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Pricing at Shenzhen ports kept artificially high
A recent research report from a Hong Kong think tank suggests that artificial pricing at Shenzhen's container terminals is aimed at supporting high Hong Kong terminal handling charges, currently the highest in the world.
UK plays down reported terror threat to ferries
Philippine cargo volume drops 4.7%
Cruise passengers contract virus

Air and Land Transport

Taiwan decides against direct China charter flights
TAIWAN's cabinet yesterday decided against allowing direct charter flights between Taipei and Shanghai, saying the security and social costs would outweigh any economic benefits.
Lufthansa and SIA to retain higher US freight rates
Airbus pays back UK double for A320 loan
South Korea to raiseairport fees next month
Shenzhen plans airport upgrade
Air NZ unit fined NZ$10,000 for misleading advertising
Log Book

web site

Shipping News

Pricing at Shenzhen ports kept artificially high
A recent research report from a Hong Kong think tank suggests that artificial pricing at Shenzhen's container terminals is aimed at supporting high Hong Kong terminal handling charges, currently the highest in the world.
UK plays down reported terror threat to ferries
Philippine cargo volume drops 4.7%
Cruise passengers contract virus

Air and Land Transport

Taiwan decides against direct China charter flights
TAIWAN's cabinet yesterday decided against allowing direct charter flights between Taipei and Shanghai, saying the security and social costs would outweigh any economic benefits.
Lufthansa and SIA to retain higher US freight rates
Airbus pays back UK double for A320 loan
South Korea to raiseairport fees next month
Shenzhen plans airport upgrade
Air NZ unit fined NZ$10,000 for misleading advertising
Log Book

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Seventy millionth container handled at HIT Canadian delegation visit bolsters Pearl River Delta Shanghai Piff acquires China NVOCC licence FWL Technologies extends relationship with Sun Exel picks up Stasco relocation project, new warehouse CP Ships makes shareholders an offer hard to refuse Ryder names Paula Musto as VP corporate communications Emirates Airline more than doubles interim profit UA and flight attendants reach tentative agreement FedEx Freight names new east and west presidents

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NOVEMBER 12, 2002
'Brussels working on EU toll' The European Commission is hard at work on a single EU regulation for toll collection, according to a senior official at the Directorate-General of Energy and Transport in Brussels. NYK/Ceres wins Halifax box bid The Halifax Port Authority (HPA) announced that NYK/Ceres (part of NYK) will be the operator of the Fairview Cove Container Terminal under a new 20-year contract, effective Jan. 1, 2003. RCL's profits down Singapore-headquartered and Thai-listed feeder Regional Container Lines (RCL) saw its third quarter 2002 profits fall sharply. Italy joins US pre-screening Italy with the ports of La Spezia and Genoa has become the latest to sign onto US Customs' Container Security Initiative (CSI) despite recent warnings by the European Commission (EC) that action may be taken against the bilateral agreements. Deutsche Bahn subsidiary in Rotterdam DB Cargo, part of the German railways Deutsche Bahn, will be represented by a different company in the Port of Rotterdam. The new subsidiary, Conliner, will take over the activities of Transfracht International in Rotterdam. China-Taiwan links will hurt HK carriers A reopening of direct air links between mainland China and Taiwan will benefit mainland and Taiwan carriers but hurt airlines in Hong Kong, like Dragonair.

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Maharashtra, Gujarat in talks on coastal transport route covering Mumbai-Surat-Bhavnagar US shrimp industry puts off move to file anti-dumping petition against India, 6 others Tuticorin Port handles 7.86 million tonnes of cargo during April-October 2002 Coast Guard vessel commissioned Fresh look at plan to establish port-based mega chemical estates CWC starts bonded trucking facility for export cargo at Singanallur ICD RBI spells out guidelines for setting up OBUs in SEZs Revenue collections up by 15 pc in April-Oct. CII kickstarts Finanstreet 2002 Move to lure pvt funds in core sector First private sector food processing park opens at Virudhunagar near Madurai Finished steel output registers 5.3 pc rise India, Tunisia to establish working group on textiles GoM formed to study WTO issues 36 proposals for industrial parks to build food processing units cleared FDI inflow good: Official DEPB licences liable for sales tax, clarifies DGFT Economy is resilient, will grow: Jalan State govt clears power supply privatisation in Pune, Navi Mumbai

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NOVEMBER 12, 2002
Barge avails still problematic in Montreal Daily bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents Oil demand growth back on track IEA: Balance returns in Q4 amid robust oil market fundamentals Two suppliers out of market in Panama Canal Good avails and lower prices in Argentina Oil little changed after Iraqi parliament rejects UN Resolution St Petersburg: Prices steady despite tough competition Hong Kong IFOs rise as avails tighten up Competitive Tallinn stays busy Rotterdam barge offers edge higher at midday Business as usual in the Great Belt Diesel Engine Cylinder Lubrication - Some thoughts Irish bunker price update Healthy avails and softer prices in Uruguay Piraeus continues smooth drop Suez prices move closer to competition Brazilian market update from Petrobras

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Schröder side by side with Røkke on yards ONE day after Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schröder had discussions with Norwegian shipbuilding magnate Kjell Inge Røkke, one of the latter's shipyards received a $130m four-ship order from German one-ship companies which is backed by the government's reconstruction bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau in Frankfurt. EU launches legal fight against US terror pacts THE European Commission has confirmed that it will open legal proceedings against European Union countries that have signed bilateral agreements with the US to join its Container Security Initiative. Lamy warns Washington on CSI 'trade curbs' European trade commissioner Pascal Lamy has warned Washington that its container security regulations could leave the US open to accusations of "smuggling through trade discrimination under the guise of security measures". UK ports step up random checks after ferry alert WIDESPREAD fears of a terrorist strike against a European ferry emerged yesterday, despite UK government attempts to downplay reports first published by Lloyd's List, that intelligence services had been warning against just such an attack, writes David Osler.

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NOVEMBER 12, 2002
Business as usual at Dover P&I warning on Athens amendments US agri-lobby pleads with operators Brazilian fines scare owners Houston to advise on Trinidad plans Adsteam signals change of direction San Antonio cracks down on services Passengers struck by cruise virus Jordan, Turkey discuss pact EC confirms CSI prosecutions German tonnage tax wins reprieve Seafarer dies in boxship blaze Mumbai stevedoring bid challenged Chantiers expects new orders 'soon' Troubled Lyttelton loses MD Japan rejects IMO bulker moves UK ferry ports put on high alert Philippines to protect sea lanes Thailand to sign CSI agreement NZ hunts for 'hit-and run' ship

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NOVEMBER 12, 2002
Senate to get port security bill The Senate will consider the final version of the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001 on Wednesday, according to a spokesman for Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., one of the bill's principal sponsors. TORM sees nine-month net gain The Dutch product tanker giant said profits totaled 451 million Dutch kroner ($61.3 million), and that it remains committed to completing its acquisition of rival Norden. U.S. rail intermodal up 9.4% China plans $3B port upgrade Canada shipowners want gov't. security aid British ro/ro ports on terror alert Cost cuts buoy EGL Sea Star CEO steps down Exel, International Paper extend agreement Interpool increases dividend Canadian National speeds intermodal clearance USCO inks distribution deal with The Bombay Company TradeCard gets fresh capital

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Anvers: MSC renonce à la darse à marée au profit de la darse Delwaide Pour les milieux maritimes anversois, la nouvelle aura l’effet d’une douche froide: MSC, le plus grand client du port scaldien avec un trafic annuel de 1,8 mio. de TEU, a décidé de renoncer au terminal à containers à aménager sur le versant ouest de la darse à marée en construction, pour concentrer ses trafics à la darse Delwaide rive droite où il est déjà présent depuis de nombreuses années. L’actuel terminal sera adapté en conséquence. On s’attendait depuis quelque temps à une importante décision de la part de l’armement étant donné qu’avec son partenaire à 50% la Hesse Noord Natie, la commande des futurs portiques à containers et autres équipements destinés à la future installation de la rive gauche était régulièrement retardée et pour cause. “TLF n’a jamais rompu le dialogue social” Le risque de voir le conflit entre les patrons français du secteur des transports et les syndicats des routiers déboucher sur une nouvelle série de barrages routiers est de plus en plus grand. Fin de la semaine passée, les trois fédérations patronales FNTR, TLF et Unostra ont balayé de la table l’exigence syndicale d’un treizième mois. Les syndicats avaient laissé jusqu’au 22 novembre pour que le patronat réponde à leurs exigences, faute de quoi ils pourraient organiser des barrages routiers pendant quatre à cinq semaines, selon le journal français Les Echos. La fédération patronale TLF a déclaré vendredi dernier dans un communiqué de presse qu’elle n’avait jamais rompu le dialogue social et que les syndicats avaient lancé un certain nombre de rumeurs sans fondement. SNCB: Karel Vinck demanderait 370 mio. d’EUR pour ABX Logistics Chaque jour apporte sa dose de chiffres les plus rouges et les plus pessimistes possibles concernant la SNCB et ses filiales, ABX Logistics et Inter Ferry Boats. Le conseil de cabinet restreint de ce mercredi, qui devrait voir Karel Vinck demander que la SNCB injecte 370 mio. d’EUR dans ABX, sera sans doute décisif. La SNCB a prévu pour jeudi une assemblée générale sur ABX. La place d’Etienne Schouppe semble de plus en plus vacillante...

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NOVEMBER 12, 2002
Tanker spill deals confirmed Victims get $287m payout as IOPC Funds and UK Club settle major pollution disputes. SEC rules deepen OSG loss Securities hit compounds Morton Hyman's tanker market woes Caribs cruise no carnival Cruise line scours Amsterdam after Norwalk bug bites. TEN confirms order bonanza Nikolas Tsakos gives Hyundai a $150m six pack tanker boost. Torm profit axed Tanker action helps hold up loss-making bulker business. Crewman dies after ammonia leak on gas carrier Polish man suffered serious burns after loading accident on Hartmann ship in Malaysia. Kvaerner Warnow wins four-ship order Cash-strapped Aker Kvaerner yard nets $130m boxship contract. Black Bart bought, but faces trip to breakers Unwanted cargoship finally sold in New Zealand, but new owner might have to scrap it to recoup costs. Solstad pushes up profit Nine-month totals rise but third quarter results reveal weaker returns. Korean ship investment fund pulls punters Shipbuilders, owners, and financial institutions are signing up to participate. Profits chopped at Unithai Poor third quarter hits Thai bulker and boxship owner in year to date. Negros holds onto its gains Philippines ferry owner talks up growing efficiencies as it repels red ink. Fortum opts for two more tankers in China Finnish owner declares options for 25,000-dwt products carriers at Jinling. Ulltveit-Moe unmasked as mystery political donor Shipowner made secret donation to election campaign of Norwegian prime minister, Christian Party reveals. WG&A renamed Aboitiz Transport Group Coup by Aboitiz family removes William and Gothong names from Philippine ferry owner. Aussies hold 17 PSC offenders Grand Seatrade, Oceanbulk, Columbia, Nomikos, Tsakos and Zodiac all make up latest list of shame. Yen strengthens on dollar weakness More woe for shipyards as currency breaks through key psychological level of JPY120. European ferries on terror alert US intelligence sources indicate possible bomb threat to passenger shipping lines. Daewoo capitulates to government South Korean shipbuilder raises Hamburg Sud boxship price after pressure from authorities. ST Engineering inks US newbuilding deal Singapore shipbuilder and repairer sees first fruits of Halter acquisition with a potential bumper contract.