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Shipping News

Pirate attacks will lead to disaster in Malacca Straits
IT is only a matter of time before gangs of heavily armed pirates in the Malacca Straits cause an environmental disaster, warned the ICC International Maritime Bureau yesterday as it revealed record attacks worldwide, with Indonesian waters remaining the most dangerous.
Booming Chinese exports to US boost earnings of shipping firms
CHINA, home to one-fifth of the world's population and the fifth-biggest trader of goods, filled 31 per cent of all container ships headed to the US last year, up from less than 5 per cent in 1990.
India defers sale of state shipping carrier
INDIA has postponed plans to privatise Shipping Corp of India, its largest shipping line, due to petitions in various courts opposing its sale, the disinvestment minister said.
Royal Caribbean's Q3 profit slips
ROYAL Caribbean Cruises, the world's second largest cruise group, reported a decline in third quarter profit and said that fourth quarter bookings were slightly weaker than expected.

Air and Land Transport

Americans asked to defer travel to Saudi Arabia
THE United States said yesterday that it had credible information of a threat of attacks on aviation and other Western interests in Saudi Arabia.
Gulf Arab state to privatise airports
Boeing sees US$50b UK market for jets over 10yrs
Ceasefire to lift SriLankan Airlines to first-ever profit
Air Philippines likely to be turned into budget carrier
Demand still below pre-Sars level, says Northwest

Strait Talk

Do member states want European Union to join IMO?
FOR over a decade the urbane Canadian William O'Neil guided the International Maritime Organization through some difficult times.

web site

Shipping News

Pirate attacks will lead to disaster in Malacca Straits
IT is only a matter of time before gangs of heavily armed pirates in the Malacca Straits cause an environmental disaster, warned the ICC International Maritime Bureau yesterday as it revealed record attacks worldwide, with Indonesian waters remaining the most dangerous.
Booming Chinese exports to US boost earnings of shipping firms
CHINA, home to one-fifth of the world's population and the fifth-biggest trader of goods, filled 31 per cent of all container ships headed to the US last year, up from less than 5 per cent in 1990.
India defers sale of state shipping carrier
INDIA has postponed plans to privatise Shipping Corp of India, its largest shipping line, due to petitions in various courts opposing its sale, the disinvestment minister said.
Royal Caribbean's Q3 profit slips
ROYAL Caribbean Cruises, the world's second largest cruise group, reported a decline in third quarter profit and said that fourth quarter bookings were slightly weaker than expected.

Air and Land Transport

Americans asked to defer travel to Saudi Arabia
THE United States said yesterday that it had credible information of a threat of attacks on aviation and other Western interests in Saudi Arabia.
Gulf Arab state to privatise airports
Boeing sees US$50b UK market for jets over 10yrs
Ceasefire to lift SriLankan Airlines to first-ever profit
Air Philippines likely to be turned into budget carrier
Demand still below pre-Sars level, says Northwest

Strait Talk

Do member states want European Union to join IMO?
FOR over a decade the urbane Canadian William O'Neil guided the International Maritime Organization through some difficult times.

web site

Shipping News

Pirate attacks will lead to disaster in Malacca Straits
IT is only a matter of time before gangs of heavily armed pirates in the Malacca Straits cause an environmental disaster, warned the ICC International Maritime Bureau yesterday as it revealed record attacks worldwide, with Indonesian waters remaining the most dangerous.
Booming Chinese exports to US boost earnings of shipping firms
CHINA, home to one-fifth of the world's population and the fifth-biggest trader of goods, filled 31 per cent of all container ships headed to the US last year, up from less than 5 per cent in 1990.
India defers sale of state shipping carrier
INDIA has postponed plans to privatise Shipping Corp of India, its largest shipping line, due to petitions in various courts opposing its sale, the disinvestment minister said.
Royal Caribbean's Q3 profit slips
ROYAL Caribbean Cruises, the world's second largest cruise group, reported a decline in third quarter profit and said that fourth quarter bookings were slightly weaker than expected.

Air and Land Transport

Americans asked to defer travel to Saudi Arabia
THE United States said yesterday that it had credible information of a threat of attacks on aviation and other Western interests in Saudi Arabia.
Gulf Arab state to privatise airports
Boeing sees US$50b UK market for jets over 10yrs
Ceasefire to lift SriLankan Airlines to first-ever profit
Air Philippines likely to be turned into budget carrier
Demand still below pre-Sars level, says Northwest

Strait Talk

Do member states want European Union to join IMO?
FOR over a decade the urbane Canadian William O'Neil guided the International Maritime Organization through some difficult times.

	web site

DHL commits US$200m to five-year China expansion Pusan looks to attract foreign investment with FEZ BICT sees 2 million TEU throughput Kuehne and Nagel sees income jump by 23.2pc over first nine months Hual celebrates two decades of service to Asia HK air traffic recovers to jump above pre-Sars levels Cargo warehouse to be sited at Bali airport Pilot revenue keeps reaching for the sky SAS Cargo goes back to Swedish terminal

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Freight rates expected to continue rising - Q2 rates on Asia-Europe trade up by 42 pc due to China's growth Goltens develops new range of crankshaft repair tools Over 300 new box terminals will spring up by 2007, says report - Global capacity to reach 500 m TEUs in 4 years BTL optimistic of feeder operations growth SCI sell-off plan put off indefinitely Shatrughan Sinha dedicates NMP's multi-user jetty to nation - 'Jewel in Sagar Mala project' Feeder operations have tremendous scope for growth along Indian coast -Bill Smart US leads anti-dumping initiators with 16 cases in H1 NSICT finances new school, college buildings at Phunde, Uran TAMP favours 'barest minimum' of stores inventory at Major Ports Consultants' study finds Cochin Port, Kayamkulam suitable sites for setting up LNG terminal CONCOR earns net profit of Rs 69.64 cr. in Q2 A-I seeking JV partner for ground handling works Advani opens 80-km stretch of NH 5 Centre studying options to plug excise revenue loss Icra revises GDP growth rate upwards to 6.9 pc for 2003-04 Fieo seeks RBI sops to offset appreciation of rupee - ...submits proposals on monetary, credit policy Seminar on 'Future of Retail' on Oct. 30 Seminar on 'Innovation for India' on Oct. 30

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
Panama: Premiums normalise, supply tight Balboa Istanbul conference site launched Bearish numbers put Fujairah on the back foot Ecuador: Navipac achieves ISO 9001:2000 certificate Taiwan's posted IFO prices increasingly sensitive Is the Taiwanese bunker market's new sensitive side indicative of a maturing industry in the country? Brisk business sees large draws on Hong Kong's IFO stocks Soft Suez sees healthy demand Crude slides in thin trade as traders await US data Expectations ahead of the weekly report from the US on crude and oil product stocks are rather mixed. OPEC crude basket on the brink of falling into target range The OPEC crude basket stood at $28.12 per barrel yesterday, the 13th consecutive trading day above the group's $22 to $28 target range. With crude prices looking around 20 cents softer this morning, the OPEC crude basket may fall back within the target range today. Rotterdam little changed this morning

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
Panalpina appoints new Head of Asia-Pacific Operations Ukrainian ports are expanding Basel-Mulhouse Airport turns corner in cargo sector Loxx, Germany to partner Welz for runs to Byelorussia Ryder profits up 10%

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
Danish pilotage monopoly soon gone Stephen Van Dyck next Intertanko Chairman ABB sells parts of Offshore Systems

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
EU unveils shipbuilding survival plan LeaderSHIP 2015 proposals unveiled in Brussels Port security massively underfunded suggests study Necessary improvments could take 20 years to implement at current funding levels Maersk Contractors takes delivery of Caspian semi Named "Lider" in Baku ceremony

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Brussels delivers blueprint for the future of European shipbuilding EUROPE'S E 34bn-a-year shipbuilding industry got what it had been pleading for yesterday, as the European Commission presented 'Leadership 2015', the report designed to shape the future of regional ship construction and repair. Israel allows Zim to be split in two THE Israeli government has taken action to unblock the stalled privatisation of Zim Israel Navigation Co by allowing any future buyer to split the line in two. Lack of subsidy blamed for Sietas-Werft layoffs HAMBURG'S Sietas-Werft is to slash its workforce by 200 over the next year, blaming uncompetitive prices after Hamburg's failure to pay out the full volume of subsidies allowed. Rivals stunned by 7.5% increase BUOYED by surging reserves, Gard P&I Club has stunned the shipowners' liability sector by announcing a general increase for February 2004 of only 7.5%, writes James Brewer. Gard buys If marine and energy in boost to Lloyd's challenge GARD P&I Club, the industry's second biggest shipowners' liability association, is to take control of the marine and energy insurance portfolio already managed by its service company in a $30m deal.

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
Nigerian ports authority faces probe A FULL-scale financial investigation into the Nigerian National Ports Authority (NPA), where the entire executive management and board was replaced in a shake up last week appears imminent after banks were asked to freeze all bank accounts held in its name Taca to raise rates EASTBOUND rates for the seven container lines that form the Transatlantic Conference Agreement (TACA) will rise in January 2004, after a planned 1 October rise failed Polembros battles PNSC GREEK operator Polembros has refused to rule out taking further action against Pakistan National Shipping Corp (PNSC) in the increasingly acrimonious legal battle Gard acquires If's marine buiness GARD, the P&I club based in Arendal, Denmark, is to acquire the marine and energy businesses of the Scandinavian non-life insurer If US fine-tunes box security THE US plans to speed up its container screening program at overseas ports, while at the same time lowering screening security requirements at US terminals US proposes new spill framework US LEGISLATORS are looking to make charterers responsible for oil pollution caused by the tonnage that they fix says a Democratic staffer Miami port bans Greenpeace ship Staten witnesses escape interviews BC Ferries awaits strike vote Star terminal in jeoperdy France stick with Abeilles Patrick extends automation plans Seitas axes 200 workers ARP seeks to improve reef safety MPHA toughens pollution stance Hanjin appeals for 'understanding'

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
So. Cal. flights recovering despite fires Airline operations returning to normal, but parcel delivery services still snarled. Charge PMA freezing out reefer cargo The San Diego Unified Port District alleges that members of the Pacific Maritime Association have lowered the priority for unloading refrigerated cargo, putting the port at a competitive disadvantage. ANL adds fourth loop to USA service Australia National Line launches all-water service from China and South Korea to the U.S. East Coast. More eastbound trans-Atlantic rate increases Customs defuses Miami trucker protest China Shipping expands big-box fleet Bangladesh to regulate freight forwarding Kuehne & Nagel net improves New cranes for Port of Philadelphia MOL opens China branches EGL lowers Q3 earnings forecast Chassis safety bill filed in Senate L.A. agreement will open China Shipping terminal

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
Atlantic eastbound January GRI a 'joke' says carrier A shipping line has branded the latest conference tariff rate increases on the eastbound Atlantic trades a 'joke' following an announcement of a January increase today. Boxship surge on all water Asia/US route sees Panama Canal revenues soar The Panama Canal Authority (APC) has reported a 60.3% rise in containership tonnage taking the Asia-US East Coast (USEC) all-water route, reflecting increased efficiency and the route's growing popularity. 'Save JNPT,' CSLA tells Indian government Simatech and Orient Express launch Tuticorin-Jebel Ali service ECT cranks up Maasvlakte capacity Switzerland and Austria sign bi-lateral rail deal Hupac acquires 10% share in Duisburg Intermodal Terminal Croatia looks to shift freight onto inland waterways MOL (China) opens Guangzhou, Xiamen, Ningbo branch offices

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
Crime ship breaks arrest IMB warns Ciuta likely to be re-named and re-flagged before resuming theft activities. Zim facing split Israeli government may hive off international operations as part of share sale. OSG tops $100m mark US tanker owner reports highest ever earnings for nine-month period - and floats M&A possibilities? Gard opts for 7.5% Shipowners face lowest increase despite investment in hull insurance company. TACA pushing up box rates again Westbound rates stable but boxship group is adding to shippers' eastbound costs again. Gard acquires If marine business Top P&I club splashes out $110m to buy hull and energy insurance company. Piracy attacks hit new high First nine months of this year highest since statistics began. MISC accused of union busting Unrecognised executive staff union members cry foul over secondments to marine academy. V.Ships and Securicor in ISPS link World's biggest shipmanager and private security firm in partnership. Hanjin ship held in Canada Ceres Hellenic/Odfjell vessel also failed port state check during September. MBC unveils listing plan Robert Kwok's bulker and tanker joint venture with GMV raising cash for new ships with flotation. Bul in for Varna New consortium is highest bidder in latest attempt to sell Bulgarian shipbuilder. Knightsbridge no to amend bye-laws Shareholders' vote on widening company activities fall short of required two-thirds majority. Bulker blocks Bosporus Engine trouble on Turkish vessel closes vital international waterway. Taiwan Navigation books bulker-boom profit Taipei-based owner has built earnings in nine months to September in strong market. General Maritime inks first OBO options New York tanker player confirms charter deals for three more aframax combination carriers. MOL expands in China Japanese shipowner increases number of branch offices in Mainland China to six. Stena C-Max detained in US Quality conscious owner's product carrier among 14 ships held for failing port state control. Women on top at Hyundai The once mighty South Korean chaebol is proving an unlikely battlefield in the feminism revolution.

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OCTOBER 28, 2003
V.Ships, Securicor join forces on port, ship security services Cuban carrier Coral Container Lines ceases operations CMA CGM adds ANL to Pacific service MOL opens three more China offices Senate safety bill shifts responsibility to container owners High air cargo rates hit EGL's profits FedEx expands Amsterdam/North America flights Volga-Dnepr improves revenue, volumes Turkish cargo airline begins London service User fees to finance supply chain security still an option Kuehne & Nagel boosts net income WCO releases guidelines for cargo scanning equipment Arzoon, AquiTec offer management software for grocery sector Yantian to commission second berth for mega-containerships this year