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Shipping News

Baltic index softens after four days of gains
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, eased on Monday in quieter trade, with brokers seeking a demand push for the bigger capesize vessels.
Australia expands Barrier Reef protection
Australia will expand protection along the entire 3,000-km Great Barrier Reef after a Chinese coal carrier ran aground this month, damaging a section of the World Heritage-listed area.
Russia seeks new ways to export grain
Russia, seeking new ways to export its growing stocks of grain, is considering building new terminals on Ukraine's Black Sea coast and cutting rail tariffs via its ex-Soviet neighbour to be competitive on world markets.
Global jet fuel demand down by 1m bpd
Insurers expect millions in claims by travellers

Strait Talk

Formidable maritime shop window
ONE important aspect of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is - as was mentioned at some length in last week's column - the way the programme reaches out to the general public and, especially, to young people.

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Shipping News

Baltic index softens after four days of gains
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, eased on Monday in quieter trade, with brokers seeking a demand push for the bigger capesize vessels.
Australia expands Barrier Reef protection
Australia will expand protection along the entire 3,000-km Great Barrier Reef after a Chinese coal carrier ran aground this month, damaging a section of the World Heritage-listed area.
Russia seeks new ways to export grain
Russia, seeking new ways to export its growing stocks of grain, is considering building new terminals on Ukraine's Black Sea coast and cutting rail tariffs via its ex-Soviet neighbour to be competitive on world markets.
Global jet fuel demand down by 1m bpd
Insurers expect millions in claims by travellers

Strait Talk

Formidable maritime shop window
ONE important aspect of Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is - as was mentioned at some length in last week's column - the way the programme reaches out to the general public and, especially, to young people.

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PSA International 2009 profit falls 6.1pc on trade contraction Asian shipowners lament new range of global restrictions Port of Savannah leads recovery pack, dredging becomes vital Damco opens contract logistics facility in Hong Kong Transnet commences dredging to 18 metres at Durban DHL foresees rising demand for north Asia-Mideast trade NYK ships quake relief boom trucks free to Chile New eruption spreads more ash, but pressure's on to fly anyway Out of the woods: HK airport cargo up 30pc in March Reliance buys between 26pc and 49.9pc of Deccan 360 China Southern seeks partners to facility expansion HNA Group buys 60pc stake in local express company

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Baltic Index climbs for 4th day Onion exports break through high MEP barrier ABGKCTL gets familiar with Rajasthan trade 11th Plan capacity addition target may prove elusive for Major Ports MbPT hikes penalty-free storage period of iron, s teel imports 10 private logistics parks to sprout along freight corridor NCHAA holds 11th AGM, elects office-bearers Rlys narrowly misses freight revenue target for 2009-10 RBI acts to tame inflation & sustain growth momentum

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APRIL 19, 2010
Groupe Eurotunnel successfully completes trials to implement new fire safety measures Groupe Eurotunnel has taken a significant step towards the implementation of new SAFE stations (fire-fighting stations) in the Channel Tunnel designed to combat fires using de... Kuehne + Nagel reports Q1 gain The global transport and logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel, based in Schindellegi (Switzerland), has returned to a growth trajectory. The turnover in the first quarter of this year... Geodis Wilson opens subsidiary near Frankfurt The global freight management specialist Geodis Wilson celebrated the opening of a new facility in Kelsterbach (Germany) with customers on 19 April. The move from M'rfelden to... Ran Logistics opens branch office in Bursa Ran Logistics (Ran Lojistik Hizmetleri AS), a logistics service provider based in Turkey that has been traded on the stock exchange since October last year, recently opened it... Volcanic ash ignites discussion The aviation industry is hotly debating the validity of imposing widespread flight bans as much of the air space over Europe remains closed due to volcanic ash. Thousands of flight... Vladivostok Air volumes much higher Vladivostok Air, which bills itself as the largest carrier in Russia's Far East, reported cargo volumes of 94.8 million tkm in Q1/2010, a 44.4% jump over the same period ... Volcanic eruption boosts ferry traffic Air transportation has been severely disrupted by the closure of the airspace of most Northern and Western European countries, due to the fallout of ash from the volcanic erup...

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APRIL 20, 2010
Bunker suppliers seek arrest of AHL Shipping vessels

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APRIL 20, 2010
Hamburg Süd snubs banks for bailing out rivals German line cuts business with banks that played role in rescuing rivals such as CSAV Euronav returns to profit as VLCC rates strengthen Tanker owner reports first quarter profits of $22.4m Navios Acquisition sets date to vote on tanker deals May 25 picked to vote on company's proposed acquisitions to become a fully-fledged trading tanker company Crude Carriers swoops for suezmax pair Company steps in to buy tankers that were headed for Alma Maritime Tsakos close to sealing $620m drillship deal Group manages to secure $200m discount after talks with South Korean yard

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APRIL 20, 2010
Hamburg Süd boosts volume HAMBURG Süd said today soaring imports for South America have elevated its container carryings to pre-recession levels Bulker to be towed to Gladstone THE BULKER Shen Neng 1 was so damaged by its Great Barrier Reef grounding that some coal must be unloaded in Gladstone before towing it to Asia for repair, Australian authorities have found Ash disrupts our deliveries DISRUPTION of flights because of ash clouds from Iceland's volcanic eruption is also disrupting deliveries of IHS Fairplay's magazines India halts cotton exports INDIA has reportedly suspended exports of raw cotton to boost domestic supplies and rein in prices Indonesia to import more oil INDONESIA'S Pertamina said it plans to raise imports of light crude from Saudi Aramco in 2010 by 200,000 barrels per day, IHS Global Insight reported today Panama briber gets 87 months VIRGINIA businessman Charles Jumet has received a record prison sentence for bribing Panama's president and maritime officials in the late 1990s

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APRIL 20, 2010
Heartland Express Profit Drops 15.9 Percent S&P Boosts Outlook for CSX Amtrak Trains Test Biodiesel Halifax Container Throughput Climbs 41.4 Percent 747-8F Testing Moves to Southern California Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen Line Hike India Rates Amtrak Seeks Revolutionary Transport Bill Air Charter Demand Expands Dramatically Charleston Volume Soars 24 Percent FMC Warns of Email Scam Customs Establishes ACE Business Office Europe's Top Three Cargo Airports Open FedEx Resumes Europe Express Flights CMA CGM Takes Delivery of New Ship Hamburg Sud Posts 2009 Loss Clean-Trucks Court Case Begins in California Panalpina Shifts Cargolux Freighter to Spain

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APRIL 20, 2010
FMC lowers deregulation expectations CMA CGM takes delivery of new vessel Drewry forecasts greater trade growth No-fly restrictions ease in Europe 'Crew fatigue' key issue in Shen Neng 1 grounding

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APRIL 20, 2010
Canadian ore to the rescue Analyst says bulker rates could surge this summer as China imports quality iron ore from the 'great Northern territory'. Euronav emerges on top Euronext-listed Belgian tanker owner posts a profit in the first quarter as it rides the wave of increased oil demand in the Far East. Aussies charter Diamond rig NYSE-listed Diamond Offshore Drilling bags contract for an LNG drilling project off Australian coast. Germans demand dispute dollars Beluga Chartering takes US cargo company to court over contract breach stemming from South American sugar spat. Crude Carriers' two step Evangelos Marinakis increases loan facility as he pays $132m for a Tango and Waltz. Gladstone return for Shen Neng 1 Reef-spill Chinese panamax to head back to Australian coal port for discharge before repairs. Great boasts record quarter Indian offshore owner books highest ever quarterly profit, but full-year bottom line takes a tumble. USCG in laker crew rescue Crew member of Canadian bulker flown to hospital after medical emergency in Lake Huron. Billionaire Kuehne rejected German travel group TUI spurns offer to sell off a further chunk of container line Hapag-Lloyd. FSL back on the horse Singapore-listed trust is closing in on its first acquisition since the start of the financial crisis despite lower Q1 profit. KLC wins capesize contract Korean owner takes delivery of new Daewoo-built bulker to service 15-year coal deal with domestic power company. NSCSA feels tanker pain Saudi Arabian VLCC and chemical tanker player sees first quarter profit fall 14% on weaker demand. Taiwan Nav cut in half Taiwanese bulker owner follows compatriot U-Ming in posting big drop in 2009 profit. Volcanic ash chokes sea pollution chat Meetings about maritime pollution at IMO and the IOPC Funds are postponed as a result of flight disruption. Japan detains 14 vessels Safety checks result in detention for Wieczorek bulker and Hachiuma Steamship ro-ro, among others. Somme battle erupts Hijacking attempt up in the air as pirates blow their top and mistakenly attack French warship. U-Ming profit a lot less bulky Taiwanese bulker owner posts big fall in annual earnings as revenues are slashed. Baltic must wait for bulker pair Port congestion holds up arrival of two Baltic Trading supramaxes until mid-May. Tanker asset values on fire Five year-old VLCC price tag up $2.5m in a week, but this could still be too low, analysts say. Pirates threaten Indian coast Authorities warn that ships may come under attack as far east as India and the Maldives. Tangshan gets IPO nod China's Tangshan Port Group wins approval to seek listing in Shanghai in possible $147m float. Shanghai grows profit again Chinese port posts first-quarter earnings rise as volumes increase. Volcano update: papers on the move TradeWinds makes its way to some readers in Europe but delivery disruption continues worldwide. Russian ship held over spill Volgotanker vessel detained in Batumi, Georgia, after alleged oil leak. Teekay in Brazilian push CEO Bjorn Moller says tanker giant is considering Brazilian newbuildings as part of a plan to bolster its presence in the country. Laker Cuyahoga refloated in Canada Veteran Great Lakes bulker free after grounding on sandbar in Canada. Fesco mulls fundraising drive Russian containership owner could sell up to $150m of treasury shares to overseas investors. Modest rise at Indian ports Nation's twelve major ports saw traffic grow by 5.7% year-on-year, says latest data from Citi. Celebrity to the rescue Cruise line delays launch for latest cruise ship to help repatriate British tourists stuck in Spain. Maritime Week set to suffer Singapore's show piece maritime week looks to be shipping's biggest loser from volcanic ash troubles.

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APRIL 20, 2010
ComPair: Q1 U.S. export capacity rose moderately Drewry: Caution about container recovery Hamburg Süd volume, revenue slide in 2009 Hope, lack of clarity surround ash cloud U.K. forwarders: Air backlog will take time to clear AirBridgeCargo starts Sweden/Moscow service House members call for end to NAFTA trucking provision DB Schenker to expand European land network Ex-Im Bank doubles export loans FM suit flames wood vs. plastic pallet debate

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APRIL 20, 2010
Norwegian owners seek state guarantees Norwegian Giek, Garanti-instituttet for eksportkreditt, reports a substantial increase in guarantee applications from Norwegian companies, up from NOK 48 billion in 2008 to NOK 64 billion in 2009. "We Norden buys product tanker duo Danish Dampskibsselskabet Norden hass purchased two 25,382 GT handysize product tankers, the FD Nord Fast, built in 2008, and the FD Nord Farer, built in 2005. The purchase price of Royal Navy assists stranded travellers The British government has vowed to help repatriate British travellers stranded as a consequences of the volcanic ash cloud in the atmosphere. The Prime Minister Gordon Brown has asked the

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APRIL 20, 2010
Bunkers International in Malta joint venture New gasoil supply options as company expands offerings. Prices lack direction across Europe NYMEX showing gains of more than $1.50 in early trading. Mixed price movements in Fujairah Ample avails of 380 cSt material in Fujairah. Partnership on 'groundbreaking' engine development W'rtsil' and ABB Turbo Systems working together on new engine design that cuts fuel consumption and engine emissions. Container sector recovery still in doubt Drewry Shipping Consultants says relationships between carriers and shippers have never been so fractious. Shipowners save with cold ironing in Sweden Government issuing tax break for vessels cold ironing at local ports. General rise in IFO prices, demand mixed Tightening avails of certain bunker grades reported across most key Asian ports. Vopak Horizon Fujairah to expand terminal storage capacity by 40% Plans to construct 20 new tanks by the first quarter of 2012. Sinopec Zhoushan turns physical in Ningbo Eyes further expansion to several more Chinese ports. A Leap Forward in Analysis Bunkerworld launches new, comprehensive bunker price analysis tools. Bunkering 'will not' be affected by fee hike Philippine supplier says the expected service fee hike in Manila North Harbour will only affect domestic vessels.