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Shipping News

Asia condemns Somalian pirate attacks
The Asian Shipowners' Forum has deplored the increased acts of piracy and armed robbery carried out by Somalian- based pirates against vessels operated by Asian shipowners in the Gulf of Aden.
Full steam ahead for degree in naval architecture
Singapore's first batch of full-time degree students in naval architecture is set to take off with a pioneer intake of 62 students in the two-year programme offered by UK's Newcastle University under the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) initiative.
DHL appoints Asia-Pac customer relations chief
DHL yesterday announced the appointment of Richard Owens as senior vice-president for its Global Customer Solutions (GCS) organisation in Asia-Pacific.
PCL unit places out shares

Strait Talk

A celebration of all things nautical
IT is difficult to pin down just what makes a successful maritime hub. Certainly, we are talking about more than just being a busy port. In the sense of being an important port with a vast range of related business activities going on, Singapore has always ticked the box. Indeed, it owes its very existence to its port.

web site

Shipping News

Asia condemns Somalian pirate attacks
The Asian Shipowners' Forum has deplored the increased acts of piracy and armed robbery carried out by Somalian- based pirates against vessels operated by Asian shipowners in the Gulf of Aden.
Full steam ahead for degree in naval architecture
Singapore's first batch of full-time degree students in naval architecture is set to take off with a pioneer intake of 62 students in the two-year programme offered by UK's Newcastle University under the Ministry of Education's (MOE) Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) initiative.
DHL appoints Asia-Pac customer relations chief
DHL yesterday announced the appointment of Richard Owens as senior vice-president for its Global Customer Solutions (GCS) organisation in Asia-Pacific.
PCL unit places out shares

Strait Talk

A celebration of all things nautical
IT is difficult to pin down just what makes a successful maritime hub. Certainly, we are talking about more than just being a busy port. In the sense of being an important port with a vast range of related business activities going on, Singapore has always ticked the box. Indeed, it owes its very existence to its port.

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AADA to lower China, Hong Kong-Australia bunker surcharge Hapag Lloyd and partner to serve EU-Oz with 12 x 2,800 ships 'Vast majority of cargo safe' after Ike strikes, says Houston YICT becomes Shenzhen's energy-saving example enterprise Guangdong's export growth slides in first seven months Bangkok port hit by politically motivated strike, work slowdowns Not all unions willing to sign Alitalia's life-saving deal Georgia's Albany hub grows ahead of UPS-DHL joint air operations Juneyao Airlines launches Yantai to Shanghai service HAECO improves security with Symantec solutions RGIA sets sights on becoming an air cargo hub in India

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Law Ministry clears Shipping Trade Practices Bill Capesize rates on Brazil-China route plummet NYK selected for Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for sixth straight year JNPT First AGAin! ASIC seeks urgent steps to deepen Haldia Dock draught ASAP With 10 m tonnes already handled, TPT well on way to hit fiscal target Greens in cross-currents of Dhamra port POSCO, Daewoo Logistics & Balaji Infra Projects join hands to form steel supply centre at Dighi port Economies of India, China seen cooling off in US slowdown fall-out India Inc loses Rs 2k cr. as Lehman goes under Kunvarji Group takes path less travelled

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
IMB commends French action, but HK ship seized New hijacking off Malaysia Anti-fouling convention enters into force ASF speaks out on piracy, cautions on emissions "Ships miss out Jeddah" Bureau Veritas opens specialist yacht expertise centre

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Coast Guard tackles post-Ike pollution Detyens gets $34.88 million Navy job Offshore operators assess Ike damage EU considers naval force to combat pirates

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Baltic Exchange lacks transparency, says Su SHIPOWNER Nobu Su argues brokers should disclose charter rates they submit to daily shipping indices. Nobu Su's VLCC 'parking' plot helps to sustain rates Billions wiped off AIG's value after rating downgrade BILLIONS of dollars were wiped off the value of American International Group amid fears insurer will be engulfed in cash crisis. Owners face three years of credit turmoil SENIOR European banker warns shipowners may have to wait two to three years for the bank credit market to return to normal.

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Gulf refineries likely offline for weeks Beaumont's portREFINERIES along the Texas Gulf Coast might be offline for another two weeks because electricity is only slowly being restored to the region Ports America insulated from AIG THE crisis at AIG does not impact the largest terminal manager in the US, Ports America, which is owned by private equity firm AIG Highstar Capital French free pair from pirates FRENCH commandos have freed two French citizens held hostage by pirates in a remote mountain hideout in northeastern Somalia Russian oil is losing export profits THE ABRUPT fall in the international price of crude oil below $90 per barrel has trapped Russian oil exporters, the second-largest in the world by volume after Saudi Arabia Dover doubles since Chunnel fire TRAFFIC passing through the port of Dover has doubled over the last few days after a fire forced the closure of the Channel Tunnel MarAd funds cold ironing project MARAD will be putting up $150,000 to help the breakbulk and fishing port of New Bedford in Massachusetts install a cold ironing system US funds ballast research scheme RESEARCHERS seeking a workable technology to control ballast bugs got a financial shot in the arm today when the US Maritime Administration funded the Northwest-Midwest Institute's Great Ships Initiative

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
LA-LB port to keep cargo flowing Southern California ports determined to keep container traffic moving despite concerns clean-trucks program will hurt drayage capacity. Power, water issues keep Galveston port offline UPS restoring service following Hurricane Ike Bunker surcharge cut planned by Asia-Australia lines Freight index declines Smit rejects buyout offer JFK freight off 10% Trade group optimistic about ACE system development Record Yokohama volume Signs point to revival of Doha trade negotiations Exel, Syncrude in pact

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Correction: AIG share crash could prompt firesale PD Ports on the road again Houston picks up the pieces Global Insight joins the pessimists MELL celebrates maiden call at Naha

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Tow firm faulted Congressmen point to a history of unlicensed crew at the company whose tug pushed a barge that spilled fuel oil in the Mississippi. Ike brings blues The maritime sector is still feeling the pain from Hurricane Ike, with cargo flooded, ports closed and drilling rigs under water. OSG buys itself New York tanker owner's share buyback program has shelled out $151m. GSL bags brace Ian Webber-led containership owner buys two boxship newbuildings in $154m deal. Another stinker Offshore stocks battered again as over 40 listed companies lose 10% or more in Oslo. ACL shares jump American Commercial Lines' rosier outlook leads shares to defy downward stock market pressure. Tug mug Master trying out controls grounded brand-new LNG escort tug in Milford Haven, running up a big repair bill. Tanker seized Stolt Tankers-chartered ship with 22 crew seized in Gulf of Aden, reports two others attacked. Rigs become cash Ship Finance International Shareholders will get a 3.4% dividend hike thanks to the latest drilling rig purchase. Eimskip in turmoil Icelandic container line launches probe into past deals as super-rich bankers step in to bail it out of debt hole. Knuckles rapped Liberian president Johnson-Sirleaf distances herself from former aide, Willis D Knuckles, over flag-bribery allegations. Robertie warning Fred Robertie warns underwriters still have a long way to get hull market on even keel. Shell shock Master of Shell tanker that grounded on coral reef was busy doing paperwork at vital moment. Cash flow South American owner Ultrapetrol bags World Bank loan to expand river shipping business. Black box down Another accident involving tired solitary watchkeeper and black box failure in Hanjin Gothenburg-Chang Tong hit. Aker knackered STX sends Aker Yards name to the knackers yard after officially applying to use STX Europe tag for the shipbuilder. Hallin happy UK offshore player posts "outstanding" first-half figures as profit jumps three-fold. All covered John Fredriksen's Seadrill funds the remainder of its orderbook following $1.7bn sale-and-leaseback deal. Wireless wonder Largest internet retrofit in maritime history shows Maersk seafarers that size matters. ACL to rise US barge owner predicting third quarter profit increase of up to 20% from $1bn fleet. Napoli no-go Storms postpone final removal of boxship's remains from UK beach until next spring. Skaugen sells Norwegian tanker and gas carrier player refinances with new bond issue to mop up those due in 2009. Jacob replaced Peter Norborg (pictured) steps up to fill the void created by Jacob Meldgaard's move to Torm. French pair freed One pirate killed and six others arrested as French military storms hideout in Somalia. Dig deeper Smit shareholder says Boskalis' 30% premium offer for control of company is not enough, as board rejects bid. Gdansk gaffe Veteran Pink Floyd plank-spanker David Gilmour calls Polish yard 'derelict' as he unveils film of his concert there in 2006. Cape crusade? India's SCI linked to another order for bulkers at STX in Korea, this time opting for capesizes. Equator settles UK-listed offshore player agrees compensation payout with BW Offshore over failed FPSO deal. Still growing Singapore's two container terminal operators continue to post year-on-year growth. Brazil conversion Singapore's Sembawang Shipyard to convert shuttle tanker into FDPSO for Petroserv.

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Ship financing industry braces for its own crunch APL volumes, revenue per box still rising India maritime official urges short sea, multimodal development Liberty seeks meeting with International Shipholding committee MSC Napoli salvage work suspended for winter CMA CGM (America) promotes Cunningham to Northeast sales VP Insurance giant AIG fights for survival ADB predicts slowed growth in Asia for 2008 iGPS signs deal with Schoeller Arca for up to 30 million pallets Ulber to head sea & air logistics for Kuehne + Nagel Walkord appointed CIO of Circumference America Ports, carriers slowly rebound from Hurricane Ike

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Oil prices and dry bulk index slides Crude oil prices continues to fall. Last Friday, the price had fallen below the USD 100 mark, when USD 96.32 per barrel Brent was noted on the IPE spot market. The news of the Lehman Brothers Holdings bancruptcy and ... Huge public support to Fredericia Fredericia Skibsværft enjoys a huge public support in its fight for survival after 2016. At a public meeting at the shipyard in Fredericia yesterday 1,054 persons were present to listen to several experts as well as several local politicians defending ...

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Houston bunkering ready for action Deliveries of bunker fuel to begin as soon as the Captain of the Port gives the green light. ARA price plunge continues Big bunker price spreads as suppliers struggle to peg the market. IBIA ready to 'uphold' best practice Assocation meets as Singapore 'surveyor controversy' grows. Russia mulling tax to discourage fuel oil exports Energy Ministry proposing to equalise export duties on light and dark products. Singapore bunker prices dive $45 Asian bunker markets tumble as crude oil retreats in face of economic turmoil. Shares in shipping companies take a hit Shipping sector feels 'market pain'. ARA - No barge market activity causing big price gaps Dan-Bunkering appoints new bunker trader Indian refiner offers October cargoes Fuel oil parcels scheduled for October loading. Indian bunker prices competitive to Singapore Mundra bunker prices dip below Singapore as the latter port struggles with tight supplies. Shipowner slams Singapore market Says most suppliers resist using 'honest surveyors from DNVPS'.