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Shipping News

APL holding talks to invest in terminals in 2 China ports
NEPTUNE Orient Lines' liner subsidiary APL is currently 'in discussions' to directly invest in container terminals in two Chinese ports as part of its long term mainland expansion, according to its Greater China president Brian Lutt.
SuperStar Aries returns to S'pore
STAR Cruises has announced the return of its SuperStar Aries cruise ship after the Sars-related repositioning of one of its largest vessels to Australia left Singapore bereft of any of the Malaysian cruise line's ships.
Riot police on alert in crippled Busan
THOUSANDS of riot police were deployed in Busan yesterday as striking truckers crippled the world's third largest container port, inflicting significant damage to the South Korean economy.
Mitsui orders 6 VLCCs in upgrading drive
MITSUI OSK Lines, Japan's second biggest shipping company, has ordered six very large crude carriers as it accelerates the removal of single-hull tankers from its fleet.
Dubai to build artificial island for shipping services
DUBAI said it was building an artificial island at a cost of at least US$650 million to provide shipping services as part of the Gulf emirate's drive to become a regional trade hub.

Air and Land Transport

Concessions by Qantas, Air NZ to secure alliance
QANTAS Airways and Air New Zealand said they would limit seats on some routes and limit some fare increases for five years as part of concessions to gain regulatory approval for an alliance.
Aussie, NZ airports face tough prospects
Sars hits China Southern's April passenger numbers
European airlines' Asia-Pacific traffic slides
Carriers told to raise weight assumptions
US airfare increase expected to stick for now

Strait Talk

2003 a watershed year for maritime industrial relations
IT is very likely that, looking back in a decade or so, 2003 will stand out as a watershed year for industrial relations in the international shipping industry.

web site

Shipping News

APL holding talks to invest in terminals in 2 China ports
NEPTUNE Orient Lines' liner subsidiary APL is currently 'in discussions' to directly invest in container terminals in two Chinese ports as part of its long term mainland expansion, according to its Greater China president Brian Lutt.
SuperStar Aries returns to S'pore
STAR Cruises has announced the return of its SuperStar Aries cruise ship after the Sars-related repositioning of one of its largest vessels to Australia left Singapore bereft of any of the Malaysian cruise line's ships.
Riot police on alert in crippled Busan
THOUSANDS of riot police were deployed in Busan yesterday as striking truckers crippled the world's third largest container port, inflicting significant damage to the South Korean economy.
Mitsui orders 6 VLCCs in upgrading drive
MITSUI OSK Lines, Japan's second biggest shipping company, has ordered six very large crude carriers as it accelerates the removal of single-hull tankers from its fleet.
Dubai to build artificial island for shipping services
DUBAI said it was building an artificial island at a cost of at least US$650 million to provide shipping services as part of the Gulf emirate's drive to become a regional trade hub.

Air and Land Transport

Concessions by Qantas, Air NZ to secure alliance
QANTAS Airways and Air New Zealand said they would limit seats on some routes and limit some fare increases for five years as part of concessions to gain regulatory approval for an alliance.
Aussie, NZ airports face tough prospects
Sars hits China Southern's April passenger numbers
European airlines' Asia-Pacific traffic slides
Carriers told to raise weight assumptions
US airfare increase expected to stick for now

Strait Talk

2003 a watershed year for maritime industrial relations
IT is very likely that, looking back in a decade or so, 2003 will stand out as a watershed year for industrial relations in the international shipping industry.

web site

Shipping News

APL holding talks to invest in terminals in 2 China ports
NEPTUNE Orient Lines' liner subsidiary APL is currently 'in discussions' to directly invest in container terminals in two Chinese ports as part of its long term mainland expansion, according to its Greater China president Brian Lutt.
SuperStar Aries returns to S'pore
STAR Cruises has announced the return of its SuperStar Aries cruise ship after the Sars-related repositioning of one of its largest vessels to Australia left Singapore bereft of any of the Malaysian cruise line's ships.
Riot police on alert in crippled Busan
THOUSANDS of riot police were deployed in Busan yesterday as striking truckers crippled the world's third largest container port, inflicting significant damage to the South Korean economy.
Mitsui orders 6 VLCCs in upgrading drive
MITSUI OSK Lines, Japan's second biggest shipping company, has ordered six very large crude carriers as it accelerates the removal of single-hull tankers from its fleet.
Dubai to build artificial island for shipping services
DUBAI said it was building an artificial island at a cost of at least US$650 million to provide shipping services as part of the Gulf emirate's drive to become a regional trade hub.

Air and Land Transport

Concessions by Qantas, Air NZ to secure alliance
QANTAS Airways and Air New Zealand said they would limit seats on some routes and limit some fare increases for five years as part of concessions to gain regulatory approval for an alliance.
Aussie, NZ airports face tough prospects
Sars hits China Southern's April passenger numbers
European airlines' Asia-Pacific traffic slides
Carriers told to raise weight assumptions
US airfare increase expected to stick for now

Strait Talk

2003 a watershed year for maritime industrial relations
IT is very likely that, looking back in a decade or so, 2003 will stand out as a watershed year for industrial relations in the international shipping industry.

	web site

Striking South Korean truckers reject government deal Kowloon-Canton Railway sees 60pc rise in box traffic in 2002 Slot-swapping agreement inked by Zim and Cosco Schenker delivers flower baskets for Italian charity on Mother's Day Malaysia to host intermodal exhibition, conference Port of LA terminal operators install equipment to cut emissions Elite joins US anti-terrorism programme Hactl April throughput rises slightly, Sars boosts freighter traffic AirNet Systems back in black in first quarter Japan Airlines, Boeing celebrate 150th twin-aisle delivery Hactl April throughput rises slightly, Sars boosts freighter traffic AirNet Systems back in black in first quarter Japan Airlines, Boeing celebrate 150th twin-aisle delivery

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MAY 13, 2003
OPEC crude basket back above $25, IEA warns of tight supplies Supply options limited in steady Montreal Daily Bunker market report from Praxis Energy Agents Platts MOC methodology heavily criticised in ARA bunker market Cargo fall makes the Fujairah buyer a hesitant creature Business as usual in steady St Petersburg Saudi bomb attack counters bearish IEA oil demand forecast Stable but high levels deter buyers in Hong Kong Uruguay market update Brazilian market update from Petrobras Rotterdam: Barge congestion continues, market quite steady

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MAY 13, 2003
Scotts selects Exel to manage a logistics operation RailAmerica wins contracts in Australia BA World Cargo and Dunwoody extend joint venture Skylink wins Iraq airports contract MISC to cut containership fleet

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MAY 13, 2003
Stena newbuildings to Transfennica IMO wants higher oil spills compensation Sars: Star Cruises back in Singapore

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MAY 13, 2003
Strong first quarter for OSG "OSG's operating results for the first quarter of 2003 are the second highest in the company's history," said Chairman and CEO Morton P. Hyman Star Cruises back in Singapore market Star Cruises has announced new itineraries for the 611-passenger SuperStar Aries departing from Singapore EC says world shipbuilding orders and prices are plunging The European Commission's latest shipbuilding report tells a familiar tale

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VLCC rates leap after Riyadh blast VLCC rates soared higher for the fourth day yesterday, helped by nervousness in the oil markets triggered by the overnight suicide bombings which ripped through residential compounds for westerners in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Basques fire first salvo at ABS in Prestige legal battle THE first of what is likely to be a wave of lawsuits against ABS over the Prestige disaster has been filed by the Basque Country in a federal court in Houston, Texas. European yards face more bankruptcies BRUSSELS has warned that European shipyards are rapidly running out of work and face further bankruptcies. 'Two strikes and you're out,' Paris MoU tells rogue owners TWO detentions in three years will see some ships banned from Europe and North American Atlantic, under tough 'two strikes and you're out' rules that shortly enter force. Global Marine set to axe 117 UK officers GLOBAL Marine Systems is thought to be on the brink of axing 117 UK junior officers' jobs, in the third round of redundancies at the troubled cable laying outfit in just 18 months, writes David Osler. BG unveils long-term LNG deals UK gas utility BG yesterday unveiled two long-term liquefied natural gas supply contracts totalling almost 6m tonnes a year, writes Tony Gray.

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MAY 13, 2003
Second fire hits Queen of Surrey Dover Strait gets control upgrade Pollution hunters board NCL's Sun P&O boosts Dover-Calais service New PSC rules from July Stelios cruises easy on the pocket Australia to fund anti-terrorism French strike ends early Congestion surcharge in Kuwait Chennai to develop cruise terminal Port Kembla seeks collision damages Israeli ports again at a standstill Summer cruises on in Singapore Korea counts losses as strike rages

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MAY 13, 2003
EU: Report details unfair Korea pricing The European Union again blames below-market pricing by South Korean shipyards for a collapse in vessel orders and escalates its WTO dispute. Volume up but Hapag-Lloyd profit falls Weak rates cut the carrier's operating profit nearly in half last year, despite a 12 percent increase in container volume. U.S. sues EU over biotech farm goods Korea readies force against Busan strikers House committee to consider Maritime Security Program Lloyd Triestino opens U. S. calls on AUX service U.S. textile lobby gets new leader Second Caribbean service for Lykes Lines Kitty Hawk adds N.Y. gateway China Southern m-o-o-o-ves cattle from New York to China Nextjet adds international software

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MAY 13, 2003
Noose tightens on Korean exports as Busan nears capacity Busan port is today paralysed by a truckers' strike and export losses are spiralling, in spite of contingency measures activated by government and ocean carriers. S.Africa strike averted, talks begin over future of ports New MSL service links China to Mediterranean Adsteam mulls divestment of South Australia port interests Busan set to lose global ranking as Tuesday's talks fail Dutch terminal intrigue: the plot thickens New weekly feeder links N.Europe/Iberian Peninsular Blue-chip boost to COSCO Pacific expansion

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MAY 13, 2003
TMM parent borders on default Mexican transport giant makes one more pitch to reluctant bondholders. El Paso axes LNG boss Executives' heads roll, assets dwindle as group loses $393m in first quarter. MC Shipping wary in 2003 Container-LPG operator spends first quarter in black, but says drydocking, renewals shadow future. Sunny spot for OSG New York tanker owner notches second-best operating quarter on early-2003 rates surge. Paris MOU to target high risk ships New rules come into play on 22 July. Hapag-Lloyd on uncertain course Container line hails outstanding profit but parent group reports profit slump. EC says European yards running out of work Commission's report appears seriously outdated following recent order surge. Oman selects LNG carrier shipbuilders Japanese and Korean yards share out Middle Eastern order. Christiane Oldendorff takes the helm Widow of Cyprus shipping pioneer moves into owner's office. Tankers rumoured fixed for Iraq exports Old ULCCs and VLCC dodge breakers' torch to fight another day. Gas blow for Bergesen Profit of Helmut Sohmen acquisition target shrinks as shareholding grows. Eukor sets up London office Car carrier king makes European base camp Kvaerner Masa inches ahead But Finnish shipyard predicts greatly reduced 2003 profit margin on reduced orders. Profit expected for MHI But cruiseship newbuilding fire likely to pull down earnings for Japanese yard. Accounting change costs Conrad One-off non-cash charge of $4.5m turns US shipbuilder's start to 2003 from black to red. Fire strikes BC Ferries ro-pax Elderly ferry suffers second fire incident in past month as 318 passengers are left stranded. Navigators' profits surge by 40% US maritime insurance company sees strong start to 2003, as market conditions remain favourable. Singapore sees bunker boost Iraqi factor boosts fuel sales as port figures indicate further signs of improving global economy. FESAMEC cuts war risk surcharges Far East/South Asia-Middle East Conference follows in footsteps of EMERA and JSG rate cuts. Aussies lift livestock export restrictions New selection criteria sees ban lifted on summer shipments of sheep and cattle to Middle East.

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MAY 13, 2003
Europe, Canada tighten vessel inspections Liner carriers set up eu regulatory lobby group Hapag-Lloyd predicts higher rates, profits this years New Lloyd Triestino/Zim Asia/U.S. East Coast link starts United Cargo shipment blows up Lanecuador begins U.S. operations Seaway requires more bridge personnel Ryder opens new facility in Milwaukee EGL's net revenue rise Post-Iraqi logistics evaluation