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Shipping News

EC softens stance on black listing substandard ships
RETRACTING eight vessels from its 66 vessel blacklist and moderating its fiery post-Prestige rhetoric, the European Commission now appears to be softening its stance on the issue of black-listing substandard vessels from its waters.
Patrick's 1st qtr profits better than expected
AUSTRALIA's dominant port cargo handler, Patrick Corporation, enjoyed a better than expected first quarter in its three key business areas.
Lines on Asia-Europe trades to raise bunker surcharge
MAJOR container shipping lines carrying the majority of cargo on the Asia-Europe trades have reacted to the latest rise in oil prices by announcing bunker surcharge hikes.
Australia detains suspected illegal fishing boats
TWO Indonesian fishing boats, whose crews have been accused of illegally catching sharks and cutting off their fins, have been detained by authorities off Australia's north-east coast, fisheries officials said on Tuesday.

Air and Land Transport

Airlines could post losses of up to US$10b: consultancy
AMR Corp's American Airlines, All Nippon Airways and other members of the International Air Transport Association may have a combined loss of as much as US$10 billion in 2003, an aviation consultancy said.
Airports see growing investment
Fraport considering arbitration over terminal
Ryanair's Q3 profit up 50% as passenger growth jumps 46%
jetBlue adds 5 flights to California from East Coast
American asks staff to accept wage cuts

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Shipping News

EC softens stance on black listing substandard ships
RETRACTING eight vessels from its 66 vessel blacklist and moderating its fiery post-Prestige rhetoric, the European Commission now appears to be softening its stance on the issue of black-listing substandard vessels from its waters.
Patrick's 1st qtr profits better than expected
AUSTRALIA's dominant port cargo handler, Patrick Corporation, enjoyed a better than expected first quarter in its three key business areas.
Lines on Asia-Europe trades to raise bunker surcharge
MAJOR container shipping lines carrying the majority of cargo on the Asia-Europe trades have reacted to the latest rise in oil prices by announcing bunker surcharge hikes.
Australia detains suspected illegal fishing boats
TWO Indonesian fishing boats, whose crews have been accused of illegally catching sharks and cutting off their fins, have been detained by authorities off Australia's north-east coast, fisheries officials said on Tuesday.

Air and Land Transport

Airlines could post losses of up to US$10b: consultancy
AMR Corp's American Airlines, All Nippon Airways and other members of the International Air Transport Association may have a combined loss of as much as US$10 billion in 2003, an aviation consultancy said.
Airports see growing investment
Fraport considering arbitration over terminal
Ryanair's Q3 profit up 50% as passenger growth jumps 46%
jetBlue adds 5 flights to California from East Coast
American asks staff to accept wage cuts

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K Line to launch Japan-Vietnam service with GMT CSXWT relocates Richard Chang to Shanghai Matson Navigation begins calling at Port of Long Beach Contship offers three more charter services to Asia Emery Forwarding adds new module to Clippership program Maersk Logistics meets US Customs' new requirement Asian air freight carriers to launch cargo portal Ryanair to purchase buzz from KLM American Airlines asks staff for US$1.8b in cost cuts

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
American Airlines calls for wage cuts American Airlines asked its labor leaders and employees for $1.8 billion in permanent, annual savings through a combination of changes in wages, benefits and work rules. Another Kuehne & Nagel site in Duisburg 'Kuehne & Nagel expanded its capacities in Duisburg, Germany, and is now operating a new distribution centre on the Logport site, a preferred hub for the worldwide flow of goods due to its ideal transport infrastructure. Swiss cargo with Descartes Descartes Systems, provider of logistics solutions, today announced that Swiss WorldCargo, the cargo division of Swiss International Air Lines Ltd., has selected logistics connectivity solutions from Descartes' wholly owned subsidiary, DSG-Tradevision. Decreased load factor KLM in January 2003 In January 2003, cargo traffic of KLM was 2 percent higher than last year. 4 Asian carriers in internet portal Cathay Pacific Cargo, Japan Airlines (JAL) Cargo, Qantas Freight and Singapore Airlines (SIA) Cargo have signed a memorandum of understanding to be partners in an internet the portal, tentatively called Air Cargo Exchange. Gulf shipping not severely hit by Iraq war A US-led war against Iraq will have a limited fallout for ports and shipping agencies in the Gulf region but a catastrophic effect on insurance companies, shipping sources said. TNT express to add two Boeing 737-300fs TNT Express announced plans to introduce two Boeing 737-300F aircraft to its European air network.

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Gulf shippers brace for war amid insurance concerns Cargomar takes rapid strides over 10 years - From freight forwarding to total freight logistics management Airbus hopes for orders worth $ 17.5 bn from India Dumping duty on Vitamin A from EU proposed Grain offtake for exports registers whopping 235 pc rise Vizag Port Trust slashes tariff to attract more oil traffic Concor to build new ICD at old Vizag Port railway station Freeze export sops phase-out: Fieo Govt may remove 5 pc surcharge on I-T, corporate tax India's rating raised to Ba1 - Sea change in Moody's India mood Govt may move to 10-digit level classification for Customs duties RBI lays down credit norms for diamond trade Gist of public notices/circulars/notifications - Compiled By M. Sreedharan Convention on SEZ business opportunities Training programme for CE inspectors

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Pacific Northwest awaits re-supply West Coast markets quiet, tight avails US East Coast: Tight avails throughout Gulf Coast markets looking for direction Chris Muskivitch joins Statia Terminals Iran to increase oil production OPEC considers cuts US products stocks down again Daily bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents Istanbul: High winds hamper barge loading Piraeus settles a little lower Weekly African market report from GAC New Saudi posted prices Brazilian prices remain unchanged, avails do not Korean indications and demand drop off

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Singapore Airlines names Chew Choon Seng as CEO-Designate 207 newbuildings expected in 2003 Lufthansa Technik AG chosen by Japan Airlines for maintenance contract FedEx introduces digital pen

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Samskip takes stake in T&E ESCO Container record in Göteborg All-time-high on Stena Norway to Denmark

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Greens see red on new EPA diesel regs "We're headed back to court," says Bluewater Network. Just $4.5 million for Title XI in FY 2004 budget request No surprises in this part of the Bush budget proposal Propulsion problem for cruise ship Bearing problem causes further Infinity cruise cancelation

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Corps holding Columbia dredge meeting this evening in Ilwaco, Washington Plastics firm moving operation to Port of Vancouver, USA facility Hanjin Shipping taps Choi to fill vacant president post Port of Tacoma buys World Trade Center building Majority of Teamsters vote strike Ok as freight agreement talks continue

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El Paso quits LNG trade to save cash El Paso Corp is quitting the LNG business as part of the US energy group's far-reaching restructuring programme. Fouquet Sacop offloads carriers FRENCH small tanker operator Fouquet Sacop is to withdraw from gas transport as a prelude to an investment drive in its main oil transport business, writes Andrew Spurrier in Paris. Bid to secure bail for Mangouras at 'delicate juncture' MOVES to post E 3m ($3.22m) in bail for jailed Prestige skipper Apostolos Mangouras were well advanced in the UK and Spain yesterday, although supporters remained fearful of last-minute hiccups dashing the master's hopes of release. Maersk Sealand reforms structure MAERSK Sealand is putting the finishing touches to an internal shake-up that will create many more divisional directors. Rina chief Scerni quits Festival RINA chairman Gianni Scerni has been forced off the board of Festival Cruises by Festival's arch-rival, Genoa-based cruise line Costa Crociere, writes Justin Stares.

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
NCL fights wrongful death ruling Support for new multi-modal rules Cruise bug attack hits bookings PDVSA sacks more and more Indian tonnage hits new low Bremerhaven banks on car handling No slopping out at Slagen Ports chief warns on box tagging US waterway operators slam budget Brazilian transport users unite Algericas tanker arrested demanded Worries linger over 24-hour rule Spabunker salvage starts this week New black tide reaches France Danes re-launch Boulogne ferry link Mangouras bail paid Russians start Strelets inquiry Iraq defeat won't help Gulf cruises Yemen agrees to underwrite WRP Belligerents 'must guarantee security' Mangouras could be freed this week UASC denies Gulf War panic GrainCorp, Grainco discuss merge Swedish pay talks go to mediation Intra-Korea trade booming Korean yards urge steel price cut Doric Chariot pilot loses licence Box of fireworks claims 17 lives

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
NOL looks to bond issue to reduce interest bill Neptune Orient Lines, the parent of APL and APL Logistics, is said to be planning to sell US$200 million in bonds to take advantage of low interest rates. Smouldering charter market ready to burst into life Chinese New Year has been and gone and still the charter market continues its upward trend, fuelled by the scarcity of larger tonnage this week saw a further 2.5% gains. Shipping council calls for Indonesian Government action on exorbitant THC Hapag-Lloyd expects economic growth to boost volumes Canada and US agree temporary explosives regulation Citic eyes lucrative China logistics market Volume boost prompts MCL capacity increase

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
Venezuelan first First foreign-chartered oil tanker makes it out of Venezuela, as a handful of ports given the ok by owners. Barbados gets serious Barbados Registry to increase monitoring of members by collecting more data from class. El Paso to exit LNG But what will happen to its specially adapted LNG carrier newbuildings? Transneft eyes Ventspils Nafta stake Russian pipeline giant wants to buy into Latvian terminal, which controls Latvian Shipping Co. EC voices concerns over ice tanker Laden suezmax sets out to navigate icy waters out of Finnish gulf. ThyssenKrupp could take control of HDW German yard group has not ruled out buying significant or controlling stake in rival from US bank. Bail coming through for Prestige master Apostolos Mangouras could be released by Friday, sources say. Death toll in Strelets sinking likely to be 12 Eight bodies have been recovered from Black Sea, with another four crew still missing. NOL mulls bond sales Neptune Orient Lines seeks new ways to cut costs. Contship targets India and China Australian and New Zealand exporters offered three new strings by CP Ships unit. Offen opts for Digitrace German owner installs chart update system on all its 44 boxships. STX inks Byzantine, Restis and Target deals South Korean yard confirms panamax and MR tanker newbuilding deals with Greek owners. Maersk's military millions As the US gears up for war with Iraq Denmark's most famous shipowner will be right there with them. Delmas and Otal boost Bollore French group's container lines drive revenue growth in 2002. FEFC lines pump up fuel surcharges Far Eastern Freight Conference members will add 39% to cost of shipping a 20-foot box. Pacific Venus hit by Legionnaires outbreak Japan Cruise Line forced to cancel month long voyage after passengers are struck down with disease. Matson gets Title XI for Philly boxships Hawaii to US container line gets government financing for US Jones Act newbuildings. Ports of Auckland sees boxship growth Container imports into one of New Zealand's largest ports sees 10% year-on-year growth.

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FEBRUARY 5, 2003
American Steamship names Welsch president, CEO FMC to hold public meeting APL reports near 100% compliance with U.S. manifest rule CCNI, CSAV to slot on Med/U.S. Gulf service Safmarine joings West African discussion agreement Swiss Worldcargo contracts with Descartes for connectivity software U.S. government begins focus on air cargo security Teamsters talks reconvene after truckers' strike vote Mineta replaces key advisor from within Pacer boosts income for 2002 Freightgate adds XML capability to software suites USDA sets restrictions on used farm equipment imports USTR critical on Venezuela's agricultural import licensing Treasury undersecretary explains terrorism risk insurance act USDA requires irradiation for Hawaii procude bound for U.S. mainland U.S., India increase cooperation in high-tech trade UPS, DHL and Exel line up to buy shares in Sinotrans AAPA calls port security funding "insufficient"