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Tanker rates for Asian routes seen weakening
Rates for oil tankers on key Asian freight routes are expected to weaken over the next week, pressured by the IEA's release of emergency stockpiles of crude and refined fuel products, shipbrokers said yesterday.
US cuts SPR oil minimum delivery size
The US Energy Department on Monday cut the minimum delivery size for the oil that it will try to sell this week from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) that will be delivered by ship. The smaller lot size would make it easier for more US-based ships to transport the oil, and could encourage more bidding by companies interested in taking a smaller amount of reserve oil.
Tanker rates on global export routes climb
Refined petroleum tanker rates on top global export routes were mostly firmer on Monday although growing vessel availability put the brakes on earnings gains in the transatlantic market.

Strait Talk

IMO's move on lifeboat safety unsatisfactory
THE expression 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions' has never been far from my mind during the 20- plus years that I have covered the nightmarish saga of the enclosed lifeboat.

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Shipping News

Tanker rates for Asian routes seen weakening
Rates for oil tankers on key Asian freight routes are expected to weaken over the next week, pressured by the IEA's release of emergency stockpiles of crude and refined fuel products, shipbrokers said yesterday.
US cuts SPR oil minimum delivery size
The US Energy Department on Monday cut the minimum delivery size for the oil that it will try to sell this week from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) that will be delivered by ship. The smaller lot size would make it easier for more US-based ships to transport the oil, and could encourage more bidding by companies interested in taking a smaller amount of reserve oil.
Tanker rates on global export routes climb
Refined petroleum tanker rates on top global export routes were mostly firmer on Monday although growing vessel availability put the brakes on earnings gains in the transatlantic market.

Strait Talk

IMO's move on lifeboat safety unsatisfactory
THE expression 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions' has never been far from my mind during the 20- plus years that I have covered the nightmarish saga of the enclosed lifeboat.

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MOL orders two 8,600-TEU ships, charters five 14,000-TEUers Horizon secures reprieve from lenders extending life another quarter Premier Wen Jiabao pledges to support sinking euro by buying bonds Maersk Line orders 10 more 18,000-TEU ships for a total of 20 MOL appoints new senior executives across Asian operations US makes U-turn to favour Jones Act carriers in shipping oil reserves TS Lines, Hainan PO Shipping upgrade their joint China-Oz service MSC has 2 million TEU afloat, a 12.9pc market share, crowding Maersk's 15.3pc Russia's Global Port IPO raises US$534 million in London Kerry Logistics builds 26,000-square metre logistics centre in Jiangsu Disrupting Qantas engineers demand fourfold pay hike to return to work Hainan Airline to launch Beijing to Busan service on June 29 Panalpina and TomTom renew air freight logistics contract

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ABG Shipyard bags maiden order from Defence sector Ashte Logistics CFS completes two years of successful operations CONCOR's CFS-Gandhidham implements Indian Customs EDI System Pipavav Shipyard renamed Pipavav Defence & Offshore Engineering EEPC India's show in Toronto from Oct. 17-20 AMTOI organises insurance workshop in Chennai KCHAA & MCHAA welcome two new Customs Commissioners, felicitate outgoing one Corporate tax mop-up may drop due to slowdown RBI reassures exporters on bank credit ratings New Globe Logistik implementing Softlink's enterprise logistics solution for total integration

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JUNE 28, 2011
Growing demand drives Volvo to begin assembling I-Shift transmission in U.S. In order to meet growing demand for its innovative I-Shift automated manual transmission, Volvo Trucks today announced a USD 7 million investment to bring assembly of the transmiss... Port of Koper: National Spatial Plan adopted The Management Board of Luka Koper d.d. was delighted to receive news that at its session held on 16th June, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia endorsed the National Spatia... CHINA CNR supply iron ore hoper wagons to WPG Australia CNR Import & Export Corp., Ltd signed a contract of supplying 348 iron ore hopper wagons with CRMSC AUSTRALIA to WPG Australia. This is the first time for CHINA CNR to supply r... Poland introduce road tax for all lorries On 1 July the new Polish system for collecting road tax will be introduced. All lorries over 3.5 tonnes must pay road tax on motorways, express roads as well as some national roads... US Department of Transportation USD 126 million to ease train congestion in Chicago rail corridor U.S. Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood, announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation can now start spending USD 126 million for Chicago's Englewood Flyover project, ... Boeing delivers 777 Freighter to Etihad Crystal Cargo Boeing announced the delivery of a 777 Freighter to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Crystal Cargo, the fast growing cargo division of Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates' national airl... Port of Dunkirk: Increase of tonnage by 26% In May the Port of Dunkirk accomplished a tonnage of 4.44 million tons, this is equal to an increase of 26% compared with 2010. Thanks to the high level of activity in the major li... Project Professionals Group conference wrapped up Specialist project forwarding network the Project Professionals Group were among the first in the industry to learn about Hansa Heavy Lift's operations and a new Indian coastal ser... General Logistics Systems extends parcel service in Northern Europe GLS Denmark, the Danish subsidiary of the pan-European courier express and parcel service provider General Logistics Systems (GLS) based in Amsterdam (Netherlands), now also delive... Dachser is going to establish a second location in the Greater Frankfurt area A new logistics centre is going to be established by March 2012 in Erlensee, close to Hanau in the Greater Frankfurt/Main area (Germany). The international logistics provider Dachs... Daimler and Rolls-Royce secure a majority with Tognum The Daimler AG and Rolls-Royce Holding plc., have secured a big majority of Tognum shares, as both companies report. Both companies now hold 94.17% of the shares. Tognum will now b... Infrastructure bottlenecks put the brakes on growth at Kombiverkehr In the 2010 financial year, Frankfurt-based Kombiverkehr KG posted some of the best results in the more than 40-year history of the company, with some growth rates in double figure... The international lorry traffic has regained its breath The latest border census from the trade association International Transport Danmark (ITD) indicates that the lorry traffic across the Danish borders is back to the level before the... Asian-Pacific air cargo volume falls in May Preliminary traffic figures for the month of May released last week by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) registered significant declines in international air cargo de... Russians visit Schiphol to learn about e-freight Amsterdam Schiphol's airport cargo department recently hosted a visit by a Russian delegation including representatives of Russian airport authorities, Russian customs and border c... APL adjusts Trans-Pacific fuel surcharge to reflect slow-steaming Container shipping line APL has announced a new fuel surcharge formula in the Trans-Pacific trade that reflects the financial impact of slow-steaming, the industry-wide practice of...

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JUNE 28, 2011
Brazil's OSX gets credit line to develop huge shipyard MAN Diesel adds Chinese licensee Bourbon to build six seismic survey vessels at Grandweld U.S. Coast Guard, EPA sign agreement to enforce ECA Schottel forms subsidiary in Russia

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JUNE 28, 2011
Port of Seattle welcomes 800th ABC Fuels vessel IMO taps Koji Sekimizu as new Secretary-General Mitsui O.S.K. Lines orders pair of new container ships New passenger gate open at Bellingham Airport ATA truck tonnage index drops during month of May

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JUNE 28, 2011
Stena Bulk turns down $125,000 a day LNG contract Owner opts for short period deal instead as rates are set to soar next year Australia and Brazil capesize callings boost employment Growing fleet absorbed by rising exports of iron ore and coal Aframax market doldrums look set to continue Aframaxes have had an exceedingly dull week, with little movement in northern Europe and a fall in the Mediterranean and even worse is that brokers do not expect that picture to alter dramatically in the short term, although some optimists see limited upside potential ACM's Beijing office offers Chinese tanker advantage Proximity to oil company headquarters boosts broker's business Pacific round voyage rate soars Prices nearing $12,000 per day Seanergy seals new charter deals for bulk carrier trio Nasdaq-listed owner backs its period strategy despite lower rates Skuld adds $65m to contingency reserves P&I Club reports strong overall performance Greek seafarers promise further day of disruption Panhellenic Seamen's Federation voices fury at 'unprecedented' attack on pensions and other rights The meaning of victory China's premier says inflation is defeated. Is this a signal tight lending conditions will ease? Delegates welcome move to drop ships sold for scrap from Basel Convention European Commission proposes that ships sold for recycling should be removed from legislation's curbs Industry joins forces to improve working practices Breakers and cash buyers at Informa's annual conference were eager to dispel the image of their industry as a dirty one Koji Sekimizu voted IMO secretary-general Director of IMO maritime safety division achieved a decisive showing in the first round of voting, almost securing an outright victory with 19 votes Why guarantees should be handled with care Refund guarantees are a cornerstone of shipbuilding projects. Knowing their pitfalls is an essential first step Owners failing to train crews properly on bridge technology Accident investigator warns underwriters of seafarers failing to understand their equipment and its limitations P&O slams Dover Harbour Board tactics to sell privatisation plans Ferry operator says DHB has 'hijacked' government guidelines to assuage local fears Build your own ship A new manufacturing process could turn the economics of shipbuilding on its head True believers try to push TWIC through Congress Transportation Worker Identification Credential has failed and cannot Lazarus-like rise. It has no saviour Former insider Sekimizu is regarded as a safe pair of hands New secretary-general promises to conduct major financial review of secretariat UK monthly port state control detention rate falls Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports only six new detentions in May Tui extends Frenzel contract for two years Board wants to give Michael Frenzel time to conclude sale of Hapag-Lloyd without pressure Gazprom in Sovcomflot timecharter deal for two new LNG carriers Vessels to be built by South Korea's STX Tokyo approves gas bubbles ballast water treatment Japanese-developed FineBallast OZ system injects micro bubbles of ozone into the ballast water system to kill off harmful organisms Sanko Steamship to sell or return vessels to stem losses Tankers and offshore vessels marked for special attention as company says it cannot confidently predict a return to profit in current year Shunning a good idea In the category of long-term bets, the good outcome of FSRUs has to be winner. So why did investors blow cold on the Hoegh IPO? ACM's Beijing office offers Chinese tanker advantage Proximity to oil company headquarters boosts broker's business Shanghai container derivatives trading platform off to strong start Participation by China's large state-owned shipping companies will be key to success Bolting the ballast door Port and flag states should not take too draconian an approach to ballast water rule enforcement PierPass stalls ports traffic fee rise Cargo owners using LA and Long Beach to be given more time to prepare for extra $10 a teu

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JUNE 28, 2011
Obama backtracks on Jones Act waiver US PRESIDENT Barack Obama has reversed a decision to allow a waiver of the Jones Act for the transport of 30M barrels of emergency crude, IHS Global Insight reported today Açu yard approved BRAZIL's OSX will begin construction next month on the Açu yard, which it plans to develop into the largest shipbuilder in the Americas TCC accused in US court filing US SHIPPER Globe Express Services has made serious allegations against the Shanghai International Port Group and The Containership Company in a new court filing in Manhattan Huelva gets lease of life SPANISH ship repair and construction company Cotnsa announced today that it has agreed to lease the facilities of the bankrupt Astilleros de Huelva shipyard in southern Spain ReCAAP reports mixed news on attacks THE LATEST figures on armed robberies and pirate attacks reported to ReCAAP ISC show both negative and positive trends Drugs seized at Dover DRUGS worth an estimated £19M ($30.3M) have been seized in two operations at the UK port of Dover, according to the UK Border Agency US assigns ECA checks ENFORCEMENT of the North American Emission Control Area will be handled jointly by the US Coast Guard and the EPA, the agencies have announced Oz/China Capesize rates jump BROKERS told Fairplay today that Western Australia/Qingdao Capesize rates have broken the $9/tonne mark as the Baltic Capesize Index maintained its momentum LNG and crude rising in Indonesia A SURVEY by international law firm Norton Rose shows that LNG, palm oil and upstream oil and gas represent the biggest investment opportunities in Indonesia Bunker prices hit VLCC rates THE BULL run that VLCCs enjoyed on the benchmark Arabian Gulf/Japan route is ending now that bunker prices have dropped, brokers told Fairplay today Yangzijiang buys Runzhou HI stake CHINESE shipbuilder Yangzijiang has announced that it has bought a 54.47% stake in Runzhou Heavy Industry and its subsidiary Jiangsu New Yangzi Gas

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JUNE 28, 2011
Finance Committee Schedules FTA 'Mockup' Members of the Senate Finance Committee will let President Obama know what they would like to see written in upcoming... Feds Send Help to Great Plains Flood Zone Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has made $5 million available to North Dakota in quick-release road repair funds, while President Obama's... Panamax Ships to Face Growing Competition, Report Says Panamax container ships are finding employment today but face growing competition from larger vessels, especially after the Panama Canal's larger... Imports to Slow Through N. Europe's Busiest Ports Imports through North Europe's six busiest ports will slow to 8 percent this year from 15.9 percent in 2010 while... Coast Guard, EPA Agree on Pollution Enforcement Two years ago the U.S. adopted international standards for regulating exhaust emissions from ships. On Monday, the Coast... Retailers, Environment Groups Unite to Cut Emissions The Coalition for Responsible Transportation, the Environmental Defense Fund, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced the launch of... Peruvian Airline Acquires Freighter Peruvian airline StarPeru is expanding into the cargo business beyond its niche passenger operations with the purchase of a BAe-... Smaller Shippers Bumping Up Supply Chain Budgets Smaller shippers plan to increase transportation spending this year despite economic uncertainty, according to a customer survey conducted by Saia.... Diesel Price Falls to Near Four-Month Low The average price of diesel fuel across the U.S. plunged 6.2 cents in the past week to the lowest level in... Japan Ship Orders Sink 41 Percent in May Japanese export ship orders fell in May for the first time in 18 months on a year-on-year basis, sliding 41... Greek Dockworkers Begin 48-Hour Strike Greek dockworkers are taking part in a 48-hour general strike and nationwide protests as Parliament debates budget cuts, tax hikes... German Intermodal Operator Sees Record Traffic, Revenue Kombiverkehr, Europe's biggest intermodal operator, reported traffic and revenue rose to near record levels in 2010 but warned infrastructure bottlenecks... Excess Capacity Undercuts Asia-Europe Rate Hikes, Says Alphaliner Ocean carriers are unlikely to achieve planned freight rate hikes on the Asia-Europe route this week because they have failed...

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JUNE 28, 2011
Maersk to extend no-show charges in Q3 11 APL average rate holds up RSGT on a high Transpac rates continue tumble - and not expected to rise for peak season Greece at the crossroads of sovereign default

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JUNE 28, 2011
Nokta ditches Dahlman Rose Veteran equity analyst's vanishing act ignites speculation on Wall Street as US investment bank races to name replacement. Frontline fingered in floating fix Rumour mill spins at warp speed as brokers link New York-listed tanker giant to Statoil storage contract. Globus Maritime launches US raid George Karageorgiou-led bulker owner scales down and prices $23m follow-on fundraiser. ITC secures VLCC sales option Bond affiliates of John Fredriksen-controlled Independent Tankers back sale of another VLCC amid market turmoil. MSC Opera flaws unmasked UK maritime authority reveals details of infringements by MSC cruiseship detained in Southampton. Pirates fail in bulker attack Attempt on NYK bulk carrier thwarted by sea swells, evasive measures and naval intervention. GC Rieber proceeds with merger talks GC Rieber Shipping in negotiations with privately-held parent over development of seismic survey wing. Statoil scraps vintage platforms Norwegian recycling contractor to opt for jack-up rig over heavy-lift vessel in transport phase of $77m demolition contract. US drops blanket oil waiver Overseas tanker owners must apply individually to lift 30m barrels of Strategic Petroleum Reserve cargoes. Box rate increase to fail Alphaliner warns Asia to Europe lines need to cut capacity if they want to force through fee increases. ACM on expansion trail Despite losing S&P brokers, Johnny Plumbe-led shop is looking to build teams to increase dry cargo and LNG presence worldwide. Hong Kong holds six vessels Boxships and general cargoships detained during May, some with oily water separator faults. Koji Sekimizu wins IMO race Japanese safety chief will take over from Efthimios Mitropoulos as figurehead of international shipping next year. Crewman missing off France Turkish vessel sounds the alert after seafarer failed to turn up for shift off Pas-de-Calais. Maersk back in at third Japanese port Danish boxship giant kickstarts operations at a third Japanese terminal shut down by earthquake. Queen Mary 2 branded "filthy" Cunard vows to do better after cockroaches found in locker on luxury liner during New York check. JNPT port goes fourth ABG Shipyard and PSA of Singapore teaming up to develop container terminal number four at Indian facility. Stopford shows pirates' 'big three' Handysize bulkers, MPPs and small tankers account for over 80% of vessels seized in the past 12 months, Clarksons guru says. Torm gets a breather The struggling Danish tanker-owner continues financial restructuring with $630m credit extension. Time charters tipped for comeback London broker ACM says stressed owners now more open to fixing tankers long-term, even at poor rates. Busier ACM staying positive London broker's annual profit falls but its tanker fixtures increase 14% as it looks forward to rate rises. Genesis snaps up Florida Marine Texas barge owner builds its fleet with the $141m takeover of US Gulf coast rival. Dead ship claims third victim Fascination with a bulker stranded off the coast of India has led to a third victim drowning. Bourbon bag seismic six pack French offshore powerhouse books newbuilding sextet in Dubai following charter pact with CGGVeritas. Batista's giant yard gets go-ahead Brazilian billionaire secures backing for Acu Port yard, which it claims will be the largest in the Americas. Golden share sale gets thumbs up Analysts applaud Golden Ocean's potential sale of its Knightsbridge Tankers stake. Top Ships cashes in bulker? Evangelos Pistiolis-led owner said to have sold panamax nearing the end of a contract. Pay cut for Seanergy trio Dale Ploughman-led bulker owner hires out two capes and a panamax at reduced rates

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JUNE 28, 2011
DHL adds countries to trade software DHL said Monday it has added 11 countries to the roster of countries covered in its Trade Automation Services (TAS) product, which provides online trade and customs data.TAS now covers 74 countries. The 11 recently added are Algeria, Iran, Jordan, ... Trade groups urge TPP apparel rules A coalition of five U.S. apparel trade groups on Monday urged negotiators in the Trans-Pacific Partnership to focus on improvements that will benefit regions in the partnership more evenly.The American Apparel & Footwear Association, National Retai... Highway freight volumes continue to soften Truck tonnage fell 2.3 percent in May from April on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the American Trucking Associations.The ATA's monthly tonnage index, compiled by surveying the group's members, now stands at 112.3 compared to 114.9 in... New stamps feature merchant marine Commercial shipping will be the focus of a set of new U.S. postage stamps that will go on sale July 28.The ships will be launched with a first day of issuance ceremony, 11:30 a.m., July 28 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's Ackerman Auditorium,... NSCSA signs deal for new ships The National Shipping Co. of Saudi Arabia said last week it signed a "murabaha" financing agreement with the Saudi British Bank (SABB) and the National Commercial Bank for 822.6 million Saudi Riyals ($219.3 million) that will finance 80 percent of ... OSHA may regulate tandem container lifts A federal court has ruled the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) may regulate so-called "vertical tandem lifts" (VTLs) of containers or flat racks, where more than one container or flat rack is lifted at a time.But in a decision ... Maersk tries changing no-show/overbooking behavior Maersk Line will begin implementing a global system to charge shippers whose cargo no-shows in the third quarter of the year.Under the plan, Maersk would conversely compensate shippers whose cargo has been held back due to overbooking by the carri... Closing gaps on no-shows Who's making Money Access Pass July 2011

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JUNE 28, 2011
AWT wins award for fleet management system Fuel savings of 5-10% can be achieved by using AWT's recommended routes on cross-ocean voyages. IFO prices steady in Fujairah Deliveries were available for supply up to and including July 12 in Cape Town. Rotterdam market bounces back Scheduled deliveries OK in Piraeus, despite strike. Council elects new head for IMO Director of Maritime Safety Division on course to becoming Secretary-General. European officials put IMO under new pressure It is 'high-time' for agreement on emissions reductions, IMO told. US Navy driving the development of biofuel Private sector will produce biofuels in 'larger and larger quantities.' IFO prices firm at most Asian ports Avails of bunker fuel to tighten in early July, says Singapore player. Bunker levy debate 'must not distract' focus from EEDI BIMCO reaffirms support for bunker levy as opposed to emissions trading. Firm unveils 'revolutionary first step' in vessel design Solar panels on vessel able to generate enough power for 3,000 miles at 18 knots. Seattle port celebrates 800th vessel in fuel switch programme Port's At-Berth Clean Fuels programme has cut close to 500 mt of sulphur dioxide emissions. WFS buys yacht bunkering business WFS to pay £1.75 million in cash to acquire Yacht Fuel Services (YFS).