Hutchison to build Guangdong terminal Incomplete e-commerce benefits have stifled commitment Modern Terminals to fund Taicang phase II with bank loan German private railfreight lobby takes Berlin to Brussels Trading partners unconcerned by EC's anti-trust lead Latest hinterland investment in St Petersburg Savannah opens new container berth APL Logistics to take on big fish in Chile Good potential for Upper Rhine ports Russian Troika starts new east-west train service to Moscow

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APRIL 27, 2006
Exmar earnings up Belgian gas power sees higher profit and turnover from year earlier, with LNG ships yielding most of the difference. Warchest hits $100m Stamford's OMI Corp fattens repurchase programme to $100m with new $70m authorisation. RRF cuts confirmed US military authorities say only 10 ships are set to be cut from the US Ready Reserve Force but commercial operators believe the figure is much higher. More shares shrinkage? Today's OMI board meeting should produce a $70m shares buyback authorisation if past is prologue. 'Wouldn't touch it with a log, mate' Stevedores refuse to unload logs from Korean bulker in Australia and maritime officials consider it too dangerous to inspect. Sanborn speaks out Dubai Ports World still wants a US footprint, says David Sanborn at his first public appearance after withdrawing his name as nominee to run MarAd. MAIB in the dock UK accident investigator is attacked by officers' union for failing to criticise the Red Ensign. Evergreen on the mark Evergreen Marine Corp of Taiwan guesses right as predicted increases in sales and profit for 2005 materialise. Back to square one Pre-earnings share surge obliterated as disappointed Aker Yards investors knock nearly 9% off price. Samudera profit chopped Singapore-listed operator feels the heat from bunker and charter hire costs. Tanker grounds off Puerto Rico No spill reported from stricken Ernst Jacob tanker which ran aground off Puerto Rico with 490,000 barrels of crude oil on-board. Kirby breaks records again US barge operator hits new first quarter high as demand remains strong. Tough for Rig Tenders Indonesian supply ship owner struggling with lower profits in first quarter. Torm packs off two bulkers Pacific Basin buys two bulkers from Torm of Denmark for $35.1m pushing Torm's 2006 profit forecast up. All-time high for Aker Orderbook tops $7.5bn for Norwegian yard group as profits leap in first quarter. Thanh Long plans upgrade Another Vinashin group yard ready to expand capacity in Haiphong. Eitzen to buy Fouquet Sacop Camillo Eitzen & Co set to scoop up French shipowner Fouquet Sacop in EUR 219m deal. Eitzen in chemical listing? Purchase of Fouquet Sacop fleet could see Camillo Eitzen & Co's chemical tanker segment spun off in a separate listing. Wan Hai downgraded Ratings agency Standard & Poor's turns negative on Taiwanese intra-Asian boxship player. APL sambas south NOL-owned container line adds third string from US to South America in response to demand. Experience wins the day BW Gas boss Jan Haakon Pettersen said his company had advantage in Yara deal over rivals newer to the gas sector. Slide goes on at U-Ming Taiwanese bulker owner relying on investment income for most of profit in first quarter. BW Gas buys Yara 10 Oslo-listed owner comes out of the blue to take over Norwegian fertiliser giant's LPG fleet, beating rivals Teekay and OSG. ISC sees off Katrina New Orleans-based owner returns to profit after earlier hurricane-related losses. NYK takes VOSA stake Japanese shipowner holds under 3% of Vietnam Ocean Shipping Agency after investing in IPO. Heavy trading in HMM Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) sees more action as compatriot Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) lines up $362m share purchase.

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APRIL 27, 2006
Matson's 1st quarter operating income drops 38% OMI's profits down 12% International Shipholding's 1st quarter profits cut in half APL joins Maersk's U.S. East Coast/East Coast South America loop WITASS to raise Jamaica terminal handling charge NYK invests in Vietnam shipping agency VOSA Höegh Autoliners to name PCTC at Wilmington Fletcher joins AXSMarine Shippers support proposed tax credit scheme for railroads Norfolk Southern's profits up 57% in first quarter YRC's 1st quarter profits slump 16% Virginia kicks off intermodal study with freight forum U.S. industry worries trade taking back seat to security Business data confidentiality concerns raised at Senate hearing CBP to automate C-TPAT process RILA praises defeat of cargo scanning amendment Loadline joins United Shipping Port of Antwerp's 1st quarter box volumes up 9% Coast Guard investigates oil spill in Delaware Bay Port of Miami schedules access forum

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APRIL 27, 2006
Ciserv to be integrated within Wärtsilä Wärtsilä will integrate Ciserv in its service organisation from 1 May 2006. Ciserv is a group of service companies owned ... Camillo Eitzen to buy the Fouquet Sacop fleet Camillo Eitzen & Co (CECO) intends to buy the French Fouquet Sacop and its fleet of 12 chemical tankers ranging from ... Fast ferry service over Skagerrak On Wednesday, Master Ferries started sailings between Kristiansand and Hanstholm with their Incat ship "Master Cat". The inauguration call at ...

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APRIL 27, 2006
Gulf barge operator posts impressive result Bunkers and oil transportation proving to be good business for Kirby's first quarter. Matson's profit slides Container operator unable to cover all of increased bunker costs with fuel surcharge. Vitol fuel oil tanker runs aground No reports of spillage from cargo of 300,000 barrels. UK's MCA gets to grips with MARPOL Annex VI Pragmatism has guided the MCA's approach to IMO sampling guidelines and other teething problems in implementing the regulation. Royal Vopak sees operating profit rise 39.3% in Q1 Terminal group announcing first quarter results today, with strong growth seen across all sectors. Bunker forum to build bridges between commercial and operations Engineering company promotes increased dialogue and understanding between those in the bunker chain. Singapore: Stocks of residual fuels up, distillates down Stocks of residual fuels rose to the highest in six weeks while middle distillates fell to a near two-year low. Hong Kong: Supplies of 180 cst makes slow recovery 180 cst commences loading but market may still be tight for the month of May. Oil prices dip below $72 per barrel Oil prices fell for the third day following a drop in US gasoline and crude inventories.