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OPM proposes to turn Aden port into transhipment hub
PRIVATELY held Overseas Port Management , led and managed by several former PSA executives, has proposed to the Yemeni government to turn the country's port into a container transhipment hub for the Red Sea-Mediterranean region, and boost its economy in the process.
N Korean ship detained in HK cleared to leave
A newly repaired North Korean ship held in Hong Kong for two months for safety violations has been cleared to leave, but it will leave without its cargo, a port official and the ship's agent said yesterday.
Greek port workers end overtime ban
DOCKHANDS at Greece's largest commercial ports on Wednesday ended an eight-week overtime ban which has created a backlog of containers and led to customers moving their business elsewhere.
Sethusamudram canal project killing whales: eco-activists
Purchase by Philippine port operator

Admiralty Casebook

Safety harness provided little safety
A SAFETY harness that was not fit for purpose and other unsafe working conditions contributed to an Indonesian seaman falling 24 metres to his death while cleaning the bridge windows of the cruise vessel Pacific Sun in Sydney's Darling Harbour last year, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has reported.

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Shipping News

OPM proposes to turn Aden port into transhipment hub
PRIVATELY held Overseas Port Management , led and managed by several former PSA executives, has proposed to the Yemeni government to turn the country's port into a container transhipment hub for the Red Sea-Mediterranean region, and boost its economy in the process.
N Korean ship detained in HK cleared to leave
A newly repaired North Korean ship held in Hong Kong for two months for safety violations has been cleared to leave, but it will leave without its cargo, a port official and the ship's agent said yesterday.
Greek port workers end overtime ban
DOCKHANDS at Greece's largest commercial ports on Wednesday ended an eight-week overtime ban which has created a backlog of containers and led to customers moving their business elsewhere.
Sethusamudram canal project killing whales: eco-activists
Purchase by Philippine port operator

Admiralty Casebook

Safety harness provided little safety
A SAFETY harness that was not fit for purpose and other unsafe working conditions contributed to an Indonesian seaman falling 24 metres to his death while cleaning the bridge windows of the cruise vessel Pacific Sun in Sydney's Darling Harbour last year, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has reported.

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Cosco Pacific's November box throughput rises 25pc to 2.86m TEU Geodis' beefed-up China network set to double 2007 turnover CEO offers to buy Eagle Global Logistics at $36 a share Yang Ming Line ships return to Israel after a long absence World Bank calls for cuts in port staff and charges in Pakistan ICTSI buys into Davao cargo handling company Delta shrinks loss in November from US$181m to US$49m year on year Frankfurt Airport breaks its airfreight record US Air Logistics links to Aer Lingus, Singapore Airlines Cargo

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IMO rule on transportation of veg oil comes into force DGS plans to outsource marine surveyors Spices exports poised to cross Rs 3,000 cr. in 2006-07 29 pc rise in spices exports during April-Nov. Coffee exports rise by 20 pc in 2006 Baalu urges Major Ports to augment capacity in time-bound manner Big guns bringing crores to develop Gujarat's port sector PPT aiming to handle 100 m tonnes of cargo by XI Plan end Vizag Port to have 2 new inner harbour berths-M. S. Rao Question mark hangs over 250 SEZ proposals

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Somali pirates operating again DP World in deal with equity fund Record year for SL Seaway Carnival Cruise confirms euros565m order

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JANUARY 4, 2007
GE Capital acquires CitiCapital marine finance unit EB gets $42.8 million Navy award Jamian joins MTLA

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Port of Seattle taps Yoshitani as new chief executive officer Bellingham Port Commission names officers, sets schedule Coast Guard to decommission 'Queen of the Fleet' cutter STORIS TSA lays down final rule for transport worker ID program Panama Canal marks seven anniversary since US transfer

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Order for LNG pair heralds shift in BG shipping strategy BG GROUP has confirmed orders for two more liquefied natural gas carriers at Samsung Heavy Industries in a deal which marks another stage in the evolution of the UK integrated gas major's shipping strategy. QVT Financial continues to build stake in TOP Tankers NEW YORK fund manager QVT Financial has raised its stake in Nasdaq-listed TOP Tankers to 8.4%, adding about 566,000 shares over the Christmas period for an outlay of $2.7m. Japanese-owned agency scores first at Lloyd's LLOYD'S has welcomed its first Japanese-owned managing agency, which will run a marine and non-marine syndicate that has grown to join the ranks of the top third in the market, writes James Brewer. Breathing space for US identity card project BIOMETRIC identification cards for US marine workers will now be phased in over 20 months in a clear acknowledgement from the Transportation Security Administration that its original implementation timetable was impractical.

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Tough year ahead for tankers NEW YORK 04 January ' Predictions are emerging of a difficult year ahead for tanker operators, while an unseasonably weak winter is being cited by market-watchers Hollming sells Crystal Pool tankers FINLAND-based Hollming has reached agreement with Euroceanica (UK) to transfer ownership of Hollming's chemical tanker subsidiary Crystal Pool Another SA port manager 'suspended' AN air of mystery surrounds the surprise 'suspension' of the Durban port manager Basil Ndlovu, who was sent on indefinite leave from 20 December 2006 Kirby Corp buys 58 barges US inland operator Kirby Corp has acquired 58 tank barges for $34.3M from Coastal Towing and Cypress Barge Leasing Steel majors watch ore producer sale MITSUI & Co is planning to sell its controlling stake in Sesa Goa, India's largest private sector iron ore producer; steel majors are eager to take over Red Sea passenger numbers decline THE number of people using Red Sea ferries has fallen, as the anniversary of the El-Salaam Boccaccio 98 approaches Daewoo teams up with Nigerians India opens doors to foreign carriers Hanjin strengthens in Italy DPW, Kaplan launch Australian venture Indonesian tragedy: probe launched

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Port ID card rules published Transportation Security Administration publishes final rule for Transportation Workers Identification Credential. Chamber of Commerce calls for transport spending U.S. steel imports decline LA vessel calls increase Record year for Montreal Gain for Seaway freight Yoshitani named chief executive at Seattle port U.S. hikes Canada tolls Prince Rupert begins Phase Two expansion Winograd named president of Alliance Navigation Nehru opens third terminal Kalmar buys a Ferrari

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Hamburg's speedy Steinwerder could be in 2013 race with Maasvlakte-II A relocation agreement for Hamburg's next major box-terminal expansion has assured a 2015 schedule for Container Terminal Steinwerder, with a teasing possibility of coinciding with Rotterdam's Second Maasvlakte in 2013. Overseas Port Management has high hopes of winning Aden back Overseas Port Management is making its second attempt to bag Aden Container Terminal before a final agreement is reached between the Yemeni government and the official public tender winner, DP World. Private equity helps DPW spin off non-core-Australian logistics US manufacturers achieve increased shipments and new orders in Jan-Nov Indonesian textile exporters rejoice at US and EU restrictions on Chinese material goods Former Oakland chief takes top spot at the Port of Seattle SCI plans to pick up Europe-bound cargo from Brazil and South Africa Year-end boost sees Lithuania's Klaipeda Port finish 2006 with 8% growth

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Scandal in O'Brien's chair How the feds say all hell broke loose at Stolt-Nielsen in 2002 after someone left an incriminating memo where the company's in-house lawyer couldn't miss it. Bear it 'No reason to buy any tanker stocks' in 2007, says Citigroup's John Kartsonas, who sees rates 'trough' below 15-year market average. Workers clear Corinth Canal to re-open for business after New Year's Eve landslide. Chinese octet for Unifleet Secretive Dutch chemical tanker owner more than doubles fleet size with order in excess of $131m at two yards. Global warning Cantor cuts 4Q earnings projections for two US-based tanker companies on balmy winter, stockpiles and overcapacity. Salvors refloat Emsland Threat of pollution averted in Scotland after lightering frees grounded cargoship. WSF struggling with costs Washington state ferry service hampered in bid to buy ships by operating expenses. Eagle gets a lift New charter deals win Sophocles Zoullas' handymax operation a second 'buy' recommendation. Pakistan goes fourth Shipping minister Babar Ghauri wants new terminal to handle growing trade. Viking piles on passengers Finnish ferry operator says a quarter of a million more people used its ships in 2006. HHI to hit new high Korean shipbuilding leader says 2007 revenues could jump 21% to record level. Bohai trebles orders Chinese yard enjoys strong year in 2006 as new business reaches 2.79m gt. Injury headache for Carnival US Coast Guard called to vessel to rescue teenager who sustained head injuries after fall from mast. BG confirms Samsung gas order Two-vessel deal seals relationship between UK energy company and Korean yard after leaking membrane incident. Vinashin does it again Another upgrade for one of Vietnamese group's yards, this time in Quang Ninh province. Majesty grounded Norwegian Cruise Line's teenager gets into trouble again. Hanjin Heavy lowers sights Korean shipbuilder thinks 2007 operating profit will fall despite bigger orderbook. Olympic returns to Ulstein Offshore player orders two of the largest anchor handlers ever built at Norwegian shipyard group. Kirby builds owned fleet US giant snaps up Coastal Towing's fleet, plus vessels from Cypress Barge, which it already manages. CSG sends ship for scrap Chinese shipping giant continues clear out of seventies built single-hulled tanker tonnage.

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JANUARY 4, 2007
New IMO rule worrying Indian vegetable oil importers Zim, Evergreen lines add Rotterdam, Charleston to transatlantic loop Kirby purchases 58 barges Winograd president of Alliance Navigation Emirates selects Starline as Vietnam agents Hellmann joins Cargo 2000 Continental's cargo up 5.5% in 2006 Kansas City Southern appoints two financial officers CFI promotes Ortiz to Mexico sales director CBP readies C-TPAT for mutual recognition, 3rd party validators Growth in retail imports likely to slow in 2007 10-digit U.S. HTS code changes now available Deutsche Post sells Vfw to Monitor Clipper Partners CEO makes surprise bid for Eagle Logistics DHS to soon issue specs for electronic container security device Western Growers signs deal with C.H. Robinson BNSF Logistics adds North Dakota 3PL Thomson joins CBP vets at Sentinel consulting firm Indian 3PL eyeing $25 million expansion Lynden, Kerry form joint venture IJS acquires UK forwarder DHS publishes final TWIC rule Seattle chooses Yoshitani as director Port of Rotterdam's box growth limited Salty new deal for Longview

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Ferry connection Swinoujscie'Trelleborg to open Tomorrow, January 5, two Polish ferries will start sailings on the new ferry service between Swinoujscie in Poland and Trelleborg ... Masterferries ferry likely to Gothenburg Kristiansand based Masterferries contemplates a new ferry route to Gothenburg in addition to two ferries on their summer route from ... Odfjell tanker damages lock gate at Kiel-Canal Odfjell-owned 40,000 DWT product and chemical tanker Bow Sirius, built 2006 in Szczecin, smashed into the lock gate at Kiel-Holtenau ...

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JANUARY 4, 2007
Houston to regulate distillate fuels New proposal to apply state emission rules to marine gasoil grades. Oil prices slip further on US inventory builds Latest DOE data underpin bearish market mood. Swift action averts bunker spill threat Vessel refloated and taken to port within hours of grounding. Substantial interest as new trading platform goes live Argus Media's Fuel Oil Bulletin Board for Rotterdam attracts participants from oil companies, big traders and bunker suppliers. Mild winter hits oil prices Weather weighs on crude short term but analyst also predicts lower oil price average for 2007. Rotterdam market very quiet again Singapore distillate stocks at 14-week low Residual fuel stocks up slightly; bunker market experiencing terminal congestion and high bunker premiums. Bunker demand slips in S Korea Product squeeze continues as domestic power plants soak up fuel oil.