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Shipping News

Hi-tech solutions on the high seas
THE confluence of various factors in the shipping industry has led to the rising prominence as well as importance of maritime digital communications. It's not usual to think about an IT strategy for the maritime industry because it is synonymous with rusty, dirty ships.
Riding on the crest of maritime reform
AT the conclusion of the recent annual gathering of the Global Shippers Forum in Montreal, Canada, the issue at the top of the agenda was maritime reform.
Rouen gets big wheat load in Iran trade
The French port of Rouen carried out its biggest loading of wheat in over 15 years last week, port authorities said on Monday, in the latest sign of revived grain trade with Iran.
Singamas sees '08 profit, but tough outlook
Asia-Pacific transport firms' credit quality under pressure

Strait Talk

Liner shipping vs EU - again
I UNDERSTAND there was quite some party thrown in London last Friday night as the staff of the main liner conferences 'celebrated' losing their jobs. The conferences became illegal within the European Union on the stroke of midnight Saturday, ending some 130 years of collective tariff setting on the world's trade routes. The conference secretariats that until the very end issued all those terminal charge and currency and adjustment factor changes - and, of course, freight rate 'restorations' - no longer exist.

web site

Shipping News

Hi-tech solutions on the high seas
THE confluence of various factors in the shipping industry has led to the rising prominence as well as importance of maritime digital communications. It's not usual to think about an IT strategy for the maritime industry because it is synonymous with rusty, dirty ships.
Riding on the crest of maritime reform
AT the conclusion of the recent annual gathering of the Global Shippers Forum in Montreal, Canada, the issue at the top of the agenda was maritime reform.
Rouen gets big wheat load in Iran trade
The French port of Rouen carried out its biggest loading of wheat in over 15 years last week, port authorities said on Monday, in the latest sign of revived grain trade with Iran.
Singamas sees '08 profit, but tough outlook
Asia-Pacific transport firms' credit quality under pressure

Strait Talk

Liner shipping vs EU - again
I UNDERSTAND there was quite some party thrown in London last Friday night as the staff of the main liner conferences 'celebrated' losing their jobs. The conferences became illegal within the European Union on the stroke of midnight Saturday, ending some 130 years of collective tariff setting on the world's trade routes. The conference secretariats that until the very end issued all those terminal charge and currency and adjustment factor changes - and, of course, freight rate 'restorations' - no longer exist.

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Maersk's Boomerang service starts Chiwan calls MOL tests LNG-fuel on shore power supply on box ship China's SME forwarders target Africa, C Asia, C Europe DHS chief pleads for understanding for 100pc scan delay Iran's Bandar Abbas port up 15pc to 1.44 million TEU DB Schenker launches Trans Eurasia Express weekly rail service Century-old Royal Navy navigation manual re-issued in 10th edition Finns introduce special containers to ship steel coils Pirate ransoms risk 'catastrophic loss': Lloyd's underwriters Shanghai Hongqiao to Chengdu air express service is launched Sichuan provincial authorities set new air terminal rate standards US and Vietnam sign open-skies agreement on air cargo Kuehne + Nagel to handle airfreight for MAEL's spares, equipment

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Glimmer of hope for offshore drilling industry Exports to Pak grind to a halt No banking on L/Cs now Port union leaders hold meeting in Kolkata Rija reaching peak capacity at Mumbai Port Ore fines loading record set at Mormugao Port DB Schenker aeroparts displays its 'flying colours' in service variants at Begumpet Airport Aviation Expo Ficci asks Japan to abolish tariffs to boost trade EPCES chief asks all states to enact SEZ Act to attract investments CMIE estimates put GDP growth at 8.7 pc in 2008-09

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Ceva promotes Hurley, appoints Brand as global automotive director "Lash down your cranes!" warns TT Club Miami welcomes back Surinam Airways Kuehne + Nagel to acquire French groupage provider Alloin Bridgestone expanding storage facility in Belgium Port Management and Logistics, 27-29 October in Portoroz (Slovenia)

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Cargo ship hijacked Euronav's "outstanding" quarter Arctic study

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Gibraltar in pollution plan push FEDRA grounding highlights need for a comprehensive new pollution contingency plan for the whole of Gibraltar. Police arrest Fedra crew after grounding Ecsa to meet Brussels over clean fuels rules EUROPEAN shipowners to lobby transport commission to discuss fears IMO's sulphur rules will drive freight onto roads. Nobu Su steps down from Star Bulk board SU quits as a director of Star Bulk Carriers to 'devote more time to other business interests'.

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
RBS: banks will rebuild in 2009 BANKS affected by the credit crunch "will resurface in 2010 after spending a quiet year rebuilding their capital," Lambros Varnavides, head of RBS's shipping division, predicted today Study to assess Arctic stress IMPACT of ice loads on Arctic-class shuttle tankers will be jointly studied by ABS, ConocoPhillips, Sovcomflot and Samsung Heavy Industries Star Bulk-Su divorce proceeds STAR BULK Carriers and Taiwan shipping magnate Nobu Su continue to unwind their relationship, with Su resigning from Star Bulk's board yesterday New World Alliance slashes capacity SLACK traffic growth and depressed freight rates on the Far East/Europe trade have prompted the New World Alliance to cut back slot capacity in the trade by almost 25% Coal markets cautiously optimistic SENTIMENT in world coal markets is cautiously optimistic, according to panellists polled at Coaltrans 2008 ICE plans for coal futures contracts ICE FUTURES Europe is planning to introduce two new coal futures trading contracts in response to market demand MUA to set up own training initiative MARITIME Union of Australia is to set up a registered independent training company because it despairs of seeing a co-ordinated national skills programme for the shipping industry

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
APL cutting key capacity by 20-25 percent Eighth-largest container carrier slashing vessel capacity on major east-west shipping lanes, restructuring service network. Intermodal helps Canadian National profits move higher Justice Dept. backs appeal of port trucks plan Waterfront employers want FMC to rule on clean trucks Maersk Line lowers Mideast-Africa fuel surcharges YRC Worldwide issues shares to pay down debt Export ABCs: Notes from National DEC Conference Greatwide Logistics sold Rotterdam growth to slow New Exel US unit CEO Mariner pleads guilty in Coast Guard license case

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Maersk implements 'simple, consistent, fair' THCs in Europe APL leads the way with significant global capacity cuts Smithfield selects Kewill COSCO celebrates first container trade Bahrain pins hopes on Khalifa Bin Salman

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Back in the black Arlington Tankers turns around last year's loss and beats analyst expectations. Topical toons Fixtures for free, economic crisis and black humour about the piracy threat are inspiring readers in TradeWinds great Cartoon Caper contest. Yard out $80m A federal judge in Florida awards former Curacao Drydock workers $80m in slavery case. OSV goes online Bollinger Shipyards CEO tells TradeWinds Web TV that his yard will auction its latest newbuilding online. US stocks dip US shipping stocks follow Dow Jones in a down day on Wall Street, although losses are milder than in recent drops. Euronav surges Belgian tanker owner triples nine-month profits, performs better than third-quarter projections and is upbeat for the rest of the year. APL axes capacity NOL unit slashes Asia-Europe run by 25% and suspends other services due to "challenging conditions". Not so fast Judge orders Energy Infrastructure Acquisition Corp to hold onto $6m of the funds it plans to pay back to shareholders amid battle with Fred Cheng. Pirates arrested Puntland troops once again step in to free Indian vessel and 13 crew seized at the weekend. Dividends lift two OceanFreight shares soar and Navios Partners' units grow after both bulker owners stand firm on shareholder payouts. B+H buys back Michael Hudner-led owner offers throw down up to $3m to buy up its own shares. CSDC earns more Hong Kong-listed owner posts higher profit in first three quarters, a time when bulker rates were soaring. Tawe refloated Svitzer frees Maruba bulker from Algeciras Bay after it grounded in a storm 10 days ago. Another hijacking Reports indicate small Indian vessel with 13 crew members seized en route from Asia to Somalia. Arms bust Thousands of blasting caps and fuses found smuggled on board Montenegro Shipping ferry in Philippines. SYMS to sell Struggling Chinese line will offload five boxships to Grand China Logistics, instead of being bought out. Brazilian bounty Dof takes Brazilian AHTS charters to $582m in less than a month after latest three-ship deal with Petrobras. Malacca maxed Malaysia wants a cap on number of ships using vital waterway to keep cost of ensuring safety down. Nobu quits Star TMT boss to stand down from board of Star Bulk Carriers to concentrate on own business. No more buys FSL Trust says it has no further acquisition plans for 2008, to concentrate on sustaining dividend. Smashing time Vector Offshore supply ship botches berth shift at Aberdeen and sinks three pleasure craft, accident report finds. Ezra fixes four Singapore offshore firm secures employment for four ships, but is sketchy when it comes to specifics. Merger binned Kristian Siem's Subsea 7 and fellow Norwegian offshore player Acergy terminate merger plans. Arzew LNG delay Algeria's Sonatrach declares force majeure on some shipments out of Arzew plant over cracked pipe. Oz tax boost Australian parliamentary report recommends tonnage tax regime to revitalise fading domestic industry More hurt Norwegian line Hurtigruten to lay up its Vesteralen ferry as financial pressure continues. Guns for hire US military contractor offers protection to ships passing through piracy ridden Gulf of Aden. Ferry furore Philippines owner Montenegro Shipping stopped from sailing from Caticlan after row over lack of permits.

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
APL strips 20%-25% capacity from transpacific, Asia/Europe Ice loads on new Arctic class tankers tested Economic worries won't affect Indian fleet expansion Maersk to cut Asia/Latin America capacity OOCL reports increase in volumes, revenue Airlines adapt to new air cargo security hurdle Cathay shareholder unveils huge currency related losses FedEx Express to build largest solar-powered facility outside U.S China official: Strengthen currency, diversity markets, raise quality CBP cracks down on late duty payments via ACE Vietnamese dragon fruit arrives in U.S. DHX opens new freight facility on Hawaiian Big Island Wash. court rules Seattle port must pay cancelled union benefits Richmond port moves forward with auto terminal expansion

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Fjord Line leaves Kristiansand The shipping company Fjord Line will discontinue its operations from Kristiansand next year. The port management in Kristiansand demands that Fjord Line must offer year-round ferry service if the company wants to use the port ' as a consequence the ... Kystlink closes down ferry service The Norwegian ferry operator Nye Kystlink AS closes down its service from Langesund to Hirtshals and Str'mstad and liquidates the company. The last sailing on the service will take place on October 21. The board of directors failed to find ...

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OCTOBER 21, 2008
Demand for fuel oil falling Russian fuel oil supplier says Q4 demand is down as global economy continues to slow. Polish player offers additional grade Bunker supplier says 'clean and bright' product available. WTSA adopts Bunkerworld prices New site features allowing access to weekly prices for calculating fuel surcharge. Global bunker market report Changes afoot at TRT Bunkers Bunker manager leaving at the end of October. Bunkers firming in key Asian ports Prices in Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo showed strong gains on Tuesday. Gregory leaves BP Marine Don Gregory ends 20 years of service as BP moves 'Back to Petroleum'. Rotterdam barge market very quiet ConocoPhillips snaps up ExxonMobil cargo Purchase said to reflect intention to build up presence in Asia. Bominflot expands to Panama Expansion planned from initial offering at Balboa. Bunkers partially removed from sinking Panama freighter The New Oriental was carrying iron ore cargo and about 500 mt of bunker oil when hit reefs. Hambantota port stirs investment interests Private investors have submitted requests to set up business in the region. Fallout predicted from market turbulence Credit crisis could be 'final straw' for smaller companies say industry executives. Singapore bunker market 'well-positioned' ExxonMobil will 'continue to invest' in Singapore's marine fuels market.