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Shipping News

Gulf-Asia VLCC rates hit 3-year highs
Prices for shipping crude oil on the world's top export routes from the Gulf soared to more than three-year highs on Monday, breaching the W300 mark for the first time since late 2004 when rates struck 30-year highs.
Iraqi firm launches new tanker
The Iraqi Oil Tanker Company launched its first new ship in 27 years on Monday, and delivery of two more tankers is expected within three months.
Asian product tanker rates show signs of easing
Asian charter rates for large-range product tankers may decline, after rising to the highest in more than a year, on a dearth of fresh cargoes as December and January shipments slow ahead of the holidays.
HK operators handle 2.4% fewer boxes in Nov
Norway plans world's 1st ship tunnel

Strait Talk

Lots of steam left in offshore support vessels
WHEN Norwegian shipping tycoon John Fredriksen moves into a particular sector of shipping, you can be fairly certain prospects are good - at least for those who jump in at the right time.

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Shipping News

Gulf-Asia VLCC rates hit 3-year highs
Prices for shipping crude oil on the world's top export routes from the Gulf soared to more than three-year highs on Monday, breaching the W300 mark for the first time since late 2004 when rates struck 30-year highs.
Iraqi firm launches new tanker
The Iraqi Oil Tanker Company launched its first new ship in 27 years on Monday, and delivery of two more tankers is expected within three months.
Asian product tanker rates show signs of easing
Asian charter rates for large-range product tankers may decline, after rising to the highest in more than a year, on a dearth of fresh cargoes as December and January shipments slow ahead of the holidays.
HK operators handle 2.4% fewer boxes in Nov
Norway plans world's 1st ship tunnel

Strait Talk

Lots of steam left in offshore support vessels
WHEN Norwegian shipping tycoon John Fredriksen moves into a particular sector of shipping, you can be fairly certain prospects are good - at least for those who jump in at the right time.

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Zim weekly Asia-North Europe service sets sail January 15 CSCL nets US$2.1 billion on debut, rises 75pc on offer price Maersk christens 10,000-TEU Eugen Maersk at Odense Shipyard Tasco sees wide network as enhancing imminent listing Damietta terminal details revealed through ABD loan of US$150 million Ill wind blows container into Miss O'Malley's Aleutian Island home Port Harcourt Airport to re-open after two-year upgrade to meet world standards Dragonair voted best airline in China by TravelWeeklyChina Budget air cargo flights prove boon to India's exporters

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CSAA, CCHAA & chambers move court to declare strikes at Cochin Port illegal 11,000-TEUEugen Maersk to ride the waves GE Shipping contracts to buy 2 more Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers Greenwich Meridian's mahapooja today Trade with China racing towards $ 40-bn mark Ficci study sees trade gap with Singapore narrowing in 2007-08 Repeat orders put ABG Shipyard's books in swell position CoPT to install state-of-art VTMS to ensure navigational safety MMTC scouting for partners in warehousing & logistics network Consumer panel makes carriers liable to pay for damages to freight Chidambaram upbeat on exports nudging $ 200 bn next year Gulf Finance inks $ 10-bn pact for Panvel SEZ DGFT hints at EOUs getting tax sops extension by 5 years New FTAs give govt cause for pause Indian biz leaders! Assocham & DGST to hold joint seminar on service tax this Friday

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
UPS elects Rudy Markham to board of directors ICTSI appoints CEO for Batumi terminal APL Logistics names vice-president warehouse management services Yang Ming and OOCL cooperate in Asia/Indian Subcontinent trade Air France-KLM offers share swap as part of Alitalia bid Turkey to launch North Pass project Gildan and Kuehne + Nagel partnership goes to Far East

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
SECAs "merely redistributing marine fuel sulphur content" Aker announces more delays Ionia fined US$4.9m Singapore trials US box screening

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
Wallenius and Wilhelmsen go to MHI for world's largest RO/RO's Aker Yards Finnish ferry projects face more delays Greatship Global Offshore orders newbuilds from Sri Lanka India's ABG reports new orders

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
Aker mulls offshore division spinoff OSLO-listed group posts NKR400m loss and is considering sale of offshore and specialised vessels division. Aker Yards explores strategic options MCA staff back pay strike BALLOT reveals 90% of unionised staff prepared to strike in support of pay claim. Last Napoli containers leave Portland FINAL two containers retrieved from the grounded MSC Napoli left the Dorset port of Portland this morning. UK lines up its plans for more windfarms THIRD round of licensing prompts calls for better consultation over the risks posed to maritime industries. Listen to the experts IT is well to be a little cautious when embracing new techniques.

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
BAF dropped as TACA lines fall out Heightened competition in the North Atlantic trades has forced the Trans-Atlantic Conference Agreement (TACA) to suspend the 23% increase in bunker surcharges earmarked for 16 December Another scandal hits JadeWeserPort THE managing board of JadeWeserPort Realisierungs, project manager for the planned deepsea box terminal at Wilhelmshaven, Germany, has been forced to step down Second-biggest bulker delivered ONE of the biggest ships in the world, the Brasil Maru, was baptised at the weekend in Japan and will now trade exclusively between Brazil and Tokyo Mercosur opens doors to Israel LATIN American trade bloc Mercosur has signed its first external free-trade agreement; with Israel, despite new Mercosur member Venezuela having close ties with Iran Hutchison confirms Bahama bid HUTCHISON Whampoa is seeking to buy out the Grand Bahama Port Authority from its two feuding shareholders Caribbean states ink EU trade pact MORE containers may soon be seen aboard vessels trading between Europe and the Caribbean following a trade pact signed this week SECAs are not working, says DNVPS Two die in tanker cleaning accident Aker takes second hit in Finland Regional database for maritime sector Zaliv starts $30M yard upgrade Robust bidding for Singapore's LNG

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
Long Beach approves cargo fee The $35 charge will be levied on loaded boxes entering or leaving the port by short-haul truck beginning June 1. DHS made progress in '07, says Chertoff in review Groups ask TraPac repeal ESC lauds customs revisions Hamburg Süd rebrands FANZL India lines set WB rate hike Yusen opens China office India throughput up 13% ANA forms air alliance Frankfurt air plan approved, but cargo takes hit U.S. grants EU postal, warehouse concessions

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
Port Everglades reveals strong FY2007 FANZL name to be replaced Liverpool's LIFT to almost double in size TACA postpones BAF increase MSC Gate expands

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
We are sailing Beluga Shipping flies a kite for a 20% reduction in bunker consumption. Cruise loophole assailed US customs authorities are planning to tighten a passenger cabotage rule that has had Hawaiian cruises making touch-and-go calls in Mexico. Navios inks $154m loan US-listed bulker owner locks in deal to fund August capesize order at Sough Korea's Sungdong Heavy Industries. TBS buys seven sisters US owner forks out $20m to buy up seven tweendeckers from its chartered-in fleet. UK coastguard strike threat Union members say they are prepared to strike over pay at British safety agency. DryShips deal questioned One analyst casts sceptical eye on DryShips' buy-up of Ocean Rig shares over bulker owner's link to Cardiff Marine, while another puts out the call to buy Atlantska bullish on bulk Croatian dry cargoship owner expecting big rise in 2007 profit in booming markets. Quintana panamax grounds Australia's Gladstone Harbour claims another bulker victim as Greek ship grounds after fuelling stop. Two die on tanker in Singapore Third person taken to hospital after two Indians die while cleaning onboard chemical tanker. Damen wins trio Dutch shipbuilder to construct tugs and crew boat for Australian and Croatian owners. Tanker capsizes in Indonesia Small bunker vessel overturns at Surabaya, but crew safe and no pollution reported. Box trial to begin Singapore one of seven nations to allow US to scan in-bound containers for six months. Delays hit Aker Shipbuilder's share price falls 20% as tighter passenger vessel margins reduce profitability. Fantastic four "World's largest" ro-ros ordered by Wilh Wilhelmsen and Wallenius Lines at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Hellenic buys sixth Fotini Karamanlis' London-listed owner snaps up Singapore-owned 1997 panamax for $70m. Turkey violated property rights European Court rules that Iranian line is entitled to only modest compensation for ship detention 15 years ago. Colombo contract for Greatship Indian owner orders two construction support vessels at Sri Lankan shipyard. New ferry takes a battering Latest addition to Canadian owner BC Ferries' fleet arrives with dented hull and shattered window. Great Eastern orders double Indian owner adds to bulker orderbook with deal for two kamsarmaxes at SPP in Korea. Zim upgrades Container line is bolstering its links between Asia and Northern Europe with a fourth service.

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
Wallenius, Wilhelmsen ordering largest ro/ro ships If a silent ship alert is activated, who would hear it? TACA keeps bunker charge at lower lever Hamburg Süd to drop FANZL brand Indian carrier buys three bulk vessels Iraqi company restarts operations with new ship GL first foreign classification society allowed to survey Russian ships New Bangalore airport close to opening Mexico to use IATA safety audit Chertoff not ready to require box security devices USDA opens trade office in Chengdu, China CBP discovers opium, fake computer components PUMA consortium chosen for Rotterdam's Maasvlakte 2 construction Eurogate, NCC partner for Russia, Germany terminals MSC terminal in Bremerhaven gets new cranes

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
Wallenius and Wilhelmsen order world's largest ro-ro carriers Sweden's Wallenius Lines and Norway's Wllh Wilhelmsen has ordered four of what will be the largest ro-ro carriers in the world. The quartet will be built at Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's shipyard in Nagasaki and delivered through 2011 and 2012 ... Police to investigate Norwegian oil spill A special unit from the Stavanger police is to investigate the 4,000 tonne oil spill from the Statfjord A last Wednesday. The spill was caused by a broken hose leading to the Teekay shuttle tanker Navion Britannia. The police wants ... Offshore order backlog reduce rate prospects With 500 offshore vessels ' of which 200 AHTSs and 180 PSVs ' on order the developing market could put downward pressure on future day rates, according to UK-based Ocean Shipping Consultants in their latest report 'Offshore Support Vessels: Global Prospects ...

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DECEMBER 18, 2007
Terminal expansion sees 'green' ship measures Emissions mitigation for shipping traffic at the centre of new port agreement. SECAs make no difference to overall sulphur levels Sulphur Emissions Control Areas 'merely redistributing marine fuel sulphur content'. Platts defends 'rigorous' benchmarking protocols Welcomes wide market participation in its Asian fuel oil price assessment process. Rotterdam holds firm despite crude loss Singapore supplier to change ownership Its parent company Mitsui Mining will sell off its stake to an individual buyer. DNVPS launches new training programme New onboard training programme is to help crew members understand MPA's 'five bunker sample' regulation. Intertek opens new lab inside Universal Terminal Laboratory is 'strategic investment for Intertek'. IMO report could 'shed light' on emissions data Shipping emissions data are 'valuable' but not necessarily accurate, says ICS secretary general.