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Shipping News

SMF chief to focus on maritime services
NEW Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) chairman Michael Chia will be moving in a new direction to develop Singapore into an international maritime centre - by focusing on the services side of the industry.
Mid-East tanker glut vanishes on stronger demand
The surplus of supertankers competing to ship two million-barrel cargoes of Middle East crude oil disappeared as ship demand strengthened.
US Navy to buy 17 Littoral Combat Ships
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has directed the Navy to buy 17 more Littoral Combat Ships through 2015, according to a budget document.
Coal ships take longer routes to avoid pirates
German court denies Fredriksen seat on TUI board

Strait Talk

Nuclear-powered shipping in future?
LAST year's performance figures for the Port of Singapore are good overall, considering we are weathering the worst economic downturn for a very long time.

Motoring

Chinese automaker may sell electric cars in US
BYD Co, the Chinese auto and battery maker backed by Warren Buffett, may sell a rechargeable electric car in the US as soon as this year, to meet demand for fuel-efficient models, the company's founder said.

web site

Shipping News

SMF chief to focus on maritime services
NEW Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) chairman Michael Chia will be moving in a new direction to develop Singapore into an international maritime centre - by focusing on the services side of the industry.
Mid-East tanker glut vanishes on stronger demand
The surplus of supertankers competing to ship two million-barrel cargoes of Middle East crude oil disappeared as ship demand strengthened.
US Navy to buy 17 Littoral Combat Ships
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has directed the Navy to buy 17 more Littoral Combat Ships through 2015, according to a budget document.
Coal ships take longer routes to avoid pirates
German court denies Fredriksen seat on TUI board

Strait Talk

Nuclear-powered shipping in future?
LAST year's performance figures for the Port of Singapore are good overall, considering we are weathering the worst economic downturn for a very long time.

Motoring

Chinese automaker may sell electric cars in US
BYD Co, the Chinese auto and battery maker backed by Warren Buffett, may sell a rechargeable electric car in the US as soon as this year, to meet demand for fuel-efficient models, the company's founder said.

web site

Shipping News

SMF chief to focus on maritime services
NEW Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) chairman Michael Chia will be moving in a new direction to develop Singapore into an international maritime centre - by focusing on the services side of the industry.
Mid-East tanker glut vanishes on stronger demand
The surplus of supertankers competing to ship two million-barrel cargoes of Middle East crude oil disappeared as ship demand strengthened.
US Navy to buy 17 Littoral Combat Ships
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has directed the Navy to buy 17 more Littoral Combat Ships through 2015, according to a budget document.
Coal ships take longer routes to avoid pirates
German court denies Fredriksen seat on TUI board

Strait Talk

Nuclear-powered shipping in future?
LAST year's performance figures for the Port of Singapore are good overall, considering we are weathering the worst economic downturn for a very long time.

Motoring

Chinese automaker may sell electric cars in US
BYD Co, the Chinese auto and battery maker backed by Warren Buffett, may sell a rechargeable electric car in the US as soon as this year, to meet demand for fuel-efficient models, the company's founder said.

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US box imports rise again from low base, more gains expected Wan Hai to join Hanjin on transpacific SJX service Hapag-Lloyd to hike Asia-Europe rate US$150/TEU February 1 Dockers stage 24-hour strikes at Le Havre, Marseilles Evergreen to hike US west coast backhaul rate from mid-February Three Gorges freight volume hits record high in 2009 OOCL names two Samsung HI-built box ships Chinese manufacturing statistics reveal surge, brighter 2010 MISC readies for share sale to raise US$1.55 billion Singapore port poised for 2010 opportunity: Minister India's L&T, Tata Steel to set up box terminal at Dhamra Port US yards object, but USCG okays Jones Act ships dry docking in Vietnam Nova Scotia, Delaware ports sign port deal as dredging wins eco-clearance Emirates to raise Dubai-Jakarta frequency to twice daily Royal Air Freight was fined for safety failings before crash Boeing delivers 481 jetliners in 2009

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Newbuilding order cancelled Rock-bottom prices prompt GE Shipping to acquire vessels Global container shipping traffic will rise by 3.4 pc in 2010-Drewry Scarce iron ore cargoes pull down Capesize rates Natural rubber imports expand by phenomenal 118 pc in April-Dec. More Indonesian palm oil to flood in Dhaka allows use of Chittagong & Ashuganj ports as transhipment points Port projects moored by court cases MADC developing Nagpur into multimodal air cargo hub Exports up, up & Away! Car sales zoom by 40 pc in Dec.'09 Customs, excise collections may fall far short of target CBDT sets up task force to prepare Vision 2020 document Still more sops!

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JANUARY 11, 2010
Hapag-Lloyd: newbuilding with environment-friendly technology The German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd recently took delivery of its latest newbuilding, the "Vienna Express". The ship is equipped with environment-friendly technology. ... PD Ports: no further Teesport job losses following Corus closure In December 2009, Corus, a manufacturer of steel products, announced its intentions to mothball some of its Teesside Cast Products (TCP) operations with effect from the end of Janu... Hoyer acquires a 20% stake in InterBulk At the end of December, the Hamburg (Germany)-based Hoyer GmbH Internationale Fachspedition signed a purchase agreement (SPA) with a number of major shareholders of the British&nbs... Geodis acquires the logistics business of Chevallier The French logistics group Geodis is strengthening its position in the beverage sector of the retail market by buying out the logistics business of the specialised operator Chevall... Freja Transport & Logistics A/S expands activities Freja Transport & Logistics A/S took over all of Intertrucking ApS' non-haulage related activities and most of its employees, with effect from 11 January. Intertrucki... Fruit Logistica opening doors on 3 February Fruit Logistics, a leading trade fair for the fresh fruit and vegetable industry will be held at the exhibition grounds in Berlin from 3 to 5 February this year. This specialist tr... Finaval handles five oversized components The Italian freight forwarder Finaval Offshore dealt with five oversized industrial components at the port of Civitavecchia (Italy) recently. Simi, which specialises in difficult f... Evergreen Line restores westbound rates from the Far East The Taiwanese shipping company Evergreen Line is set to increase the cost for shipping a westbound cargo from the Far East (including Japan) and the Indian Subcontinent to Europe a... European airport chaos The low pressure front named Daisy caused many flight cancellations in Europe last weekend. A record high of 320 cancelled flights was registered at Frankfurt airport, which handle... Portugal: state of emergency in ten provinces Icy temperatures are currently crippling Portugal. A state of emergency has been declared in ten of the nation's provinces. Meteorologists say that the traffic could grind to a hal... Dean Wise promoted to BNSF vice-president Dean Wise has been named as the BNSF Railway company's vice-president of network strategy, with effect from 1 February. In this position he will be in charge of BNSF's haulage mana... Georgian carrier Airzena resumes direct Tbilisi-Moscow flights After a long interruption to services the Georgian carrier Airzena Georgian Airways recently operated the first direct flight between the country's capital Tbilisi and Moscow (Russ... Switzerland: massive opposition to gigaliner permits The Swiss commercial vehicle association Astag is not in favour of permits for gigaliners (LHVs). Moreover, 80% of Switzerland's population do not want to see LHVs on the country's... US intermodal train traffic lost six years growth in the past recession Major US railroads hauled fewer intermodal units in 2009 than any time since 2003. The Association of American Railroads (AAR) reported 9'880'602 loadings of containers and tr... Chaotic conditions on the roads in Europe Depression "Daisy" unleashed blizzards across most parts of Europe at the weekend. On Sunday 170 people were marooned in their cars in deep snow on the A20 coastal m...

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JANUARY 12, 2010
Piracy "threatens world trade" Liberian Registry posts new record fleet numbers CMA CGM's "hedging losses" US Green lobby goes blue

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JANUARY 12, 2010
IMO kicks off Year of the Seafarer EPA accredits Krystallon as "emerging technology"

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JANUARY 12, 2010
Maersk eyes Royal Fleet Auxiliary contracts UK keen to outsource provision of six new refuelling tankers. Newbuilding glut sparks bulk sector downgrade Investors in listed dry bulk companies urged to sell shares quickly. Box lines take action to restore rates Carriers push ahead with measures to lift revenues. Zim given credit ratings upgrade Upgrade marks significant step in stabilisation of Zim. Report slams Bangladesh scrapyards US human rights group release eyewitness accounts of fatal explosion that killed seven.

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JANUARY 12, 2010
Pressure damaged Eitzen tank AN ETHANOL tank on Eitzen Chemical's Sichem Defiance ruptured because too much pressure had been applied, Fairplay was told today Agency raises Zim rating ISRAELI ratings agency Maalot has raised Zim Shipping's debt rating to 'B' after previously evaluating the company as nearly insolvent Stena bulks up orderbook SWEDEN'S Stena Bulk told Fairplay today it has ordered two Suezmax tankers from Samsung in South Korea STX axes 400 at Turku yard STX EUROPE told Fairplay today it will lay off more than 400 staff from its Turku yard in Finland as it carries out a major restructuring to cope with loss of business Agility bags logistics contract LOGISTICS and forwarding giant Agility has won a major contract for ocean shipment handling from automotive and industrial machinery supplier Starco

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JANUARY 12, 2010
Arrow Trucking Relaunches Web Site N.C. Port Closed, Evacuated for Hazmat Spill CMA CGM Lost Nearly $1 Billion in Oil Markets FRA Issues Rule on Train Control Systems Bank Accuses Arrow Trucking of Fraud CaseStack Expands Consolidation in Chicago Hoegh Adds Charleston to Middle East Loop INTTRA Launches Tracking Application Carriers Move Full Speed into Slow Steaming Roadrunner Closes Bullet Deal NOL Names Former Microsoft COO to Board Global Trade Increased Broadly in November Maersk to Increase Europe to South Asia Rates Carrier Says PierPass May End

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JANUARY 12, 2010
ESPO appeals for clearer state-aid guidelines Poles apart Bunker costs hiked another 15% French dockers back; but tougher action promised Seaspan takes delivery of MOL Empire

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JANUARY 12, 2010
VLGC pair sold Market report says a pair of sisterships on charter to Pertamina have been sold by BW Gas and General Ore International. TK in bond play Canadian tanker owner launches tender offer to buy back nearly $177m in senior notes as it plans to issue $300m in new ones. MSC mystery Federal Police launch investigation after MSC Musica crewmember found dead with signs of strangulation in Brazil. Princess sold? Felipe Menendez-led Ultrapetrol is said to have sold another suezmax combination carrier, the Princess Nadia. Loans' worst year Weakest quarter on record closes out bleakest year for syndicated lending as Asian bank tops deal tables for first time. Azov Wind sold Former Eastwind chemical tanker sold at auction in Panama to regional cabotage player. Sector divide As US equity analysts issue their outlooks for 2010, FBR and Deutsche Bank are bullish, but not on the same sector. Zacchello hopeful Seaarland Shipping chief tells a different story to Evangelos Pistiolis led Top Ships about bareboat charter dispute. Yard spike Shares in Indian shipbuilders Bharati and ABG soar as investors bet on release of subsidy funds. Dry dropped Newbuilding "tsunami" fears prompt dry-bulk downgrade at Arctic Securities. FPSO partners PetroVietnam and Ezra offshoot EOC shake hands on joint-venture worth up to $180m. Tug search ends Ships off Singapore asked to keep eye out for last four crew of sunken Ocean Lark as search called off. Troim blocked German court rejects John Fredriksen's bid to place lieutenant Tor Olav Troim on TUI's board. Axe falls STX Europe confirms 430 job losses at its Turku shipyard in Finland. CMA CGM hikes "Highly destructive" 2009 leads French liner player to impose emergency charge from Asia to Canada. Charter charge Top Ships confirms that company associated with Antonio Zacchello is charterer in default. Six appeal at STX South Korean giant eyes six-ship splurge as it sets aside over $200m for acquisitions this year. Morton sells stake ACM co-founder Andrew Morton offloads his holding in the shipbroker as 10% of its shares are released. Thanks, George Globus Maritime chief George Karageorgiou awarded stock worth around $330,000 in London-listed bulker owner. Going longer Singapore-listed Mercator Lines fixes out previously spot-trading post-panamax bulker on one-year deal. Grisly find Eight more bodies found inside sunken Philippines ferry Catalyn B, as diver dies. Profitable pair Analyst jacks up 2010 earnings forecasts for Navios Maritime Partners after its bulker buys from Navios Maritime Holdings. List goes on USCG demand for checks before cargo transfer sees Eitzen tanker spend second night listing off New York. ABG wins three Precious Shipping forms joint venture with Indian yard to build and own new cement carriers. Hainan banks Chinese ro-ro operator completes CNY 1.33bn share issue as it seeks to expand network. Offer off Akis Tsirigakis-led Star Bulk Carriers cans warrant exchange offer due to "current market conditions". Latvian link Baltic ferry owner Scandlines starts run to Ventspils from Germany with 1981-built ro-pax. Box hike Denmark's Maersk Line tries for another rate restoration from Europe to Asia and Middle East. PTP on the rise Malaysian port bucks trend by posting increase in container volumes during 2009. No more falls Shipowners can no longer count on declining newbuilding prices as Korean won rises, analyst says. Dirty deals down Shell still number one as spot dirty fixtures fall almost 9% due to the global economic slowdown. Africa bound Hanjin Shipping and USAC team up to launch liner service between Spain and West Africa. Tallink mixed Estonian ferry company saw passenger numbers fall, but cargo volumes rise during December. Search continues Singapore authorities plan to raise sunken Ocean Lark after underwater search of tug draws a blank.

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JANUARY 12, 2010
Slow steaming absorbs excess capacity Zim raises Asia-to-Europe rates Herbold joins NOL board Cathay: Cargo rush spilled into new year ACC Capital Partners buys Envirotainer DOT offers lithium batteries transport rules ITC probes U.S.-Transpacific Partnership impact N.C. forms logistics task force U.S. port volume back in black PTP volume up 7.5% in 2009 Morehead City closed after explosive spill

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JANUARY 12, 2010
Growth for Viking Line Viking Line records growth of its total volumes during 2009. The number of passengers grew by more than three per cent to 6.4 million, private cars by 15 per Ace-Link files for bankruptcy Ace-Link has filed for bankruptcy. 70 employees will be affected. The management, headed by Mogens Worre Sørensen as chairman of the board, has chosen to close the operation after New Danish icebreaker debate The cold weather in Denmark and the fact that the fleet of icebreakers have a five-day readiness period has fuelled the debate on the governmental icebreaker service, which is

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JANUARY 12, 2010
Bunker prices weaken across Europe Hamburg: Tight barging schedules for mid-January. Fujairah bunker prices back below $500 Crude oil prices showing further losses on NYMEX. Brightoil to boost storage capacity at 'strategic hub' Says it will benefit its bunkering business in Yangtze River Delta region. ARA: Double-digit sales drop predicted 2009 bunker sales seen down by 15% or more in Rotterdam and Antwerp. Voting underway for IBIA Board Association's Development Committee recommends three candidates. Global Risk Management appoints accountant New trader for O.W. Bunker Joins Piraeus team from Maersk Oil Trading. Singapore 380 cSt slips back to $500 Bunkers in other key Asian ports also moving down. Indian supplier erases 180 cSt premium Currently quoting same price as for 380 cSt bunker fuel. Verbeke acquisition could cost Aegean up to $100 million Analysts expect it will be 'the first of a series of transactions' in 2010. Southernpec buys second VLCC as floating storage Will mainly store bunker fuel, mulls capacity lease to one player. Costs in shipping - just the tip of the iceberg Owners and operators run the risk of overlooking below the line or hidden costs.