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Shipping News

Making a good port great
IN today's high-tech world, the maritime industry is generally considered a laggard. But given the phenomenal growth in sea trade over the past decade, this is changing fast.
KL wants greater use of technology in fighting piracy
More attention should be given to the role of technology in order to sustain the efforts towards combating security threats in the Strait of Malacca, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.
Next yacht race to be more exciting: Volvo
The next edition of the Volvo yacht race in 2011-2012 will be shorter and less costly and will have more entries, in order to be more competitive and hopefully more exciting for the public, organisers said on Monday.

Strait Talk

Cautious optimism for shipping services
SO, just how bad has the shipping services sector got? The answer, it seems, may well be, 'Not quite as bad as you may have thought'.

web site

Shipping News

Making a good port great
IN today's high-tech world, the maritime industry is generally considered a laggard. But given the phenomenal growth in sea trade over the past decade, this is changing fast.
KL wants greater use of technology in fighting piracy
More attention should be given to the role of technology in order to sustain the efforts towards combating security threats in the Strait of Malacca, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said.
Next yacht race to be more exciting: Volvo
The next edition of the Volvo yacht race in 2011-2012 will be shorter and less costly and will have more entries, in order to be more competitive and hopefully more exciting for the public, organisers said on Monday.

Strait Talk

Cautious optimism for shipping services
SO, just how bad has the shipping services sector got? The answer, it seems, may well be, 'Not quite as bad as you may have thought'.

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Maersk spurns shipping to invest in high yield oil, terminals Swire drops trade lane after 100 years, ends Eastabout Round-the-World SCI-MSC India-north Europe service calls at Hamburg Finland's Containerships expands Mediterranean capacity Chinese Rizhao port's throughput hit a record high in May NCR appoints DHL to manage service parts Hong Kong hub US International Trade Commission blames China for tyre dumping Oakland to ban dirty trucks to cut diesel pollution US textile makers blame duty dodgers sneaking in cheap yarn DSV scraps plans to acquire DFDS over EU anti-trust probe Far East-Med services cut 24pc in last year, not by half ICBC earmarks US$3 billion to finance Tianjin's Airbus plant China Eastern reportedly acquiring Shanghai Airlines in share swap Qantas A330 flight hits turbulence between HK-Perth, injuring 7 Amerijet acquires central Asian companies SRX Transcontinental Lufthansa, Deutsche Post expect difficulties in air cargo

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CMA CGM announces rate restoration on India/Pak & Europe trades Cargotec unveils new brand strategy Cargotec launches Kalmar UniQ' Analysts sceptical of rapid brightening of box shipping scenario CMA CGM offers upgraded service between Asia & MidEast Sesa Goa to export 5 lakh tonnes of ore fines Handicrafts body seeks ban on Chinese imports Apeda to impose stricter quality norms for g'nut exports FA & CAOs' key roles in port developments brought to fore Hassan's ex-im trade convinced of NM Port as ideal gateway DP World posts Capt. Anil Singh at helm of Subcontinent Region Draft MPRAA 2009 finalised AeroLogic begins operations KPCHAA seeks streamlining of ship crew's visa verification norms ...urges suspension of stamp duty on import consignments Budget to please all-Montek Smaller SEZs march ahead of bigger ones MSME sector mainly dogged by funds constraints-Minister Amidst global gloom, World Bank sees GDP growth of 8 pc in 2010 Talk on India, SA ties at IMC on June 29

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JUNE 23, 2009
Germany's Paul Günther leasing firm files for bankruptcy Hamburg-based German company Paul Günther, a leading European container chassis leaser, has filed for bankruptcy, with the procedure expected to lead to the firm being restructured... Sales figures up, operational result down for GLS The Amsterdam-based pan-European parcel, express and logistics service provider General Logistics Systems (GLS) improved its sales figures in 2008/2009 by 2.4% to EUR 1.8 billion, ... EU funding Lithuanian logistics centre infrastructure work The EU is providing Lithuania with around LTL 220 million (approximately USD 90 million) from its cohesion fund for the infrastructure work in planned logistics centres in Vilnius,... FedEx registers large loss in Q4 The US CEP and logistics service provider FedEx made a big loss of USD 876 million in the fourth quarter (to the end of May), with revenues standing at USD 7.85 billion, down by 20... FM Logistic opens FMCG facility in Poland The French contract logistics specialist FM Logistic recently opened a new 10,000 sqm fast-moving consumer goods logistics facility in Olszowa in the city of Ujazd (Poland), betwee... K Line participating in ultra-deepwater drillship project Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, Mitsui & Co, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha and Japan Drilling (J4) have announced that J4 has agreed to participate in a project for an ultra-deepwater drill... Hamburg Süd appoints new agency in Poland The company Safe Shipping will be taking over Hamburg Süd and Aliança's agency operations in Poland on 1 July. The agency has succeeded Morska Agencja Gdynia, with whom Hamburg S'd... Maersk increases Asia-New Zealand rates Maersk Line recently increased rates on services from northeastern and Southeast Asia to New Zealand, including links from South Korea, Russia, PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, M... Emirates' Mercator stages e-freight summit in Dubai Mercator, a Dubai-based business technology provider and part of the Emirates Group, recently held its first cargo event to showcase its latest cargo innovation, SkyChain. The orga...

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JUNE 23, 2009
ECSA backs Rotterdam Rules One dead on released Marathon Komrowski takes over Blue Star Profits down at Sanko

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JUNE 23, 2009
Northrop Grumman gets $214 million LLTM award for LPD 26 J.F. Lehman buys Drew Marine Parliamentary report slams U.K. destroyer program blunders WSF gets $200,000 for Steel Electric ferries One crewmember dead, one injured, aboard ship released by pirates Bidding war for Great Offshore

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JUNE 23, 2009
Grimaldi holds its own in the Mediterranean Grimaldi adds 10% in cargo revenues and 15% for passengers in short-sea market. Pirates to release Belgian dredger Pompei and its 10-man crew could be free within the week after $2.8m ransom agreed.

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JUNE 23, 2009
China newbuild orders slump NEWBUILDING orders at Chinese yards have dropped drastically compared to last year according to the Ministry of Industry and Information. Orders secured for the five months ending May 2009 amounted to 1.18M dwt, 96% down compared to the corresponding period in 2008 Stay clear of Wonsan, N Korea NORTH Korea warned ships today to stay away from its eastern port of Wonsan starting on Thursday, during tests of a short-range missile Fleet Management in crosshairs FLEET Management, which operated the Cosco Busan during the November 2007 San Francisco Bay spill, has lost a crucial argument in its attempt to avert huge fines Liners decline at record levels BOX LINES have suffered a record decline in 1Q09 revenues, according to a report by shipbrokers Barry Rogliano Salles ME box volumes fall 16% MIDDLE East container volumes have fallen by 16% this year compared to last, APL executive Euguene Seroka told Emirates Business magazine today Ship rescued off South Africa THE BULKER Kiran is being towed safely along the South African coast today after drifting on to rocks during last night's extreme storms

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JUNE 23, 2009
Nippon Cargo Airlines Freezes Fleet Expansion Senators Push for Rail Safety Tech Grants Manufacturers Back U.S. Complaints Against China U.S., Europe Seek WTO Help With Chinese Export Restraints Truckers Take Aim at Oil Speculators Newsome Named CEO of South Carolina Ports CN Makes Progress on Chicago Short Line Judge Rejects Operator's Bid in Cosco Busan Spill Evergreen to Scrap Old Ships Maersk Chief Projects 10 Percent Box Dropoff CMA CGM Upgrades Asia-Middle East Service Aqaba Terminal Scores Record Throughput Shipping Investment Fund to Launch in Hamburg

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JUNE 23, 2009
ICG to cross the bridge? Aqaba Container Terminal to be expanded Swire consolidates to core trades Stocks hit by new doubts ATA fights oil speculation

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JUNE 23, 2009
Eastwind 13 sold Nordea takes control and sells off chunk of New York's Eastwind Group, including 13 ships, to Sammy Ofer's Samama. 'Last resort' Nordea banker discusses taking over Eastwind ships, as a bulker is arrested in pursuit of claims against the troubled New York owner. Gard downgraded Failure to cut investment risk costs Norwegian insurance group market leading A+ rating. Ransom for $1.3m Pirates get rich reward for freeing cargoship where seafarer died. Komrowski buys Hambug-based shipping group buys AP Moller-Maersk's German shipmanagement arm, Reederei Blue Star. Casualty file Titan Salvage monitors a grounded reefer off Norway and a tanker explodes in WebTV's smash-up roundup. $100m pier Jamaican government and Carnival planning a revamp of Ocho Rios pier for mining cargoes and cruiseships. Princess crippled Fire damage to Princess Cruises' Royal Princess is worse than at first expected. Cheers! Beer and ships combine to produce "pleasant" profit for Dr Oetker. Summer relief Reactivation of liner services reduces laid-up container fleet but there is more pain for non-operating owners. Three held Good Faith bulker and Tschudi tug among detained vessels in Hong Kong during May. Back for more Stamford Drilling takes its stake in Cecon to 12.37% only a week after its first raid on the stock. SLK axes Slovakian shipyard to lay off 198 out of 685 workers in shipping downturn. Slowcat Fastcat-Ryde ferry grounds off UK as it tries to pick a way through yacht race. Big hit Japan's Taiheiyo Kaiun increases first-half loss forecast by JPY4bn after scrapping bulker charters. Dutch ship freed Somali pirates free general cargo vessel but release brings news of death of crewman. UBS' $65m swoop Financial giant splashes out to take a 5% share in Jon Erik Reinhardsen-led Petroleum Geo-Services ABG joins fray Indian shipyard counters rival Bharati's offer for big chunk of Great Offshore. Four sold Washington State Ferries finally offloads 1920s-built ferries to Californian breaker. Games gain NCL charters Norwegian Star as floating hotel for next year's Vancouver Winter Olympics. FMG hopeful Australian mining group plans second port as it tries to resolve remaining charter disputes with bulker owners. Greens grabbed Police arrest four remaining protestors who stormed British-managed bulker on the River Medway. Sanko profit dips Japanese owner's annual result falls, but tankers compensate for slump in bulker earnings. China crisis New ship orders plunge 96% at Chinese shipyards in first five months of 2009. Big John tops up Norwegian tycoon lifts holding in Golar LNG with $1m share swoop less than a month after taking over the operational reigns. Navios cape coup Angeliki Frangou-led bulker operator acquires four capesize newbuildings for about $80m each. No improvement Singapore liner operator sees year-on-year declines in both volumes and average rates of over 20%. Swire cuts back Firm to make 200 redundant as global economic woes prompt axing of two round-the-world services.

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JUNE 23, 2009
Carrier, Asian ports numbers tumbles Mariner self defense bill introduced CMA CGM merges Asia/Middle East loops ANS handles TAM's cargo in southern U.S. BA Cargo makes regional management changes Smith to lead AA's northern Europe cargo sales House introduces transportation bill DHL Express targets clinical trial industry Hollis co-chairs industry tech standards group NCBFAA offers CES grandfathering exam India aims to broaden port regulatory powers New Chennai container terminal opens Waltz named senior VP GCT Canada

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JUNE 23, 2009
Dutch cargo vessel freed According to the Dutch Defence Ministry, Somali pirates have freed the Dutch cargo vessel MV Marathon, the news agency AP reports. The Dutch navy is now escorting the vessel to Over 2 billion ferry passengers worldwide Over 2 billion passengers, 255 million cars and 34.1 million trailers were transported by ferry services worldwide last year, according to ShipPax Information. There were 6.7 million number New container service to Varberg The Dutch shipping company Harlingen North Connect Lines (HNCL) will start up a container service between Swedish Varberg and Riga on a weekly basis. The service will call at Harlingen Lauritzen increases stakes in offshore Danish Lauritzen has appointed Anders Mortensen, previously president of Lauritzen Tankers and responsible for J. Lauritzen's product tanker activities since 2004, as president of Lauritzen Offshore Services. The new business Eitzen eyes OMX Copenhagen Norwegian Eitzen is considering registration of its dry bulk operations on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, reports Maritime Denmark. If so, it will be via its subsidiary Orion where Eitzen owns Alexela fined for Sløvåg explosion The Norwegian oil terminal Alexela Slövåg has been fined NOK 2 million for an explosion that occurred at the terminal in May 2007. According to the Estonian port operator, Alexela

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JUNE 23, 2009
Oil spill in Texas Five tugs and two barges impacted by the oil. Fuel surcharges soaring as bunker costs bite BAFs up by 50% in last quarter with further increases due in July. Bunker prices continue to fall in Europe Meanwhile, crude oil showed price gains in early trading on NYMEX. Rising bunker prices mean routes 'no longer viable' Swire Shipping Ltd. is axing two round-the-world services and firing 200 staff. Supplies returning to Durban spot market Engen and Shell both back in the market. NOL container revenues fall Drop in container volumes accompanied by lower core freight rates and recovery of bunker fuel costs. Singapore bunker prices 'lowest' this month Bunkers continue to tumble on lower crude oil prices. EMSA: Accidental pollution declines No major oil tanker or bunker spills recorded in European waters in 2008. Major bunker project in southern China Reports say Chimbusco joint venture aims to sell one million mt of bunkers a year. Bad weather foils oil removal from stranded tanker Removal of fuel oil could take up to a week. Crude oil price rally could be over 'Some of the drivers for the recent oil price rally appear to have played out', says analyst. Asia July fuel oil inflows expected above 3 million mt Western arbitrage cargo arrivals up 27% compared to June. Zim to impose 'emergency' bunker surcharge Surcharge to be imposed on Asia-Mediterranean-Europe trade lanes.