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Shipping News

Batam container port project draws PSA, others
MAJOR shipping lines and terminal operators including PSA Corporation are among those interested in the concession to design, build and operate a US$105 million container port on Indonesia's Batam Island, a Batam official said yesterday.
Volumes at Indon terminals to double: Portek
SINGAPORE-listed container crane leasing, engineering and terminal operations group Portek International expects container throughput at two of its Indonesian terminals to more than double in 2004, and is eyeing undeveloped ports in China and North Africa.
P&O steams back to profit, but reviewing ferries ops
BRITISH ports and ferries company P&O returned to profit at the pre-tax level in 2003, and said yesterday its ports business made a good start to the year but it was reviewing its ferries operations amid tough trading.
Port operator AusBulk plans listing as merger talks fail
SOUTH Australian port operator and grains handler AusBulk Ltd said it plans to list on the Australian Stock Exchange later this year after merger talks with exporter ABB Grain Ltd fell through.
Shipwreck porcelain fetches over A$2m
RARE porcelain recovered from a shipwreck off Vietnam after 400 years has been sold for more than A$2 million dollars in Australia, auction house Christie's said on Thursday.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus freezing spare parts prices
AIRBUS SAS, which last year overtook Boeing Co in commercial plane deliveries, is freezing the price of spare parts it sells to airlines to help its customers lower costs, as it tries to win more plane orders.
American, Airbus blame each other for 2001 New York crash
Propellers reversed before Iranian plane crash: UAE
Cathay may ally with oneworld for fuel purchase
THAI puts plan to buy second-hand planes on hold
BA passenger traffic up 7% in Feb

Admiralty Casebook

Charter extension by off-hire and option days upheld
THE Court of Appeal in England last month upheld the decision of a lower court that the time charterers of a vessel could extend the charter by the number of days the vessel was off-hire and a 15-day option period provided for in the charter party.

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Shipping News

Batam container port project draws PSA, others
MAJOR shipping lines and terminal operators including PSA Corporation are among those interested in the concession to design, build and operate a US$105 million container port on Indonesia's Batam Island, a Batam official said yesterday.
Volumes at Indon terminals to double: Portek
SINGAPORE-listed container crane leasing, engineering and terminal operations group Portek International expects container throughput at two of its Indonesian terminals to more than double in 2004, and is eyeing undeveloped ports in China and North Africa.
P&O steams back to profit, but reviewing ferries ops
BRITISH ports and ferries company P&O returned to profit at the pre-tax level in 2003, and said yesterday its ports business made a good start to the year but it was reviewing its ferries operations amid tough trading.
Port operator AusBulk plans listing as merger talks fail
SOUTH Australian port operator and grains handler AusBulk Ltd said it plans to list on the Australian Stock Exchange later this year after merger talks with exporter ABB Grain Ltd fell through.
Shipwreck porcelain fetches over A$2m
RARE porcelain recovered from a shipwreck off Vietnam after 400 years has been sold for more than A$2 million dollars in Australia, auction house Christie's said on Thursday.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus freezing spare parts prices
AIRBUS SAS, which last year overtook Boeing Co in commercial plane deliveries, is freezing the price of spare parts it sells to airlines to help its customers lower costs, as it tries to win more plane orders.
American, Airbus blame each other for 2001 New York crash
Propellers reversed before Iranian plane crash: UAE
Cathay may ally with oneworld for fuel purchase
THAI puts plan to buy second-hand planes on hold
BA passenger traffic up 7% in Feb

Admiralty Casebook

Charter extension by off-hire and option days upheld
THE Court of Appeal in England last month upheld the decision of a lower court that the time charterers of a vessel could extend the charter by the number of days the vessel was off-hire and a 15-day option period provided for in the charter party.

web site

Shipping News

Batam container port project draws PSA, others
MAJOR shipping lines and terminal operators including PSA Corporation are among those interested in the concession to design, build and operate a US$105 million container port on Indonesia's Batam Island, a Batam official said yesterday.
Volumes at Indon terminals to double: Portek
SINGAPORE-listed container crane leasing, engineering and terminal operations group Portek International expects container throughput at two of its Indonesian terminals to more than double in 2004, and is eyeing undeveloped ports in China and North Africa.
P&O steams back to profit, but reviewing ferries ops
BRITISH ports and ferries company P&O returned to profit at the pre-tax level in 2003, and said yesterday its ports business made a good start to the year but it was reviewing its ferries operations amid tough trading.
Port operator AusBulk plans listing as merger talks fail
SOUTH Australian port operator and grains handler AusBulk Ltd said it plans to list on the Australian Stock Exchange later this year after merger talks with exporter ABB Grain Ltd fell through.
Shipwreck porcelain fetches over A$2m
RARE porcelain recovered from a shipwreck off Vietnam after 400 years has been sold for more than A$2 million dollars in Australia, auction house Christie's said on Thursday.

Air and Land Transport

Airbus freezing spare parts prices
AIRBUS SAS, which last year overtook Boeing Co in commercial plane deliveries, is freezing the price of spare parts it sells to airlines to help its customers lower costs, as it tries to win more plane orders.
American, Airbus blame each other for 2001 New York crash
Propellers reversed before Iranian plane crash: UAE
Cathay may ally with oneworld for fuel purchase
THAI puts plan to buy second-hand planes on hold
BA passenger traffic up 7% in Feb

Admiralty Casebook

Charter extension by off-hire and option days upheld
THE Court of Appeal in England last month upheld the decision of a lower court that the time charterers of a vessel could extend the charter by the number of days the vessel was off-hire and a 15-day option period provided for in the charter party.

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Japanese shipbuilders report roaring trade China looks to attract foreign rail investors Invest HK participates in HK Logistics Expo in Guangdong PSA bolsters foothold in China by opening rep office in Shanghai ICTSI makes changes at the top Vietship secures vessel contracts worth US$430 million Nippon to purchase Zeppelin for sightseeing, filming DHL appoints Anne Benbow as Asia Pacific HR director

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DGS sets up committee to act on TCS' coastal shipping report MoS cell to look into exporters' concern of high THCs Almost 60 per cent spurt in automobile exports China's trade body plans product expo in city Bangladesh likely to import more sugar JNPCT handles record 3,770 boxes in single day (March 3) - Not just 'feel good', but really good Narvekar carries MPT into semi-finals of Ports cricket - MbPT, VPT, KoPT also in semis NSICT closes export gates once again! Jet, Sahara told to file schedules to start Lanka services Railways introduces special parcel express trains Major trailer operators not to join transporters' stir CONCOR seeks Indian JV partner to develop ICD-Birgunj in Nepal Exporters want compensation for loss of benefits under Sec. 80 HHC Centre notifies new iron & steel duty structure WISA plea to include regional shipping bodies as trustees in Major Port Trusts to represent shippers' interests

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MARCH 4, 2004
Rotterdam market mimics crude 'Business as usual' in Venezuela Update: Singapore cargo influx could see bunker 'premiums flip' Reports of up to 5.5 million tonnes of fuel oil due to arrive in Singapore in late March and early April were greeted with caution by players in the bunker market today Singapore suppliers split on pricing in confused market There was a huge spread between the lows and highs offered in the Singapore bunker market today. Some players quoted aggressively in anticipation of a softer market next week, while others were spooked by the fact that fuel oil cargo prices didn't come off today despite last night's sharply lower WTI crude close. Demand falling with indications in Japan Singapore oil product stocks sharply higher The latest weekly figures from International Enterprise (IE) show that Singapore's stocks of residual fuels have hit an eight-week high, while middle distillates surged to their highest level in 16 weeks. The figures pointed to continued bearish fuel oil fundamentals and an end to the bullish regional gas oil market. Italian demand wanes with softer IFOs 'First' double-hulled barge due in late April Singapore-based supplier and barge operator Sentek Marine & Trading (Pty) Ltd confirmed today that it is close to launching the first bunker barge of around 130 in the world's largest bunkering hub to have a double hull. Rotterdam softer following crude loss

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MARCH 4, 2004
Metaship for Thiel's TLLC Bahrain gears up to battle re-emerging piracy Rudolph executes logistics for Japanese high-tech company in Hungary The latest from Vostochny International Container Services Aerolineas Argentinas in the black and investing Hesse-Noord Natie granted Deurganckdock West concession New President elected for IRU's enlarged EU Liaison Committee

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MARCH 4, 2004
P&O Nedlloyd back in the black Intertanko goes ahead with terminal vetting PSA's Shanghai office opens

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MARCH 4, 2004
Bollinger launches first in new OSV series Latest "less is more" design Ecuador orders patrol craft FBM Babcock design vessels will be built in Spain

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MARCH 4, 2004
EU starts trade sanctions on 1,608 U.S. products Oregon bridges net cash for rehabilitation projects Bad weather stalls move of ferry KALAKALA Port of Seattle taps Strout as deputy chief executive Maersk SeaLand adds service linking West Africa, South America

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Transmed special link with Bohai yields scarce space for bulkers GREEK bulker operator Transmed Shipping claims to have clinched special privileges with a Chinese shipyard to further a newbuilding spree that promises to revamp a fleet that was hit by the Christopher capesize tragedy two years ago. Chosen Voyage selects Wind Surf for the world's first all-kosher cruises ONE of the best-known of all Jewish in-jokes takes the ritual passover invocation "next year in Jerusalem!" and tacks on the punchline: "And the year after that, how about a nice cruise?" P&O reviews future of ferry business in bid to stem losses The move comes just a few months after P&O Ferries disclosed it was axeing more than 600 jobs on its Dover-Calais route as part of a restructuring exercise designed to strip out £15m of costs. Bank deal to fund China's shipbuilding ON A day when leading analysts predicted surging imports to feed China's steel industry would drive freight markets to 2010, Norwegian bank Nordea revealed a new formal relationship with the Import and Export Bank of China to finance new shipbuilding projects.

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MARCH 4, 2004
SNCM in financial crisis FRENCH ferry operator SNCM has revealed that strike action currently paralysing its Corsica services is costing the company '200,000 ($240,000) a day Schichau workers go into print WORKERS at struggling German shipbuilder and repairer Schichau Seebeck have taken space in a Bremerhaven newspaper urging the local government for financial support PONLs Green slams mediocre managers P&O Nedlloyd chief executive Philip Green criticised the company's management for its mediocre performance at a press briefing in Amsterdam this morning Safmarine starts S American link SAFMARINE'S new fortnightly West Africa-South America Direct service starts in two weeks' time Superferry 14 salvage begins SUPERFERRY 14 salvors have begun pumping bunker oil to prevent an oil spill and prepare the ship for the salvage operation P&O to review ferry activity IN the face of a '40M ($73.2M) loss on its ferry operations, P&O has launched a "wide ranging business review" into its ferry activities to be completed in the summer S Korea ship investments boom Sovcomflot lifts Russian oil share Perla blast disrupts gas supplies P&O Ned turnround

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MARCH 4, 2004
P&O charts profitable course The parent of the world's fourth-largest container carrier swung to a profit in 2003 on soaring volumes, improving freight rates, and resurgent business at its ports division. Senate opens debate on repealing export program Customs delays air-cargo advance filing DOT begins hours-of-service enforcement Panama Canal launches e-filing Ceres promotes Lesnevich to head NY-NJ ports FedEx plans Miss. distribution hub SAS adds capacity on Copenhagen-to-Shanghai service MOL opens Mexico logistics office Cargo lags for Martinair MSC opens Suape-U.S. East Coast service

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MARCH 4, 2004
Fear of floating focuses PONL on job at hand P&O Nedlloyd's (PONL) new CEO Philip Green said today that the line's 'level of profit is unacceptable' even though there had been a 'US$300million turnaround on the bottom line'. Angry Lines rail at early Part X review P&O and Royal Nedlloyd results confirm different course-headings Lengthy vessel delays prompt Mombasa surcharge Third Railway Package to stop decline in railfreight Rickmers-Linie and Sinotrans sign partnership NYK and Xpress Container Lines join together to reorganise Portugal services Cochin port clears draft license agreement for hub port

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MARCH 4, 2004
Tanker stocks look to shake mid-week slump Mixed bag on Thursday after all lost ground a day earlier. Cleanup crews back at Bow Mariner site Efforts saw first oil recovery in small batches Wednesday. Western Bulk set to float Christen Sveaas and Paal Caspersen to list shares in recovering handymax venture. Ukrainian ships "under threat of arrest" State debt to Cypriot energy company has already resulted in seizure of cargo plane in Canada. P&O Nedlloyd back in the black Higher freight rates gives container line boost ahead of reverse takeover. Nigeria 'to axe' 7,000 port jobs Unions claim mass sackings to pave way for privatisation. New management team for MSC cruise arm Pierfrancesco Vago to spearhead drive for dominance in Mediterranean. Northern Oil shares fall John Fredriksen pockets $2.7m from sale of stake. Gemadept heads overseas Vietnamese shipping agency aiming to woo more customers in Malaysia and Singapore. ONGC's offshore ship plan marooned Indian oil producer "in limbo" over spin-off management company for supply vessels. Royal Nedlloyd returns to profit Tanker king John Fredriksen makes early gain on foray into liner shipping. Ports power P&O ahead Near 60% rise in profits for 2003 as trade booms but ferries flounder. Inquest opened into death of OOCL man UK coroner adjourns hearing into accident onboard boxship that killed executive Courtenay Allan last year. Titan sends tankers for scrap Buoyant steel market prompts China-backed owner and oil trader to sell VLCC and handymax. Transpacific box traffic sees record year Containerised cargo moving eastbound and westbound across the Pacific climbs to all time high. Pirates strike at Red Sea bottleneck Two containerships targeted by unidentified speedboats in strategic Bab El Mandeb strait. NYK subsidiary orders airship Majority owned Nippon Airship Corporation is investing JPY1.3bn in German-built craft.

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MARCH 4, 2004
P&O Nedlloyd nets $56 million in fourth quarter U.S. Customs gives breakbulk, bulk lines electronic filing reprieve Oil slick from "Bow Mariner" dissipates, crew search suspended Salvage crews remove "Lee III" from Mississippi channel U.S. Customs delays enforcement of advance air cargo manifest rule GAO: FDA's inspection of seafood imports needs more work ITC to assess U.S.-Australia free-trade agreement Senators request $300 million for port security SSA Marine will start work this month on Texas City terminal Ceres appoint NY/NJ port operations vice president U.S. Defense Department names Wakeman Iraqi maritime advisor Singapore port requires notice of animals, birds on ships

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MARCH 4, 2004
Shell/Sannes and WWL in major low sulphur oil deal Shell will deliver between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of low sulphur bunker oil to Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines. Deliveries will be ... EP report slams member states on maritime safety In a draft report, due to be debated in the European Parliament temporary committee on maritime safety, MP Dirk Sterckx ... "Stena Nautica" to be repaired in Poland SSG has learned that "Stena Nautica" will be towed to Remontowa Shiprepair yard in Poland for extensive repairs, following the ...