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Shipping News

LNG tanker rates may soar 67% on Japan demand
The cost of shipping liquefied natural gas may advance 67 per cent to a five-year high as Japan replaces its crippled nuclear industry with power plants burning fossil fuels.
Major container lines still serving Japan
Five of the six biggest container shippers are maintaining routes to Tokyo and Yokohama after the US Navy said radiation on vessels from the leaking Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant can be scrubbed off with soap and water.
Rates for clean tankers may rise this week
Rates for clean tankers on key Asian freight routes are expected to rise this week as strong demand for refined products helps offset a surplus of tonnage.
Pirates hijack S'pore-bound oil tanker

Strait Talk

Shipping sector gets vote of confidence
LAST week, this column looked at the way Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is focusing on long-term priorities and, in particular, reaching out to the new generation. That is essential for the long-term health of the maritime sector but most shipping industry executives would point out that they are also quite interested in surviving through the next year or two.

web site

Shipping News

LNG tanker rates may soar 67% on Japan demand
The cost of shipping liquefied natural gas may advance 67 per cent to a five-year high as Japan replaces its crippled nuclear industry with power plants burning fossil fuels.
Major container lines still serving Japan
Five of the six biggest container shippers are maintaining routes to Tokyo and Yokohama after the US Navy said radiation on vessels from the leaking Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant can be scrubbed off with soap and water.
Rates for clean tankers may rise this week
Rates for clean tankers on key Asian freight routes are expected to rise this week as strong demand for refined products helps offset a surplus of tonnage.
Pirates hijack S'pore-bound oil tanker

Strait Talk

Shipping sector gets vote of confidence
LAST week, this column looked at the way Singapore Maritime Week (SMW) is focusing on long-term priorities and, in particular, reaching out to the new generation. That is essential for the long-term health of the maritime sector but most shipping industry executives would point out that they are also quite interested in surviving through the next year or two.

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February marks end of Shanghai's 14 months export growth Asia-Europe rates to drop below US$1,000 per TEU, lowest since 2009 Fujian's January ocean foreign trade cargo volume up 27pc SeaIntel: Low rates will plunge world's top 10 carriers into loss Yang Ming credits intra-Asia for US$374 million profit in 2010 Qingdao aims at throughput of 20 million TEU by 2015 Chongqing to open the fourth outlet to Mideast RCL back in black with US$9.9 million due to revaluation gain Hyundai Heavy fights Hyundai Group to control Hyundai Merchant Marine DP World orders extra four Kalmar RTGs for Sydney CT DB Schenker centralises operations at Manila facility Russia's NCC owners sell stake in Novorossiysk's terminal China Southern profit surges nearly 18 fold on global recovery UPS starts next-day Hong Kong to Europe service FedEx Express starts 777F service from US-Seoul Euro air drill April 13 to simulate Icelandic volcano disaster

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Allcargo Chennai handles 157 TEUs of LCL exports in February LSPs plan increased spending on IT-Softlink survey Rickmers-Linie vessel deftly loads & transports specialist cargo Canada keen to join hands with Indian MSMEs Chile keen to ink FTA with India More free trade pacts soon: Scindia TCI rail cargo service connects South to N-E Divestment target missed in FY' 11 Govt mediation sought to check steel price hike Govt to notify sugar exports through OGL this week

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MARCH 29, 2011
Kögel presents new Mega trailer with maximum height of 4 m The German vehicle manufacturer Kögel Trailer GmbH plans to present it brand new Mega trailer at the transport logistic trade fair, which is taking place in Munich (Germany) in May... Christian Koopmann new chairman of ZVDS Christian Koopmann, the chairman of Hamburg (Germany)'s shipbroker and ship agent association (Vereinigung Hamburger Schiffsmakler und Schiffsagenten/VHSS), has now becom... Port of Rotterdam: good results for important for investments The port of Rotterdam authority's results for 2010 amount to EUR 154 million. That is EUR 10 million more than the results for 2009, excluding the one-off proceeds of a sale during... Dubai airports suffered in February Dubai international airport (UAE) handled 156,259 t of international airfreight in February, 9% less than the 171,707 t recorded during the same period in 2010. February freight gr... KLM expands service to China KLM Royal Dutch Airlines marked the start of the summer schedule at the weekend by operating its first flight to Xiamen international airport (China). KLM is the first airline to o... New ro-ro connection between Zonguldak and Taganrog A new ro-ro connection will be launched between the Black Sea ports of Zonguldak (Turkey) and Taganrog (Russia, Rostov Oblast). Turkish officials reported that the start has b... Maersk services Moby Dik Maersk Line, the giant Danish liner shipping company, began operating a new container service to Moby Dik container terminal (a Global Ports group company) on Kotlin Island (Kronst... Stadler rail vehicles win red dot design awards The Swiss rolling stock producer Stadler Rail has won three of the renowned red dot awards for top international design. It receives the awards jointly with design studios Nose, Pa... Mas Air increases flights to Brazil, Argentina and the USA Aerotransportes Mas de Carga (Mas Air), a leader in the Mexican air cargo market and commercial partner of Lan Cargo, increased the number of flights from Mexico and Guadalajara to... Railway projects in GCC now worth USD 106.2 billion The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are forging ahead with railway projects worth USD 106.2 billion. This was revealed by new research in the build up to next month... USA: truck tonnage index dipped in February The American Trucking Associations' advance seasonally adjusted (SA) for-hire truck tonnage index decreased by 2.9% in February, after increasing a revised 3.5% in January 201... India: new Bangalore-Guwahati railfreight service The Indian transport provider TCI Freight has started a weekly rail cargo express service from Bangalore to Guwahati. To operate the connection, the company has leased a cargo expr... Homtrans expanding in Rostock The German service provider Homtrans, based in Rostock, is investing in a new logistics centre close to its present head office. Rieck Logistik, which is headquartered in Berlin an... Brita business filters back to P&O Ferrymasters Supply chain solutions specialist P&O Ferrymasters has extended its long-term relationship with Germany's Brita Group, one of the world's leading water optimisation systems man... Gefco overcomes the crisis The French transport and logistics group Gefco boosted its sales in fiscal 2010 to EUR 3.35 billion, 16% more compared to the EUR 2.88 billion generated in the previous year. The o...

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MARCH 29, 2011
Conrad Industries books $75.2 million in new orders Horizon Lines shareholders jump ship on bankruptcy fears Court grants Crowley restraining order in cargo inspection case Stirling Design takes a new look at sight-seeing vessels Hyundai Heavy Industries unveils smart ship system Navy takes out Libyan Coast Guard vessels Buquebus revealed as customer for LNG fueled Incat

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MARCH 29, 2011
Trade between NAFTA partners up during month of January Crowley's Puerto Rico facilities net favorable court decision Port of Camas-Washougal plans cleanup event celebrating Earth Day Unified Command plans to dam broken barge on Columbia River Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics cuts CO2 emissions by 21 percent

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MARCH 29, 2011
Medium range tankers reap rewards as US gasoil exports rise Surplus at US refineries leads to rise in cargoes to Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America Panamax pain as Japan cargoes cut by quake Pacific rates bow to downward pressure as ships compete for work Fresh Baltic cold snap could freeze fall in aframax rates All eyes are on the Russian weather forecasts as one further cold snap before northern hemisphere spring sets in could arrest the precipitous fall in rates for aframax tankers shipping crude from the Baltic port of Primorsk Globus buys Cobelfret supramax The 2007-built Lowlands Pastrasche has emerged as the supramax bulk carrier that Globus Maritime bought for $30m, as part of a strategy to double its fleet within the next three years Increase in distressed sales sees vessel values drop Distressed sales are pushing down ship values with a new post-panamax bulk carrier ordered by Italian shipowner D'amato di Navigazione selling for $35m, nearly 25% lower than a sister vessel sold three months ago Social media shock for shipowners Seafarers' postings on social media such as Facebook need to be monitored Libya military operation to stretch anti-piracy patrols Industry officials raise concerns over naval redeployments and lack of government support Giving weight to arbitration clauses Brussels is looking at ways to enforce jurisdictional agreements Armed guards continue to divide opinion Does having weapons on board increase the risk of violence? Owners avoid costly piracy policies New pressures on the box revival Deflation and a new generation of vessels will be influential in determining the survival capacity of many smaller carriers The dark side of policing piracy Marine insurers feel bite of Iranian sanctions Industry says claims related to Iran "very difficult to handle" Breeze A owners dismiss Libya jet fuel claims Ancora Investment launches appeal to UN sanctions committee, saying tanker was carrying gasoline Lazard sounds warning as banks threaten to call in loans Year of reckoning ahead as companies face raft of external challenges Somali pirates seize Egyptian aframax tanker Zirku attacked approximately 250 nm south east of Salalah UASC makes Asia-US east coast trade foray Joins China Shipping and Evergreen on their joint all-water Asia-US east coast service OceanFreight buys very large capesizes from Kandylidis Two bulker deal lifts Kandylidis stake in dry bulk company to 51% Global liner fleet hits 15m teu mark Alphaliner data shows idle ship numbers at lowest in over two years Fisherman dies after ferry crash Condor Vitesse and whelk boat collide Multipurpose ship demand to outpace box and dry bulk sectors Demand forecast to average 7% a year to 2015 Fuel costs and taxes drag Attica to record loss Ferry owner reports after tax-loss of $69.5m for 2010 A time for conscience It is impossible to say how long it will take for the Mediterranean aframax market to return to normal, but that can hardly be the overriding consideration State of flux If boxship capacity continues to grow to damaging levels it will be much harder a second time round to trim costs relative to revenues Incat fast ferry to be LNG-powered First deal for high speed ro-ro ferry powered to use LNG as main fuel Reluctant bondholders add to Horizon's woes Line unable to get waiver covenants on a $330m series of bonds TAL targets $85m from share sale Box lessor to beef-up fleet with part of proceeds US court upholds California clean-fuel law Alarm over state's 'extra-territorial' authority to dictate ship operations Noble exercises options on two jack-up rigs from Sembcor unit Two vessels worth a total of $427.6m for delivery in 2013 and 2014

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MARCH 29, 2011
Carriers lose California fuel appeal SHIPOWNERS have lost a court appeal against a 2009 California regulation limiting air emissions from ships Poland box throughput rockets CONTAINER throughput at the major Polish ports rocketed to a new high last year, boosted by a direct main line service by Maersk Singapore form gaining popularity THE SINGAPORE Ship Sale Form has been used for about 50 transactions since it was launched on 6 January, the Singapore Maritime Foundation has told Fairplay Banker issues balance sheet warning A SENIOR shipping banker has warned shipping companies to strengthen their balance sheets in the face of uncertainty over the global economy Crowley fights box scan plan CROWLEY has won a 10-day restraining order postponing the introduction of a new Puerto Rican container inspection regime, which was due to begin this week Port CEO questions 'failed state' view THE CEO of Oman's Salalah port has questioned the belief that the failure of the state of Somalia is the key cause of increased piracy off East Africa New Kitimat LNG facility proposed A SECOND application to build a floating LNG export plant at Kitimat in British Columbia has been submitted to Canada's National Energy Board Mitropoulos sees oil supply change THE IMO secretary-general has told an Abu Dhabi conference that prolonged conflict in Libya could lead to major changes to the way oil is supplied to Western Europe US attacks Libyan coastguard A US NAVY maritime patrol aircraft has attacked a Libyan coastguard vessel that had been firing on merchant ships in the rebel-held port of Misurata, US officials confirmed today Horizon admits bankruptcy threat BONDHOLDERS have refused to give Horizon Lines a crucial waiver, raising the chance that the Jones Act carrier may be forced into bankruptcy Shareholders remove Novorossiysk board THE ENTIRE board of Russia's Novorossiysk Commercial Seaport Co has been voted out in a special shareholders' ballot GL targets specialist fleet GERMAN class society Germanischer Lloyd is targeting a dominant share in classification of turbine installation vessels CMA CGM reacts to radiation threat CMA CGM has told Fairplay that it is has created a team to maintain contact with Japan's Atomic Energy Agency and adapt routes as the country's nuclear fallout worsens Higher volumes boost Hutchison GROWTH in port throughput at Li Ka-shing's Hutchison has contributed to a 47% year-on year rise in net profits to HK$20Bn ($2.56Bn) for 2010 Pirates seize tanker off Oman PIRATES hijacked a Kuwaiti tanker off Oman today, Fairplay has been told.

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MARCH 29, 2011
Consumer Confidence Index Dips Concern about inflation and income caused a closely watched barometer of consumer sentiment to fall from its three-month high in... NAFTA Trade Rose 19.5 Percent in January The value of trade moved by surface transportation between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada... Schneider National Cuts Cargo Theft 12.5 Percent Cargo theft declined 12.5 percent last year at truckload and intermodal giant Schneider National, running counter to national trends, the... Town of Dover Votes to Buy Port The residents of Dover overwhelmingly voted in favor of a proposal for the local community to buy and operate Europe's... WWL Cuts CO2 Emissions 21 Percent Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics said Tuesday it reduced its carbon dioxide emissions 21 percent last year, compared to 2009. The... COAC to Eye Role of Brokers April 12 The role of the customs broker in the supply chain is high on the agenda when COAC members meet on... Heavier Truck Freight Shifting to LTL Less-than-truckload carriers say they increasingly are handling heavier freight typically moved by truckload carriers as capacity in that sector tightens. ... China Turns Away MOL Ship for Radiation Chinese authorities rejected a container ship operated by MOL, Japan's second-largest shipping line, saying they had detected high levels of... Global Air Cargo Growth Slows to 2.3 Percent The political turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa curbed global air cargo growth to 2.3 percent in February... Congestion Closes India's Nhava Sheva Export Gate Because of congestion, terminal management closed the export gate at Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal in India's Port of Jawaharlal... Horizon Lines Expects to Default on Bonds Horizon Lines said it expects to default on its loans as the result of a $45 million fine for price-fixing... Japanese Restore Transportation Systems Restoration work on Japanese transportation systems devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeastern part of... Grand Alliance Resumes Nagoya Service The Grand Alliance is resuming service to the Japanese city of Nagoya operated by Hapag-Lloyd on March 31, according to a bulletin... Japan to Remain Major US Trading Partner Japan's commerce with the U.S. is taking a short-term hit due to repercussions from the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and... Crowley Wins Order Blocking Puerto Rican Inspections A U.S. District Court in San Juan issued a temporary restraining order on Friday in favor of Crowley Puerto Rico...

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MARCH 29, 2011
Oil tanker pirated off Oman Maersk and Safmarine modernise their Asia/Africa/South American fleets Crowley boosts Caribbean link Mothballed box tonnage at new low ESC backs EC's White Paper on environment

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MARCH 29, 2011
Beluga newbuild gets legs UAE firm lands $22.5m contract tied to wind-farm installation vessel backed by affiliate of bankrupt heavy-lift operator. Horizon shares tank Shares of US-listed liner operator plummet 47% amid fears of covenant breaches and bankruptcy. MJLF eyes clients with courage Boss of US tanker brokerage urges private equity to put money to work in a world where 'courage' is key to ship acquisitions. USCG nails five Cosmoship lands at the top of March detention list as US Coast Guard picks up pace of port checks. Univan tanker escapes Armed security team on Univan managed vessel help it brush off pirates in the Gulf of Aden. New ferry run from Miami Spanish group Balearia will launch passenger service from Florida to Bahamas. Kandylidis sells to OCNF Nasdaq-listed owner picks up two capesize newbuildings in cash plus shares pact with CEO Anthony Kandylidis. Sunlink seeks Tirrenia six Danish start-up eyeing ambitious swoop for ro-paxes owned by Italian company undergoing privatisation. Slow steaming to stick Euronav says owners who think throttling back is a short term solution are going to lose out. Crew burned by boiler Two seafarers hospitalised by escape of steam on German boxship in New Zealand. No gun run for AMPTC Kuwaiti owner will not make a snap decision on hiring armed guards to protect its ships after yesterday's aframax hijacking. Radiation ship heads home MOL Presence going back to Japan after Chinese authorities detected "abnormal" readings. Fincantieri falls Italian shipyard group sees losses widen in 2010 as it faced orderbook "voids". One dead in ferry crash French fisherman killed after collision between trawler and Condor Ferries vessel in foggy Channel. Rieber lands polar prize Oslo-listed owner scores three-year deal with the MoD for work in the South Atlantic and the Antarctic. Man jumps from ferry Search on for passenger who plunged from Aleson Shipping Lines vessel off Philippines.

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MARCH 29, 2011
UP starts ag transload service Union Pacific Railroad has started a transloading service in California aimed at agriculture shippers. The new Plant-to-Port transportation and transload program provides customer product transfer from covered hopper unit trains directly to ocean ... Maersk moves calls from Hong Kong to Nansha Maersk Line will shift seven to eight of its 30 weekly calls at the Port of Hong Kong to Nansha in the western Pearl River Delta at the beginning of April, according to reports. Hong Kong's South China Morning Postreported the news Friday and it was... Maersk ships built for West Africa trade Maersk Line said it will take delivery of 22 "Wafmax" ships over the next two years, so named because they are designed specifically for the West Africa trade. The first of the series,Maersk Conakry,was named at a ceremony Monday in Ulsan, Korea, ... Taiwan lines see $900 million profit in '10 Taiwan's top two container shipping lines secured combined operating profits of nearly $900 million in 2010, according to financials released by the companies last week. Evergreen Marine Corp., the Taiwan-listed arm of the Evergreen Group, had oper... Coast Guard official to lead U.N. agency U.S. nominates Lantz for top IMO jobLantz The U.S. State Department has nominated Jeffrey Lantz to become the next secretary-general of the United Nation's International Maritime Organization. Choumert new ESC chairman... Inland waterways Michigan ports' dredging dollars clippedThe Obama administration's proposed dredging budget for fiscal year 2012 will not spend a single dollar on 13 Michigan ports that collectively average more than 31 millions of cargo per year, said the Great L... Shifting trades Maersk ships built for West Africa tradeMaersk Line said it will take delivery of 22 "Wafmax" ships over the next two years, so named because they are designed specifically for the West Africa trade. Maersk moves calls from Hong Kong to NanshaMaers... Seeks restructuring of debt American Shipper April 2011 PDF Ports as U.S. export ambassadors

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MARCH 29, 2011
Deep Sea Supply takes delivery of AHTS vessel The Norwegian offshore operator Deep Sea Supply has taken delivery of the anchor handling tug supply vessel Sea Jackal from India. Sea Jackal is the sixth delivery in a series Large Norden deal cancelled D/S Norden has announced that the sale of six Handymax bulkcarrier newbuildings has fallen through. The Greek buyer has failed to meet the financial conditions of the contract. That The last plate processed at Odense yard This week Odense Steel Shipyard cut the very last steel plate for a newbuilding from the shipyard. The plate is going to be a part of hull nr. 232, which Swedish cargo volumes up The Swedish cargo handling volumes increased to 179.6 million tons in 2010, up from 162 million the previous year. The result is based on data from all Swedish ports

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MARCH 29, 2011
Bunkers International moves UK office The company has moved to a larger office to accommodate growth that it has been experiencing in the global marketplace. Fujairah market soft In Cape Town, deliveries available for supply up to and including April 12. Bunker costs hit ferry operator's bottom line Attica posts pre-tax loss of $69.5 million. Rotterdam prices steady Congestion reported in Gibraltar. Shipping company cuts carbon emissions by over 20% WWL says it is committed to sustainability 'in good times and bad'. Essar to buy UK's second largest refinery Deal to cover 'local' marine fuel business. IMO discusses 'Market-based Measures' to control emissions Working group to examine 'need and purpose of MBMs'. Asian bunker prices mostly down Traders see 'mixed" demand at main Asian bunkering hubs on Tuesday. EU outlines 'major challenges, key measures' for 2050 Targets reduction of shipping emission by 'at least 40%'. $1.4 million coffer dam to be built around wreck Cost of cleaning bunker leaks and other contaminants put at $9.5 million. African supplier to boost bunker sales GOIL to 'to take advantage' of increasing opportunities for bunkering, says managing director. US court rejects California fuel rule challenge Protection of California's environment 'recognized as a legitimate and important state interest', says court. Slow steaming 'most effective economic exploitation' of tanker fleet Slow steaming gives companies a 'competitive advantage', says tanker owner Euronav.