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Shipping News

IMC unveils changes in management team
IMC Corp yesterday announced changes in its senior management team, while also expanding its dry bulk business through a joint venture with Mitsui OSK Lines.
Swire Pacific opens training centre
THE way to maintain competitive advantage in the red hot offshore oil and gas sector is to provide people with a good living and a stable career, support services specialist Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) believes.
India's ABG Shipyard plans US$200m share sale
ABG Shipyard Ltd, India's biggest shipbuilder outside state control, plans to raise US$200 million in a share sale in the middle of the fiscal year to help fund a third shipyard and expand an existing facility in Gujarat state.
Russian firm to open US$120m car terminal in Finland

Strait Talk

A successful event
IF ANYBODY is still in any doubt about how serious a player China is in the world shipbuilding and marine machinery market, they should have been at last week's Asia-Pacific Maritime (APM) 2008 exhibition.

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Shipping News

IMC unveils changes in management team
IMC Corp yesterday announced changes in its senior management team, while also expanding its dry bulk business through a joint venture with Mitsui OSK Lines.
Swire Pacific opens training centre
THE way to maintain competitive advantage in the red hot offshore oil and gas sector is to provide people with a good living and a stable career, support services specialist Swire Pacific Offshore (SPO) believes.
India's ABG Shipyard plans US$200m share sale
ABG Shipyard Ltd, India's biggest shipbuilder outside state control, plans to raise US$200 million in a share sale in the middle of the fiscal year to help fund a third shipyard and expand an existing facility in Gujarat state.
Russian firm to open US$120m car terminal in Finland

Strait Talk

A successful event
IF ANYBODY is still in any doubt about how serious a player China is in the world shipbuilding and marine machinery market, they should have been at last week's Asia-Pacific Maritime (APM) 2008 exhibition.

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Oil prices induce WTSA to levy US$600-$900 per FEU bunker surcharge Two jailed, APL, Yanking implicated in fake Coshing box statistics NYK announces a new mid-term management plan Indonesian cabotage needs booster loans after foreign ship ban Demag Cranes optimistic on back of strong box trade Senator Lines to phase in larger, faster box ship on MCS CSAV Norasia opens own office in Kuala Lumpur New International Medical Guide for Ships published by WHO Shanghai Pudong Airport expansion project complete Hainan Airlines launches services from Xining to Fuzhou, Xiamen via Xian Hesse police award Lufthansa Cargo with security seal of approval

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Aegis Logistics arm in Singapore planned New shipbuilding method at HHI promises cost savings Seasky Shipping sailing to new shores Nath in favour of duty-free import of steel JNPT clocks 4.06 m TEUs VPT & HPCL sign MoU on use of Port land Raja was my philosopher & guide-S. R. Kulkarni GTI closes fiscal with grand monthly record! S. N. Maharana & S. K. Kaul promoted Nhava Sheva team lifts Forwarders' Club cricket trophy DRFC placed on track of progress Work from Oct. or Nov.-Jena Ambitious multimodal transport project with Myanmar soon SEC Railway crosses freight target ARC chalks out social costs of unbridled SEZ policy Rs 3.1 LAKH CR. in direct tax net Exports may pierce $ 200 bn in 2009-CII survey

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APRIL 1, 2008
Lorenz new Inter Marine marketing director Russian investment group buys Aker Yards BAWC to open Cologne-Bahrain service Green light for Railion Scandinavia US railroads sued for fuel surcharge collusion Cargo-Partner expanding in Hungary Changes for N.E.W. freight corridor

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APRIL 1, 2008
Mitropoulos attacks environmental critics, pledges green improvements BP Marine Fuels gets new COO K-Line ship planning and hull department gains quality cert ESMPC-WITASS shifts BAF

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APRIL 1, 2008
SPS protects dredge side shell BIW to build blocks for LPD 17 Carnival to refund retroactive fuel surcharges Natchan World set for sea trials

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APRIL 1, 2008
Aker shareholders reject new board proposal AKER Yard's shareholders have rejected a proposal to oust the existing board of directors at an EGM today. German Aker yards welcome new owners Frontline to take shares worth $92m in OSG FRONTLINE confirms it will take delivery of shares worth $92m in rival tanker firm under a forward contract. ABG Shipyard targets $200m from share sale SALE will help fund construction of third shipyard at India's largest private sector shipbuilding facility. Contship confirms its Italian commitment CONTSHIP chairman Cecilia Battistello speaks about the company's investment plans and the importance of credibility. The moral high ground IMO chief Efthimios Mitropoulos was right to hit out at those who claim shipping plays fast and loose with the environment.

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APRIL 1, 2008
OSG confirms Fredriksen stake Frontline boss John Fredriksen has exercised his previously reported option to increase his ownership stake in Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) to 9.7% Italian super-ministry plea CORRADO Antonini, head of Federazione del Mare, has called on the Italian government to create a single ministry combining the three separate ministries of transport, infrastructure and environment Rice export ban over inflation fear INDIA has banned exports of non-basmati rice and slashed import duties of edible oils to help curb rising inflation US farmers bank on soy THE US Department of Agriculture predicts that American farmers will plant more soybeans and wheat at the expense of corn and cotton in 2008 Strike still grips Baltic terminal WORKERS continue to strike over pay at Poland's biggest container terminal Nordic Tankers falls short DANISH operator Nordic Tankers fell short of its profit forecast due to softer tone in freight rates for product tankers in the last quarter or 2007. However earnings rose significantly from 2006 High court dashes Jersey LNG plan ISU doubles pollutant recovery HMM eyeing Middle East, Russia Korean rate rise 'will stick' Indonesia, Japan in new LNG deal Intra-Asia lines hike Korea rates Struggle intensifies on bunker rule Carnival concedes on fuel fees

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APRIL 1, 2008
Deal keeps some MOL boxes in Seattle MOL, which is shifting half its PNW container volume to Tacoma, will will keep some boxes in Seattle (left) through 2013. MOL plans to revitalize container ship business ANA, forwarders set up express joint venture Maersk upgrades Scan-Med NYK unit eyes U.S. growth Report: DC vacancy rate up Great Lakes ship collision Dry bulk terminal planned by Port of Rotterdam Euroseas deal for box ship Santos orders 12 RTGs Lines urge Nehru dredging

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APRIL 1, 2008
Five cranes delivered to Eurogate Tanger Felixstowe gets its new cranes after crash trauma and gears up with an extended rail terminal Safmarine's new MPV series APL's upward trend continues MOL president announces 'true strength' restructuring of container business

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APRIL 1, 2008
Lakers collide in Mackinaw US Coast Guard clears bulkers for repairs after a collision in the Great Lakes. Excel clears hurdle Shareholders in the US-listed bulker owner give the OK for structural changes required for the Quintana bid. Coastguard in double action British union sets two dates this month for more 24-hour strikes in pay dispute. Conrad profits jump US shipbuilder sees net income more than triple as activity increased in a robust market. Powerful Pappas Star Bulk Carriers chairman reports a 19.1% stake in the US-listed bulker owner. TWIC or treat Transportation Workers Identification Credential system raises congestion scare at US west coast ports. Saevik blocked by shareholders Norwegian shipowner's bid to oust the board of Aker Yards is rejected by a majority vote at an emergency meeting. Greek ropax Canada-bound? Marine Atlantic is checking with authorities to determine whether the Superfast IX could run in Canadian waters. Uljanik losses grow Croatian shipyard looks unattractive sell-off candidate after tough 2007. Delaware wins LNG border fight US Supreme Court weighs in on LNG terminal on New Jersey side of the Delaware River. Maersk steps up Med service Danish owner to run extra Scan Med boxship, and add two more ports. Davie starts with loss First full year costly for reborn Canadian shipbuilder, but offshore vessel demand strong. Baosteel eyes new yard Chinese steel giant to partner China Shipping and CSSC in building tanker, bulker facility in Guangzhou. Mermaid in offshore JV Thai shipowner takes 80% slice of new unit after teaming up with Seascape Pacific Folk grabs oldie Dubai-based owner emerges as buyer of Augusta Offshore's ageing AHTS. Murmansk mulls expansion Russian arctic port plans $10bn spree to add coal, container and oil terminals. Ferry's speed "killed fisherman" Australian court hears dangerous navigation by Sydney Ferries' master to blame for crash. Carnival coughs up US cruiseship giant refunds fuel supplements to passengers already booked when fee was introduced. Mercator splashes IPO cash Newly-listed Singaporean arm snaps up purchase option on 11-year-old panamax in $65m deal. IMC and MOL ink VLOC tie-up Shipowners to operate very large ore carriers with each firm initially contributing one converted ship. Dong Chun axes Zarubino service Korean passenger and freight operation ditches Russian port over fees hike. KLC takes Hellenic bulker South Korean shipowner charters Supramax unit Konstantinos D for two years at average rate of $56,250. Precious fixes two more Thai bulker owner has now found long term employment for four of the twelve ships on order in India. NOL shakes off the gloom Despite global economic woes Singapore shipowner sees double-digit growth in volumes and revenue. NYK coughs up Japanese shipowner's European arm has to double charter rate to extend deal on Genco handymax.

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APRIL 1, 2008
CTSA lines raising BAF ESPMC-WITASS to raise fuel, Panama Canal surcharges Hellenic Carriers takes delivery of Supramax Browning joins Intermarine Chinese bank pledges to revalue currency ahead of Paulson visit Industry groups want U.S.-only commodities for food aid program FMC delays SoCal ports' truck plan Shanghai warns Singapore to expect to be No. 2 soon Louisiana looks at possible port consolidation First cranes delivered to new Moroccan terminal Arrests at Port of Kaohsiung over container volume fix

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APRIL 1, 2008
New problems for SuperSpeed 1 Color Line has been forced to reduce the number of passengers booked on to their new ferry the SuperSpeed 1, Norwegian media report. The reason is that more passengers then there are seats have been booked on the vessel resulting ... Carnival backs on fuel fees The Florida Attorney General has reached an agreement with six cruise lines over the imposition of a retroactively imposed fuel surcharge on cruise passengers. Carnival and its five subsidiary cruise lines have agreed to refund approximately $40 million to consumers ... Peder Tordenskjold sailed to Libanon The Danish naval ship Peder Tordenskjold has left Danish waters for a three months deployment in the waters off Lebanon in the Mediterranean. The ship will be a part of the United Nation operation Unfil task force, which was set ...

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APRIL 1, 2008
Bunker market report from Praxis Cargo forwarding companies 'lack knowledge' of bunker maket Risk management provider says forwarders should leave bunker hedging to shipping companies. Mike Ball joins Gearbulk MGO prices force up bunker surcharge MEPC deeply divided on Annex VI Two very different proposals gain momentum at opening of crucial meeting, all options still open. BP Marine Fuels appoints new Chief Operating Officer Graeme Alexander takes over from Parris Beverly. Saudi Aramco offers new fuel oil cargo Traders expect material to end up in Fujairah or Singapore bunker market. Rotterdam MDO avails still limited EC sets record straight at IMO Supports global solutions for controlling shipping emissions providing IMO meets tight deadlines. Colombo MGO price matches Singapore Lanka IOC offers MGO prices comparable to Singapore's. Tokyo bunkers hit new record Price differential between Tokyo and Singapore for 380 cst product at more than $100 pmt. Tight prompt delivery underpins Korean market Bunker supplies expected to be tight in April.