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Keppel Fels' rig delivery for Maersk Drilling well on track
KEPPEL Fels' delivery programme of advanced deepwater semi-submersible rigs for Maersk Drilling is well on track with the delivery of the second of three DSS 21 rigs for the Danish drilling contractor last weekend.
Future of offshore oil industry lies in deepwater fields: prof
THE first Lloyd's Register Educational Trust Professor from Asia is passionate in his belief that the future of the offshore oil and gas industry is in the deepwater fields.
Supply of Mid-East tankers exceed demand
The number of supertankers competing to ship two million barrel cargoes of Middle East crude climbed as new vessels outstrip demand, cutting what owners can charge to lease the vessels.
Low water cargo surcharges sought on Rhine
Hanjin wins 1.4t won contract from POSCO
Upholding the P&I club tradition

Strait Talk

Hello, is anyone in Asia listening?
IT TAKES a brave soul to predict what will happen to the press - especially the shipping press - over the next decade. Will hard-copy newspapers still be around in 2019? Or will we be using turn-page technology and roll-up plastic screens?

web site

Shipping News

Keppel Fels' rig delivery for Maersk Drilling well on track
KEPPEL Fels' delivery programme of advanced deepwater semi-submersible rigs for Maersk Drilling is well on track with the delivery of the second of three DSS 21 rigs for the Danish drilling contractor last weekend.
Future of offshore oil industry lies in deepwater fields: prof
THE first Lloyd's Register Educational Trust Professor from Asia is passionate in his belief that the future of the offshore oil and gas industry is in the deepwater fields.
Supply of Mid-East tankers exceed demand
The number of supertankers competing to ship two million barrel cargoes of Middle East crude climbed as new vessels outstrip demand, cutting what owners can charge to lease the vessels.
Low water cargo surcharges sought on Rhine
Hanjin wins 1.4t won contract from POSCO
Upholding the P&I club tradition

Strait Talk

Hello, is anyone in Asia listening?
IT TAKES a brave soul to predict what will happen to the press - especially the shipping press - over the next decade. Will hard-copy newspapers still be around in 2019? Or will we be using turn-page technology and roll-up plastic screens?

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CMA CGM increases Europe to Australia rates two ways Global Ship Lease reschedules US$800 million debt on exacting terms Maersk to take slots on UASC's India-Mideast-Med loop DHL opens transport hub in Wuhan, FedEx upgrades there US retail fed cheers Seattle Clean Truck Plan, but blasts LA's Jebel Ali Port receives 14,000-TEU MSC Kalina Indian, Filipino seamen face pay cuts and outsourcing Kuehne + Nagel to manage Gigaset's DC in Shanghai Air New Zealand denies price-fixing with Emirates JAL and NYK's Nippon Cargo Airlines see merger next April Urumqi-Islamabad flights resume as Muslim unrest eases Qantas receives its fourth giant A380 Airbus

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UASC to launch IEC2 from mid-Sept. New Globe Group holds customer familiarisation meets in Bangalore & Delhi Sridharan assumes charge as DCI Director (O&T) India, Nepal sign new trade treaty Europe holds out new hope for apparel exporters Peru withdraws safeguard duty on cotton yarn Vizag Port too to handle Nepalese ex-im cargo as per joint statement KPT's project to develop 4 berths under PPP gets Delhi's nod NYK, JAL to hold cargo business merger talks Differences over GST persist New FTP may offer better deal to textile, leather, seafood, gems & jewellery exporters Maran assures textile exporters of sops FTA with Asean will help economy grow-Pranab

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AUGUST 24, 2009
GAC: new shipping marketing manager in North America Kuwait-based GAC, a provider of shipping, logistics, marine and related services, has appointed Wally Holm as shipping marketing manager for North America and the Caribbean. B... A.P. Moller-Maersk Group's H1/2009 report says freight rates down 30% The global economic crisis had a severe negative impact on the activities of the Danish A.P. Moller'Maersk Group in H1/2009. Freight rates and volumes for the Group's containe... Container volume in St Petersburg continues to sink Container handling at St Petersburg's Big Port is still shrinking, and the rate of shrinkage rose in July, compared to the same month in 2008. The box volume in June 2009 was&... Creditors to take over Eimskip Eimskip, the Icelandic shipping group, is to become the first big company to emerge from the wreckage of Iceland's banking crisis after creditors unanimously approved a plan to tak... Lehnkering Steel Logistics expands business activities in Poland Lehnkering Steel Transport und Services GmbH is expanding its operations in Poland. The company has now fully taken over the shares in Lehnkering Logistik Sp. z o.o. in recognition... Gazeley leases logistics areas to Sommerlad group A new tenant in the shape of the furniture company Sommerlad moved into Gazeley's Magna Park Rhein-Main logistics park near Frankfurt/Main (Germany) on 1 August. The logistics prop... Menlo Worldwide Logistics opened export centre for Caterpillar US-based Menlo Worldwide Logistics, the global logistics subsidiary of Con-way Inc, recently announced that it has created an export logistics centre for Caterpillar Inc. with... Recession put brakes on overland freight traffic in Europe The volume of freight traffic in Switzerland and transalpine road and rail traffic shrank drastically in H1/2009. Some 578'000 HGV trips were registered ' the lowest number for mor... New air links planned between Thailand and Guangxi (China) Thailand and China have agreed to open direct air and sea routes between Thailand and Nanning city in Guangxi province (China) to lower logistics costs and expand co-operation... NCA and JAL cargo to merge Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have jointly announced that Japan Airlines International (JALI), the key subsidiary of JAL, and NYK, have agreed to commence nego... Qantas to take steps to combat delays at Boeing The Australian national carrier Qantas has taken steps to deal with the problems associated with the delays in the Boeing 787 programme. The Qantas group has announced it will take... Gulf Air: London to Iraq flight The Arabian carrier Gulf Air is to launch what it claims is by far the quickest connecting flight between London (UK) and Iraq on 31 August. Gulf Air's CCO Willy Boulter said,... Dubai continues to grow The Middle East continues to show vibrant growth during the global economic downturn and Dubai international airport (UAE) reflects this growth. Cargo throughput at Dubai airp... First Global Shippers' Forum to meet in Dubai in November The Global Shippers' Forum (GSF), whose membership consists of global organisations from more than 50 countries that use the shipping industry for their freight transportation need...

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MOL raises rates Good first half for Bourbon USCG wins Jones Act Appeal Fisher's profit up 18%

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Bay Shipbuilding warns of layoffs 6,000 t Dubai ship lift now operational

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Zim rocked as $100m rescue funding plan hits buffers A VOTE on $100m in rescue funding for troubled Zim was rejected by the Israel Securities Authority. Zim rescue deal hangs by a thread US implicated in toxic exports law breach ENVIRONMENTALISTS say two US government ships may have been sold for scrap, going against a 1976 Act. Sungdong Shipbuilding bags $250m Vale deal SOUTH Korean shipbuilder wins oder for four 180,000 dwt capesize vessels from Vale. Dutch union moves to support Dublin port strike FNV Bondgenoten tables notice for its dockworkers to take industrial action against a local shipping firm. Full City spill prompts Norway to extend Seca NORWAY seeks to redefine the area around its territorial waters to include the Barents and Norwegian Seas.

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Cruising flu danger is rising AN ALARMING new forecast on potential swine flu infections underscores the need for cruise lines to negotiate response protocols with destination ports Hamburg again joins Hapag fray HAMBURG'S state government said today said it would take part in a scheme to produce more financial aid for Hapag-Lloyd Dispute snarls Buenos Aires UNIONS and government officials in Argentina were frantically trying today to resolve a deadlock that has halted all box movements in Buenos Aires since last week PGS cancels Spanish newbuild NORWAY'S offshore seismic company PGS told Fairplay today it has cancelled its newbuilding contract for a research survey vessel because of late delivery Yard's fate blowing in the wind MAERSK'S doomed Odense shipyard is discussing reopening as a wind turbine manufacturer, Fairplay was told today Fight rate rises, shippers urged SHIPPERS in Sri Lanka and South Asia facing higher freight costs are urging peers to use lower-priced carriers Oz leak traced to Montara rig SEADRILL pointed out today that the leaks off northwestern Australia are not coming from its West Atlas rig, but rather from a well on a wellhead platform owned by Montara

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Illinois Seeks Freight, Passenger Rail Grants U.S. Steel Imports Rise 14 Percent in July USPS Offers Buyouts to 30,000 Workers Pilots Call for Ban on Battery Shipments Kuehne + Nagel Opens Facility for 2014 Olympics BBC Chartering Cuts South America Rates EPA Stimulates Truck-Stop Electrification Survey Finds Supply Chains Key to Strategy Active Container Fleet Shrinks 4 Percent DHL Express Upgrades Packaging Dutch, Belgians Dispute Antwerp Dredging

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AUGUST 25, 2009
DB: 'years before volumes return' APL Logistics expands Middle East offerings Stobart expects strong H2 09 MSC behemoth visits Jebel Ali

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Golar raised Lazard Capital Markets analyst cuts estimates for Golar LNG but lifts price target thanks to restructuring. CMB chops payout Bocimar parent cuts dividend by 72% to EUR 0.28 but says prospects for the second half remain 'good'. Strike shuts port Container terminals at port of Buenos Aires paralysed as labour unrest strikes Argentina again. Teekay takes MR? Brokers point to tanker giant as the buyer of the Miss Marina from Italy's Perseveranza de Navigazione. Lay-ups loom Poor spot market will lead to owners mothballing offshore support vessels, warns Rem as it posts strong Q2 figures. Technip bags job Pipelay vessel Deep Blue fetches offshore job in the Gulf of Mexico's Ozona field. 'More please' Japan's MOL says it had 'no choice' but to increase rates on Europe-Africa line by $200 per teu. Trio held Peace Boat cruiseship that spilled oil, plus chemical tanker and bulker, feature on July detention list. Oil Search to sell Australian company plans to sell some of its stake in the ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG terminal project. All dressed up... ...And nowhere to go for 14 new Russian crew waiting to join Arctic Sea which is still incommunicado. Stolt unit unsold Stolt-Nielsen exec rejects reports that owner has sold a 2003-built chemical tanker. Another 1 down Petroleum Geo-Services, led by Jon Erik Reinhardsen, pulls the plug on a second newbuilding at Factorias Vulcano. AHTS delayed First of Viking's four anchor handlers at Zamakona Shipyard held up by subcontractors, says Rederi AB TransAtlantic. Capt Ufuk-ed off? Manhunt underway for alleged real British master who fled arms ship Captain Ufuk before raid in Philippines. Candarli closer Turkey preparing tender for construction of new container hub for North Aegean. Globus in red Impairment charges related to the sale of two bulkers pushes London-listed Greek to a loss. AET eyes India MISC tanker arm planning to re-flag tankers in India to muscle in on coastal trade. Aussie additions CMA CGM continues rate restoration efforts with Australia and New Zealand routes targeted. Rederi AB sinks Sweden's Rederi AB TransAtlantic slumped to second quarter operating loss as profit crashed at its industrial shipping unit. Seadrill scare Norwegian driller evacuates rig following leak from nearby well off Western Australia. SS SOS US group launches last-ditch attempt to save historic liner SS United States from breakers' torches. Fisher firm First-half profit rises at UK marine services group James Fisher, but three tankers laid up in downturn. Subic failure New auction planned after none of four bidders for Philippines' NCT-2 terminal puts in an offer. BC leak Canadian ferry spills small amount of fuel after being snagged by crab-trap rope. Box fleet shrinks Alphaliner data suggests that the active containership fleet has shrunk by about 4% in a year. Hanjin seals CVC South Korean shipowner agrees 20-year deal iron ore shipping with domestic steel maker Posco. Stolt ship sold? Stolt-Nielsen is said to have offloaded 2003-built chemical tanker for $25m. Sealink suffers Malaysian offshore vessel builder and operator sees second quarter profits chopped in half. Avian assault New Zealand cruiseships bombarded by birds confused by deck lights at night. UASC swaps Middle East container line strikes deal with Maersk to start new direct European run from India. High-seas switch OW Bunker moves two tankers to ocean-based refuelling operation as demand grows. Reliance settles Indian oil giant appears to have avoided any penalties after agreeing to cancel drillship charter.

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Maersk chief vows to fight rate undercutting Maersk raises rates on Americas trades Hapag-Lloyd announces rate hikes Japanese airlines consider cargo merger IATA: Early 2008 air cargo levels 5 years away Australia air cargo price-fixing probe catches Emirates APL Logistics opens Dubai center Appeals court overturns CBP-UPS decision ILA delegates to discuss contract extension Trade groups oppose ports' attempts to regulate trucking Feeder to link Hutchison's ECT, CTF terminals

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Suspected pirates dissatisfied with Kenyan justice Somalis suspected for piracy have in a court hearing in Kenya called for UN to intervene to protect their human rights. The demand to be tried in a Somali court Trans Viking has to wait for AHTS The first of four anchor handling tugs ordered by Trans Viking Icebreaking & Offshore from a Spanish yard is delayed by 3-4 months due to delayed deliveries from the yards's suppliers

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AUGUST 25, 2009
Small spill after crane sinks towing vessel US Coast Guard overseeing salvage operation. Bunker prices soften in Europe Prices fall with some exceptions. Libyan port closed until early September All commercial activities halted, no supply of bunkers possible for the next couple of weeks. Indian refiner mulls Singapore trading desk 'Keen to explore' trading of fuel oil in the Asian energy hub. Hong Kong launches cleaner fuel trial Trial on local ferries to examine the technical feasibility of switch to ultra low sulphur diesel. Bunkers softer Tuesday despite latest crude gains Varied movements were seen in Asian bunker prices. FAL secures fuel oil cargoes Premiums for September cargoes much higher than before due to tighter supplies. Bunker trader wins approval for claim on Eastwind vessels Green light given by US court to exercise rights on four vessels, including ship arrest. Busan bunker prices hit 10-month high Persistent tight supplies since July have supported prices. Iran supplier enhances bunker tanker fleet Charters new double-hull bunker tanker to supply growing market. India slashes bunker tax Tax on bunkers sold to foreign vessels reduced by 12%. Lukoil secures $1.2 billion loan Current financial debt to be re-financed while export operations funded. Sinopec to be 'blacklisted' for Addax acquisition Iraqi federal Oil Ministry refuses dealings with companies which has oil contracts with Kurdish authorities. Ship carrying 400 passengers runs out of bunkers Nigerian authorities rescued the drifting vessel by supplying bunkers, food and water. European fuel oil still trading at 2009 highs Last Friday saw HSFO barges trading in ARA hub at a ten-month high.