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TUI optimistic despite global slowdown
Germany's TUI AG, in the middle of splitting up its tourism and shipping businesses, is optimistic about 2008, aiming to boost profitability despite slowing global economic growth, it said.
China shipbuilder's net up 140%
China State Shipbuilding Co, the nation's biggest shipyard, said its 2007 net profit soared 140 per cent as it increased production to meet rising demand for vessels and diesel engines.
Daewoo profit triples in Feb
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, the world's third-largest shipyard, said profit last month almost tripled from a year earlier as it built more expensive vessels to carry consumer goods and fuel.
PSA sees slower box traffic
Finland's Sunborn to move shipbuilding ops to M'sia

Strait Talk

EU demonstrates a lack of understanding
NEXT week, the environmental issues surrounding bunkering will be discussed at the Asia Pacific Maritime Conference here in Singapore. Later in the year, the Singapore International Bunkering Conference will cover this ground in great detail in October.

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Shipping News

TUI optimistic despite global slowdown
Germany's TUI AG, in the middle of splitting up its tourism and shipping businesses, is optimistic about 2008, aiming to boost profitability despite slowing global economic growth, it said.
China shipbuilder's net up 140%
China State Shipbuilding Co, the nation's biggest shipyard, said its 2007 net profit soared 140 per cent as it increased production to meet rising demand for vessels and diesel engines.
Daewoo profit triples in Feb
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, the world's third-largest shipyard, said profit last month almost tripled from a year earlier as it built more expensive vessels to carry consumer goods and fuel.
PSA sees slower box traffic
Finland's Sunborn to move shipbuilding ops to M'sia

Strait Talk

EU demonstrates a lack of understanding
NEXT week, the environmental issues surrounding bunkering will be discussed at the Asia Pacific Maritime Conference here in Singapore. Later in the year, the Singapore International Bunkering Conference will cover this ground in great detail in October.

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HK up 3.7pc to 3.08m TEU in February, Singapore up 12pc to 4.6m TEU while snow slows Shanghai growth to 2.5pc at 1.8m TEU Cosco launches Quanzhou-Manila container service APM Terminals profits up 30pc to US$111 million on 22pc revenue jump Middle reaches of Yangtze dredged to carry 100,000-tonners to Wuhan Software firm offers help to cope with 10+2 US Customs compliance Unprofitable inland South African container terminal closes near East London Blue Ocean Strategy course to come to Kuala Lumpur in April Delta makes China debut with Shanghai-Atlanta route March 31 Air China to launch Beijing-Pyongyang service TSA trains dogs in explosives detection to bolster air cargo security

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Conquest 2008 receives backing from Ministry of Commerce Coal carrying contract for "K" Line Stowaways cost $ 20 m. a year! GE Shipping signs deal to sell dry bulk carrier SCI CMD rules out early breakthrough in India's container shipping trade Revamped biz puts Maersk Line in black Hanjin Port Adelaide calls at JNPCT SCI flags off SMILE service from NSICT Anti-dumping duty on Chinese sulphur black on cards Edible oil imports surge Tuticorin Port sails past MoS target with 16 days to spare MbPT entering into pact with Central Railway for Haji Bunder coal-loading terminal DP World Chennai puts four new RTGs on the job for quicker operations EMU Lines plays distinctive role Boeing bullish on airfreight industry Sical Logistics commences containerised rail freight operations from MP to Rajasthan DEPB scheme may be retained with minor alterations for a year more Billions more pour into forex kitty Centre completes first stage of budgetary exercise Turkish Minister to speak at WTC tomorrow

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MARCH 18, 2008
Vopak appoints new chairman of supervisory board ICTSI names a series of new officers Hamburg Süd names its largest containership to date Lufthansa doubles profit in 2007 Ceva Logistics wins new contracts in Brazil

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MARCH 18, 2008
EU Politicians ready to act on emissions James Fisher grows organically Dredger newbuilding for Panama Canal New medical guide Knightsbridge fixes out bulker

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MARCH 18, 2008
Somali hijackers release Svitzer tug Port of Pittsburgh gets patent for navigation aid Iran goes on USCG port security advisory list Rolls-Royce inks MOU with Vinashin GD LCS passes mission package milestone Cosco Busan pilot charged Kirby ups earnings guidance

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MARCH 18, 2008
Sovcomflot strengthens its position in offshore drilling RUSSIAN energy giant confirms partnership with Gazprom for the provision of transportation for its oil and gas projects. Gazprom ditches Baltic LNG plant as figures don't add up Tui favours Hapag-Lloyd sale CHIEF executive Michael Frenzel says a sale of its container arm would be the quickest way to separate it from the group. Volume growth slows for Asian container ports SINGAPORE and Shanghai ports hit by global financial crisis and exchange rate issues.

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MARCH 18, 2008
Hamburg fights for Hapag The impending breakup of Hapag-Lloyd's parent group TUI is causing serious concerns among German businessmen, politicians and trade unionists who are keen to preserve the German container line as an independent entity China stops spot iron shipments SPOT shipments of iron ore from Australia to China are being blocked by Beijing, seemingly as a tactic to minimise the rise of ore costs, says a Bloomberg report Death knell for Long Beach LNG A COURT has rejected a request by LNG developer Sound Energy Solutions for the port of Long Beach to resume an environmental assessment of its proposed 160,000m³ terminal at the port Oakland catches continer fee bug OAKLAND has caught the container fee fever that originated in Southern California and wants to charge fees to pay for ecological improvements Libra swallowed by hungry rival SANTOS Brasil has devoured yet another container terminal in Brazil as it continues its expansion and spending spree Hanjin HI tightens safety THE South Korean shipbuilder Hanjin HI and Construction is to tighten subcontractor compliance with international safety standards Salvage plan for listing Riverdance Monrovia appoints new shipping boss DFDS sniffs round Norfolk Line Angola angles for more oil Aker Yards faces break-up Maersk stages unconvincing recovery Excel beats the Street Coast Guard seeks whistleblowers Five charged over Chesapeake fracas Manual standards debate emerges

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MARCH 18, 2008
Hapag-Lloyd profit up, outlook buoyant Parent TUI, set to spin off carrier, expects revenues to rise to $11 billion this year from $9.8 billion in 2007, driven by China business. Panama Canal defers maintenance to ease delays UN body meeting to discuss protectionism, Doha Cosco Busan pilot charged Doha ag talks extended CMA CGM expands service in Latin America-Mediterranean Intermarine revenue grows Texas inland port moves first rail shipment ABX earnings fall CN plans $1B in upgrades Tideworks opens in Asia

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MARCH 18, 2008
CMA CGM and Maersk to co-operate on transatlantic string Financial charges hit Eimskip SEKO opens up in Norfolk (VA), US Maersk, Hamburg Sud bite the bullet on ANZ/ECNA route

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MARCH 18, 2008
CMA CGM profit hike 'operational' Growth in revenues per teu outpacing growth in costs key to 58% leap in annual profit at French boxship giant. Not just ships Navios Maritime Holdings president Ted Petrone says Horamar buy does not reflect on Navios' view of the bulker market. Panayotides heads the party US-listed dry-bulk owners see stocks recover today ahead of expected cut in interest rates. Tanker prices firm Charles Weber projects manager says resale and newbuilding tanker prices should remain at historic highs, for now. UK holds six Superfast Ferries vessel and smaller bulk carriers make the MCA's detentions list in February. Sovcomflot steps on gas Russian tanker owner's annual profit up as it signs transport deal with Gazprom. Odfjell tanker in Brazil spill Handymax on charter to Norwegian owner suffers technical failure and crashes into object spilling cylinder oil. Hurtigruten investors worried Narvik-based shareholders meet with lender DNB Nor to discuss struggling ferry group's future. Manager mum on 'drunk' crew charges Malta-flagged ship under no-sail order in Maryland after pilots find some crew intoxicated. Excel exceeds expectations Gabriel Panayotides-led Excel Maritime Carriers sees profits boosted by high returns from its panamax vessels. Maersk sells slots CMA CGM brought on board as it axes CSCL tie-up in transatlantic trade. Crew shortages cost TEN A lack of qualified seafarers and the euro's rise against the dollar take some of the shine from tanker owner's full-year figures. Svitzer Korsakov freed Ransom said to have been paid as Russian newbuilding tug seized off Somalia in February sets sail. Rumour steadies rocking stocks Talk of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates saves European and Asian shipping shares from following US in downward trend. Ferry passengers saved Philippines vessel towed to safety after losing power off Cebu. Grindrod bulks up South African owner lengthens supply chain with purchase of Bay Stevedores. TUI back in black Michael Frenzel-led shipping and tourism group announces return to profit in 2007 as it looks to hive off Hapag-Lloyd. Kirby raises guidance US tank-barge giant says demand is growing, pushing up likely first quarter profit. Swissco goes to Indonesia Alex Yeo says increased political stability made new shipowning joint-venture possible. Saevik wants Aker break-up Norwegian shareholder says splitting shipbuilder into four companies would almost double its value. Fisher feeling fine UK group grows 2007 profit partly thanks to solid performance from its tankers. Fisher eyes more management Chairman Tim Harris says UK owner to make more use of operational expertise to build ship management business. Cosco Busan pilot charged Pilot of containership that hit San Francisco bridge faces possible 18 months in jail and $100,000 in fines. GE continues cull Indian owner sells elderly bulker as departure of ageing vessels goes on. Seadrill steps it up Fredriksen outfit ramps up its pursuit of SapuraCrest with largest share acquisition to date. Environmental challenges At CMA's Shipping 2008, Chamber of Shipping of America president says that to face environmental image problems, shipping will have to clean up its discharges. Touting US seafarers US maritime administrator says there's demand out there for US seafarers. Mercator fixes Kamsarmax Indian owner's Singapore-listed operation fixes out bulker for up to 13 months to Siba Ships. Dutt replaced at PST Boss of Singapore's first shipping trust replaced after less than two years by ex-APL logistics man. DMC on its way Dubai Maritime City's business development director says the maritime cluster's industrial segment is months from completion.

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MARCH 18, 2008
TUI bows to pressure by agreeing to Hapag-Lloyd breakup Hapag-Lloyd makes a comeback Maersk, CMA CGM now agree transatlantic tie-up Hapag-Lloyd details U.S. reorganization Insurer: Cost of stowaways rising as numbers fall Cathay Pacific unit to build terminal at Hong Kong International AMI acquires South African air freight consolidator CSX sues hedge fund, issues strong earnings guidance ATA seeks action on crippling fuel prices Minnesota shipper fined $400,000 for export violations SDV opens Cincinnati office CEVA hires Levesque L.A. port releases details of employee-only truck plan, votes Thursday ILWU and PMA begin contract talks SoCal ports slam ATA request in letter to FMC Oakland port to adopt air pollution plan Port of Savannah upgrades container berth Stowaways get by guards in Halifax

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MARCH 18, 2008
Svitzer tug released from hi-jackers The hi-jacked tug Svitzer Korsakov has been released by the Somalia pirates, that took over the command of the ship on February 1. According to spokesman Jens Viby Mogensen from Em. Z. Svitzer, the release came after a ransome ... Troubled Hurtigruten causes crisis meeting Four Narvik based shareholders in Hurtigruten, the Coastal Express ferry and cruise service running along the Norwegian coast ' Narvik Energi, Narvig Havn, Sparbanken Narvik and Narvik Kommune ' has had a meeting with the bank DNB Nor, that is a large ... DNV fleet reaches all time high The fleet classed by Det Norske Veritas, DNV, has never been larger than now. By the end of last year, DNV classed 5,400 vessels of 121 million gross tons. DNV reports NOK 8.126 milllion (USD 1.383 million) in ...

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MARCH 18, 2008
Cylinder oil spill off Brazil Odfjell tanker in mooring collision, rupturing two tanks. Pilot charged over oil spill Fines and jail time possible as federal laws brought into play. Kenya: General Manager resigns Bunker market report from Praxis Gazprom Neft buys Baltic port assets CEO says acquisitions will enable the company to expand its bunker fuel business. UK fishermen in petition to even out bunker cost Says oil companies should be forced to provide bunker fuel at the same cost regardless of location. Rotterdam market firming again after yesterday's late dip Nippon Oil to acquire rival refiner Output of bonded bunkers from the two refiners could change after merger. Fuel oil leaks from Total refinery Loire river affected by fuel oil leak during loading operation at Donges refinery.