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Shipping News

Asia seen as 'very major' source market for cruising
ROYAL Caribbean Cruises, which has returned this year to home port out of Singapore, is bullish on Asia becoming a 'very major' source market for cruising in the coming years.
Samsung Heavy's Q4 profit doubles on ship prices
SAMSUNG Heavy Industries, the world's second-largest shipyard, had more than doubled its fourth-quarter profit as it built more vessels at higher prices.
4 dead after collision off Sicilian port
A container ship and a commuter hydrofoil have collided near the entrance to the Sicilian port of Messina, killing four crew members on the hydrofoil and injuring dozens of passengers, police and port officials said yesterday.
Frontline may hive off tanker conversion unit

Strait Talk

Stopping the distillate bandwagon
NORMALLY I would not impose the same subject three times in three months on the readers of this column but there is an issue that has come out of nowhere to become probably the biggest challenge the shipping industry will face this year.

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Shipping News

Asia seen as 'very major' source market for cruising
ROYAL Caribbean Cruises, which has returned this year to home port out of Singapore, is bullish on Asia becoming a 'very major' source market for cruising in the coming years.
Samsung Heavy's Q4 profit doubles on ship prices
SAMSUNG Heavy Industries, the world's second-largest shipyard, had more than doubled its fourth-quarter profit as it built more vessels at higher prices.
4 dead after collision off Sicilian port
A container ship and a commuter hydrofoil have collided near the entrance to the Sicilian port of Messina, killing four crew members on the hydrofoil and injuring dozens of passengers, police and port officials said yesterday.
Frontline may hive off tanker conversion unit

Strait Talk

Stopping the distillate bandwagon
NORMALLY I would not impose the same subject three times in three months on the readers of this column but there is an issue that has come out of nowhere to become probably the biggest challenge the shipping industry will face this year.

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Tianjin Consol adds new direct service to Japan Schenker-Seino, BAX Global join forces in Japan Zhenjiang port's box throughput rises to 100,000 TEU in 2006 Inland shipping expected to draw big investment over 15 years GM Thailand opts for CEVA to provide logistics Canada to spend US$368m to boost border cargo security Schwarzenegger's goods movement plan pleases Oakland Shanghai Pudong Airport ranks 7th globally Hankyu, Hanshin continue integrating airfreight operations CARGO 2000 and IATA unite to simplify air cargo data exchange

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NSCSA awarded for outstanding performance at CONCOR's ICD-Mandideep CM to inaugurate historic mega event today Gateway Rail Freight to enhance focus on rail transportation & ICD development Hyderabad CHAA office-bearers Move to make states equity partners in SEZ projects exceeding 100 acres of land UNCTAD ranks India 4th in attracting FDI

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JANUARY 16, 2007
New managing director for UPS Austria and Hungary Singapore's good year Emirates to launch first-ever Newcastle-Dubai service Rhine-Ruhr terminal expanding Eimskip acquires Dutch cold store company Daalimpex

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JANUARY 16, 2007
UK insurance needs to fill "contract certainty" gaps Bergesen World buys further into Prosafe Frontline closer to launching heavy lift arm

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JANUARY 16, 2007
Samsung Heavy Industries reports record profit GL restructures Maritime Services Tidewater upbeat on earnings Tecnico busy with commercial marine projects PPL Shipyard books repeat jack-up rig order

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Hamburg Süd owner Oetker dies RUDOLF-August Oetker, one of Germany's most famous entrepreneurs and owner of Hamburg Süd, has died at the age of 90 in a hospital in Hamburg. Four die after high-speed ferry crash FOUR people were killed on Monday evening when a high-speed ferry collided with a container ship in the straits of Messina. Hong Kong sets out wish list to boost competitiveness PROPOSALS aimed at increasing the territory's competitiveness in the maritime, logistics and infrastructure sectors.

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JANUARY 16, 2007
Report slams BP safety culture HOUSTON 16 January ' BP took it on the chin today in an independent report that said the company's systemic safety problems were largely to blame for several 2005 incidents at the company's Texas City refinery ' one of which left 15 dead and 170 injured Combined safety, security centre opened THE German government inaugurated a new central maritime safety and security centre, GLZ See, in Cuxhaven today. Full story Samsung HI storms back into black SOUTH Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries has posted a net profit of W166.2Bn ($177M) for 2006, well ahead of 2005's W74.3Bn. Full story Second ship blow for Speedferries ENGLISH Channel fast ferry operator SpeedFerries has postponed its long-term plan to introduce a second vessel. Full story Frontline to spin off heavy lift NORWAY-based Frontline is to set up Sealift Ltd to develop the company's heavy lift activity. Full story Shreyas to write off Vision loss MUMBAI-based Shreyas Shipping & Logistics has received shareholders' permission to write off Rs2.3M ($51,000) loss towards OEL Vision, which sank in August. Full story Mercosur clash over dollar trading Report urges holistic view of fatigue Officers killed as boxship hits ferry Concern over A&P demolition plans

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JANUARY 16, 2007
Trans-Pacific carriers predict strong demand will absorb capacity in 2007 TSA's Widdows (left), says stronger cargo demand, moderated capacity growth estimates will help balance earlier outlook. Maersk Line to restructure Asia-Mideast network CMA CGM to link with Taiwan's Cheung Lie: Report Kentucky train wreck delays UPS air shipments Record box volume for PSA LA port partners on test of electric tractors LA suit over Pier 400 funding can resume Airbus tabs launch customer for A330 freighter Four dead as box ship, ferry collide in Sicily Kalmar acquires Tagros

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JANUARY 16, 2007
First round rate negotiations in the carriers' annual tussle with shippers goes the customer's way Carriers in the US and European trades out of Asia are struggling to wrestle rates upwards in the first quarter even though regional demand in the trades remains strong. Hamburg reduces HHLA contest to six bidders Six companies have been short-listed by Hamburg municipality following the city's announcement last year that it will sell a 49.9% of its terminal operator HHLA. News Analysis: Antwerp's High beam blindness stacks up trouble in tank container trade Fleet owners are seeing red after DP World subsidiary P&O Ports in Antwerp has made a sudden, ill-explained move prohibiting the stacking of beam tanks at its terminal. Hazardous Cargo Bulletin investigates. Four dead after boxship and ferry collide in Straits of Messina Mainland truckers can reduce high HK/China cross-border costs Seafarer killed on TOL ship Delmas to join Nile Dutch ECSA-West Africa service Mercosur partners split over desire to abandon US dollar Singapore's OPM joins local bidders for Brisbane berths Nordana Line favours Paranagua's public berths with switched service Eurosib travels its triangle of trade AADA sets first 2007 rise

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JANUARY 16, 2007
'We do not want to die here' Indian seafarers who relieved a starving, abandoned Indian bulker crew now say they are starving and abandoned, too. Abeele talks trades Philippe's new derivatives fund is up and running with $17m and a deep-pocket investor. More supramax action Angeliki Frangou's Navios is the latest supramax owner to sign up for a higher rate on a two-year charter. Excel confirms deal Excel is confirming a two-year panamax fixture for $26,000 a day to a party others identify as Bottiglieri di Navigazione. "Pudding king" dead at 90 Hamburg Sud owner and legendary bakery and pizza magnate Rudolf August Oetker dies in Hamburg clinic Middle East harmony nears Iran and Iraq set to establish joint shipping company as ro-ro cargoes offer boost to war torn country. Delmas maps West Africa service New fortnightly service set up with NileDutch to run between Brazil, Angola and Congo. Sydney Ferries under pressure Death of fisherman in ferry collision prompts calls for inquiry into Aussie owner. Ships collide off Japan Russian reefer and cargo ship damaged in collision in Tsugaru Strait in Sea of Japan. N Korea wants ferry ban lifted Envoy asks Japan to allow "spy ship" Mangyongbong-92 back into country. Shreyas gets green light for deals Indian boxship player cleared to spend up to INR 1.5bn on new acquisitions. Four dead in Italy ship collision Captain among deceased and five others seriously injured as container ship and ferry collide in Straits of Messina. Toisa back at Wuchang Gregory Callimanopulos's offshore unit signs for three AHTS units and two PSVs at favourite Chinese yard. ENP inks ferries Portuguese yard wins deal for two catamarans from Atlantic Ferries. Cargoship comes loose Ro-ro narrowly avoided ferry clash after breaking free of moorings on the River Tyne, UK. Chinese shipping deaths fall Fatalities drop by a fifth in 2006, but shortcomings still exist in emergency response, government says. Farstad seals charter deals Norwegian owner brings in NOK 575m of revenue as it fixes anchor-handlers and a supply ship. Panamax grounds off Canada Several tugs needed to free bulker which grounded on rocks in high winds off coast of British Columbia. Samsung hits record high World's second-ranked shipyard reaps reward of more expensive ships in 2006.

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JANUARY 16, 2007
TSA sees "strengthening market conditions" Texas hold 'em Deutsche Bahn IPO facing delays, Schenker takeover-hungry FTA: London congestion zone expansion will hurt truckers Pilot increases rates 4% Beatson resurfaces as head of GlobalWare Solutions APEC meeting tackles regional development Shipco Transport's Shanghai office gets "Class A" forwarding license L.A.-Long Beach container volume up 11% in 2006 OTAL: New Douala customs system creating congestion Kalmar acquiring Tagros

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JANUARY 16, 2007
Hard times for container operators in St Petersburg The Port of St Petersburg is almost drowning in its own success at the moment. Especially the container services give ... Mols-Linien offers shares instead of salary Danish ferry operator Mols-Linien will offer their employees an opportunity to get shares in the company. Each employee with more ... Farstad contracts for NOK 725 million Farstad Shipping has secured offshore chartering contracts worth a total of NOK 725 million. Far Sailor and Far Senior have ...

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JANUARY 16, 2007
Cruise ship fuel rules off the agenda Ports abandoning plans for mandatory restrictions, exploring other schemes. New appointment at Danish bunker firm New Business Development Manager "can intensify the strategic work of developing both existing and new business." More restrictions on marine fuels 'a foregone conclusion' But senior bunker industry observer saying transition from residual to distillate unlikely until well into the next decade. Rotterdam market stable Rare Saudi bunker cargo due for Singapore Bunker-grade cargo from Saudi Aramco sold from its Jubail refinery.