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Shipping News

US seamen are being trained to fend off pirates
With an alarming number of tankers and cargo ships getting hijacked on the high seas, US maritime academies are offering more training to merchant seamen in how to fend off attacks from pirates armed not with cutlasses and flintlocks but automatic weapons and grenade launchers.
Baltic Dry Index posts 10th straight gain
The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of shipping costs for commodities, posted a 10th consecutive advance as the end of China's New Year break spurred activity.
Greek farmers in fresh clashes with police at port
Greek riot police clashed with protesting farmers at the port of Piraeus for a second day yesterday, firing tear gas to disperse crowds trying to push through a police blockade.
PSA staff confident of getting through storm together
US shipping sector runs short of young sailors
Changing with the times the DNV way

Strait Talk

Open season for seamen
FEW people in shipping will not have heard of the 'London Greeks', a UK-based expatriate community that has long been prominent in the tramp trades and shipbroking.

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Shipping News

US seamen are being trained to fend off pirates
With an alarming number of tankers and cargo ships getting hijacked on the high seas, US maritime academies are offering more training to merchant seamen in how to fend off attacks from pirates armed not with cutlasses and flintlocks but automatic weapons and grenade launchers.
Baltic Dry Index posts 10th straight gain
The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of shipping costs for commodities, posted a 10th consecutive advance as the end of China's New Year break spurred activity.
Greek farmers in fresh clashes with police at port
Greek riot police clashed with protesting farmers at the port of Piraeus for a second day yesterday, firing tear gas to disperse crowds trying to push through a police blockade.
PSA staff confident of getting through storm together
US shipping sector runs short of young sailors
Changing with the times the DNV way

Strait Talk

Open season for seamen
FEW people in shipping will not have heard of the 'London Greeks', a UK-based expatriate community that has long been prominent in the tramp trades and shipbroking.

	web site

East-west capacity falls 15pc in last six months New World and Grand Alliance suspend Black Sea service CSAV to cut Asia-North America as losses forecast for 2009 Federal Maritime Commission against TSA capacity deals Maersk Line cuts capacity on WestMed through service revamp Hanjin container division suffers 19pc profit decline Port of Zhanjiang capacity to reach 150 million tonnes in 2011 Port Tracker: Weak US container import volumes fall 17 months straight Port of Taicang container volume surges 42pc in 2008 'K' Line launches new Cape Town to West Africa loop India-Europe ocean freight rate plunges by half CN closes deal to acquire EJ&E Railway in Chicago DP World's container throughput rises 15pc in 2008 Aviation industry fears air cargo screening will cost them dear Lufthansa Cargo and Jettainer test greener lightweight containers IATA demands new industrial rights as air cargo plunges 22pc

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Sahil Freight stalls at CTL IMEX evoke immense interest TKPL ships four 85-tonne power transformers from Jakarta to Malaysia Navy to instal anti-aircraft guns on MbPT land at Ballard Pier Multifunctional Port of Antwerp seeks to consolidate & expand Easier Line of Control travel permits sought to facilitate border trade Freight decline forces Lufthansa Cargo to clip working hours Rail freight rate hike bites deeply into budgeting plans Greenport may tie up with Dutch firm to provide food parks infrastructure services Website started to list gains of using longer, bigger trucks Slower export deceleration in December raises hopes ...but January figures sink hopes Manufactured goods sector worst affected, avers Fieo CCEA gives nod for change in sugar import policy Empowerment panel to put SEZs on fast track $ 166-m Exim Bank credit extended to Ethiopia CBEC order on Cenvat credit may help companies save crores of rupees

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FEBRUARY 2, 2009
Sea-Cargo starts twice weekly Esbjerg-Amsterdam service The Norwegian shipping company Sea-Cargo started a new twice weekly service between Esbjerg (No) and Amsterdam (NL) on 1 February. The new sailing will increase the capacity to/fro... Port of Koper new entry point for Indian cargo? The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is interested in establishing a new regular line from Mumbai to the port of Koper (Slovenia). Shipping lines that pass through the Suez Cana... Port of Duisburg handles 1 million teu In spite of an economic climate which was particularly difficult in Q4, the port of Duisburg (duisport, Germany) was able to increase its container throughput to 1 million teu in 2... Etihad names environment manager Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has appointed a manager for environment questions. The newly-created position has been entrusted t... Tschudi and Barel enter the Russian market The Norwegian firms Tschudi Logistics AS, Oslo, and Barel AS, Kirkenes, are to establish a joint logistics venture that will provide logistics solutions, including customs clearanc... DPWN joins World Business Council for Sustainable Development Deutsche Post World Net (DPWN) has joined the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). The international organization seeks practical approaches to balancin... Woodland appointed UK agent for Mitsubishi Logistics Full-service freight forwarder Woodland International Transport Co Ltd has been appointed UK and Ireland agent by Mitsubishi Logistics Corporation, one of the world's leading suppl...

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
Bosphorus Prodigy "released" Wilhelmsen sells Dubai-based shipmanager New World and Grand Alliance pull Black Sea service Trailer Bridge expects revenue dip Coral Sea mate dies

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
V.Ships buys International Tanker Management New approach to lifeboat launching DryShips in loan restructuring agreement

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Senator Line calls it a day in the face of impossible conditions HANJIN Shipping's German subsidiary, Senator Lines said on Wednesday that its shareholders had decided to call a halt to its liner services with immediate effect. Fortescue settles shipping contract dispute with Bocimar FORTESCUE Metals Group has settled its shipping contract dispute with Bocimar issuing $22m in shares to the Belgian shipowner, and is entering into a new joint venture. Operators hail cross-strait tax exemption TAIWANESE operators welcomed China's decision to make income from cross-strait direct shipping services exempt from business tax and corporate income tax.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
Bourse shrugs off China job warning CHINA'S investors were in a positive mood after the Lunar New Year break ' despite Bejing's estimate that up to 20M workers might lose their jobs their year Russian crude exports in sharp fall THE LATEST export data released in Moscow shows that exports of Russian crude through Transneft's system to non-CIS countries dropped 5.1% last month, from January 2008 Spanish rescue 77 from 'death boat' CANARY Islands authorities said today crews have rescued 77 West African migrants off a 'death boat'

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
TUI mulls loan to Hapag-Lloyd investors German parent company said post-sale loan to investment group would ensure liquidity of world's fifth-largest liner operator Galveston revenue off Idle fleet hits 800K TEUs Virginia port expands aid program for truck purchases UPS: Difficult year ahead Former P&O executive hired as Vancouver port boss APHIS extends phase-in for Lacey Act enforcement Lines drop Black Sea loops "K" Line sets Africa service Arcade pulls box ship deal SAS drops freighter service

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
Idle 'fleet' soars to 300 boxships Port Metro Vancouver container cargo resists downturn Latest downturn casualty: GA and NWA Asia-Black Sea K Line makes African link SB profits tumble; share price down

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
DryShips surges Shares in George Economou-led bulker owner jump by nearly 25% after bank waives covenants. UAE ship seized? Unnamed vessel owned by Al Rashid Shipping is reportedly missing and feared seized in Somali waters. French pirate hunt Dramatic Web TV footage shows French military helicopter firing warning shots at suspected pirates. Feeder game over Arcade Acquisition's $262m deal with Dimitris Delacouras' Palmosa to buy 10 boxships collapses under the weight of market conditions. Covenants waived DryShips and Piraeus Bank redraw loan agreements following a trio of failed vessel sales. 'Highly dilutive' Analyst cuts EPS estimates on OceanFreight after offering threatens dilution and appears aimed to pay Economou early. Ferries find home Four 1927-built ferries receive $650,000 bid from real estate firm in second round of bidding. Samsung hit IOPC slaps $200m claim on Samsung Heavy Industries in Chinese court over Hebei Spirit spill. Red letter day China to set aside cash in financial stimulus package for nation's shipbuilders struggling with orders. Bank boost Norwegian ferry group Hurtigruten wins loan deferrals up to 2012 and will now press ahead with rights issue. Release confirmed Turkish owner Isko Marine confirms Bosphorus Prodigy is free but subject of ransom not broached. V.Ships buys ITM World's largest shipmanager wins battle for control of Wilhelmsen Ship Management tanker unit. Tender trap Passengers left high and dry near Australian island after tender from cruiseship Athena grounds on sandbar. Back in business Island Offshore signs five-year deal for PSV axed by insolvent Oilexco last month. Limited exposure Nordea resumes its coverage of Karl Johan Bakken-led Farstad with a "strong buy" rating and a thumbs up for its lack of newbuilding activity. Pilot pickle Scandlines ferry hit lighthouse during botched manoeuvre to disembark pilot off Denmark, report finds. Chart blunder German boxship grounded on Papua New Guinea reef after deviating from recommended route, accident report shows. Custodia cuts Danish bulker operator's chartered fleet shrinks as clients pull out of deals in credit crunch. PSV sale flops India's Garware Offshore fails to offload the 3,297-dwt Mana after Nigerian buyer pulls out of the deal. Pay pain Workers at Ghana's Tema Shipyard to be docked three days' wages for "illegal" strike. Turkish ship freed Bosphorus Prodigy said to be the latest vessel to be released off Somalia, no word on ransom. Half way there US-listed boxship player Seaspan Corp sells preferred shares to founders for $100m. Hanjin motors South Korean owner Hanjin Shipping steps on the gas in 2008 despite final quarter being the pits. Ro-ro hopes Japan's Kuribayashi Steamship on target to beat last year's annual result despite nine-month profit dip. Hapag aid Container line's German parent to lend cash even after it is sold, to ensure liquidity in tough markets. Precious offloads Thai shipowner continues clear out of elderly tonnage with sale of third ship in two months. African link K Line launches four feederships on route between South and West Africa. Erria grows Danish tanker owner adds another nine chemical carrier newbuildings to commercial management arm. Emissions down The US port of Long Beach claims to have reduced hazardous emissions despite a jump in cargo volumes. Out of action Shiploader at Queensland coal port is out of operation after being damaged during severe weather. Boskalis is back Dutch dredging group reignites talk of a takeover of Smit after buying a further 5% of its shares.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
TUI may aid Hapag-Lloyd after purchase Hanjin: 2008 profit up, caution about 2009 UPS: "Weakest LTL environment in decades" NAFTA trade suffers biggest fall since 9/11 D.C. bill targets winter driving issue Braman joins barge carrier EU decries "Buy American" rules in stimulus Senate GOP trying smaller stimulus option NFTC to start IP rights forum APM ends contract at Kingston

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German yards suffer in financial turmoil According to the German Shipbuilders' Association (Verband für Schiffbau und Meerestechnik e.V.) the domestic yard industry signed newbuilding contracts for 46 vessels in 2008 ' it's the lowest order intake since Turkish cargo vessel freed The Turkish cargo vessel Bosphorus Prodigy, built in 1985 and 3,840 DWT, and its crew of eleven, is said to be released, international media reports. The vessel was seized on Hurtigruten financial strategy backed by banks The creditors of Norwegian ferry/cruise operator Hurtigruten have agreed to move NOK 1.7 billion in loan payments due between March this year and December 2011 to March 2012 Wilhelmsen sells ITM to V.Ships Wilhelmsen Ship Management has sold International Tanker Management, ITM till V.Ships. ITM is technical manager for some 45 tankers. The Dubia-based company has offices also in Hamburg, Singapore and

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FEBRUARY 3, 2009
Call for 'climate duty' on bunkers Danish minister suggests duties on fuel as part of post-Kyoto deal. European bunker prices slump Strong demand as Rotterdam buyers see falling market. Tallinn sees fuel oil exports grow Russian fuel oil exports through Estonia were up in January. Iran to export more fuel oil Mild winter has left Iran with product to spare, say traders. Asia to Black Sea liner service suspended All eight vessels to be taken out of service in response to global economic slowdown. Report predicts fall in bunker demand New study predicting slow demand recovery, widening sulphur price differential. Bunker prices continue to weaken Asian prices slide following Monday's drop in crude oil futures. ExxonMobil offers late-February cargo Tender for the cargo to close on Wednesday. OPEC cuts 'largely theoretical' Surplus stocks 'weighing heavily on the market'. ExxonMobil may withdraw from Australia's bunker market Company continues to sell MGO but may soon exit the market completely. Dan-Bunkering welcomes new trader Adani appoints director It recently handed its bunkering business to its joint venture company. Hong Kong supply tightness worsens Cargo arrivals mostly committed, leaving the spot market dry