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Shipping News

Biometric-based ID may come into use in 6 months
THE new biometric-based identity document for the world's 1.2 million seafarers could be in use in just over six months as global testing is set to begin and more states ratify its governing Convention, said an International Labour Organisation official.
P&I club urges unity against onerous laws
SHIPOWNERS need to speak with one voice if they are to stop the seemingly unrelenting campaign by the world's governments to penalise and criminalise the shipping industry, according to North of England P&I club.
Japanese firms order 4 LNG ships
MITSUI OSK Lines, Japan's second-largest shipping company, and Japanese trading companies Mitsubishi Corp and Itochu Corp signed agreements on Tuesday with Oman Shipping Co to build four liquefied natural gas tankers for Oman's Qalhat LNG project.

Air and Land Transport

Sales of 1,000 7E7 planes will be enough: Boeing chief
BOEING Co chief executive officer Harry Stonecipher said the company would make a satisfactory profit by selling 1,000 7E7 airplanes over 20 years, at most half of the forecast market share for planes that size.
Frankfurt Airport June numbers up 5%
Skymark Airlines to cut fares by as much as 20%
US relooks airline security system
Airlines go flat out in Japan to woo business clients
Delta to take Q2 charge of US$1.65b

Port Shots

port shots
COSCO Shipping Co, a unit of China's biggest shipping company, forecast first-half profit probably surged more than 150 per cent from a year earlier.

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Shipping News

Biometric-based ID may come into use in 6 months
THE new biometric-based identity document for the world's 1.2 million seafarers could be in use in just over six months as global testing is set to begin and more states ratify its governing Convention, said an International Labour Organisation official.
P&I club urges unity against onerous laws
SHIPOWNERS need to speak with one voice if they are to stop the seemingly unrelenting campaign by the world's governments to penalise and criminalise the shipping industry, according to North of England P&I club.
Japanese firms order 4 LNG ships
MITSUI OSK Lines, Japan's second-largest shipping company, and Japanese trading companies Mitsubishi Corp and Itochu Corp signed agreements on Tuesday with Oman Shipping Co to build four liquefied natural gas tankers for Oman's Qalhat LNG project.

Air and Land Transport

Sales of 1,000 7E7 planes will be enough: Boeing chief
BOEING Co chief executive officer Harry Stonecipher said the company would make a satisfactory profit by selling 1,000 7E7 airplanes over 20 years, at most half of the forecast market share for planes that size.
Frankfurt Airport June numbers up 5%
Skymark Airlines to cut fares by as much as 20%
US relooks airline security system
Airlines go flat out in Japan to woo business clients
Delta to take Q2 charge of US$1.65b

Port Shots

port shots
COSCO Shipping Co, a unit of China's biggest shipping company, forecast first-half profit probably surged more than 150 per cent from a year earlier.

web site

Shipping News

Biometric-based ID may come into use in 6 months
THE new biometric-based identity document for the world's 1.2 million seafarers could be in use in just over six months as global testing is set to begin and more states ratify its governing Convention, said an International Labour Organisation official.
P&I club urges unity against onerous laws
SHIPOWNERS need to speak with one voice if they are to stop the seemingly unrelenting campaign by the world's governments to penalise and criminalise the shipping industry, according to North of England P&I club.
Japanese firms order 4 LNG ships
MITSUI OSK Lines, Japan's second-largest shipping company, and Japanese trading companies Mitsubishi Corp and Itochu Corp signed agreements on Tuesday with Oman Shipping Co to build four liquefied natural gas tankers for Oman's Qalhat LNG project.

Air and Land Transport

Sales of 1,000 7E7 planes will be enough: Boeing chief
BOEING Co chief executive officer Harry Stonecipher said the company would make a satisfactory profit by selling 1,000 7E7 airplanes over 20 years, at most half of the forecast market share for planes that size.
Frankfurt Airport June numbers up 5%
Skymark Airlines to cut fares by as much as 20%
US relooks airline security system
Airlines go flat out in Japan to woo business clients
Delta to take Q2 charge of US$1.65b

Port Shots

port shots
COSCO Shipping Co, a unit of China's biggest shipping company, forecast first-half profit probably surged more than 150 per cent from a year earlier.

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China's largest inland container station opens in Shandong New gatehouse at YICT opens Globelink-Trans Tianjin ranked among top forwarders in China MOL opens Quanzhou, Wenzhou representative offices Hatsu Marine expands service network Container increase at Boston port New Wan Hai vessel makes maiden call at MICT US CBP sets new guidelines for anti-dumping cases Cathay transports record June cargo load BAWC adds fourth freighter, enhances network Hong Kong-Danang flights stopped TNT Express wins legal battle to operate night flights out of Liege

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Tonnage tax riders weigh lightly on shipowners' minds Box vessels to be short by 2,00,000 TEUs this year Schenker Stinnes Logistics standardises global seafreight services $ 10-bn trade with China envisaged this year Japanese demand raises oil product tanker rates VCT sets new record in reefer handling Vizag Port complies with ISPS code Rajasthan plans to set up Rs 200-cr. dry port in Alwar dist Cargo handling at Major Ports posts 7.5 pc growth in Q1 15 airports to be modernised by Dec. 2006 under Rs 5,000-cr. plan Gems & jewellery units in export zones can now import gold directly Vaghela lists blessings of quota-free regime for textile sector Govt to impart clarity to 'services export' term Chartered Accountants body to seek clarification on 'long-term capital loss' issue Dr H.A.C. Prasad's study maps out strategy to double market share in medium-term

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JULY 14, 2004
Opposing US oil stock figures leaves market little changed US supply fundamentals still open for interpretation after weekly stock figures. Suppliers attempt to exploit Panama Canal delays Maintenance closure sees transit times increase but congestion and new bunkering opportunities limited. Strong demand and cargo spur price gains in St. Petersburg Competitive prices coupled with seasonal demand leave some suppliers tight on product. South Korean workers reach pay compromise Suppliers quote freely as industrial conflict draws to an end. MPA: Sulphur levels stay as they are - for now Island state's maritime ruling body says it will enforce IMO's 4.5% sulphur limits for bunker fuel despite likely changes to sulphur levels in Europe. UAE demand and Singapore stocks shrink spread Recent heavy demand in Fujairah in conjunction with record level fuel oil stocks in Singapore prompts UAE-Singapore price spread to touch reverse trend. Israeli strike leaves bunkering problems looming Dockworkers protests threaten to impede bunkering operations in Israel's three main ports. Rotterdam firming with some congestion Singapore market levels out after surge in demand Flurry of activity causes near-term barge congestion. AMSA issues new rules for Australian bunker supply The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has said amendements are being drafted to bring Australian regulations in line with MARPOL Annex VI, which will have implications for bunker suppliers.

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JULY 14, 2004
Second Basel International Hazardous Goods Conference Keunecke chooses cargoRent Pakistan and Yemen sign deals Wincanton secures new Britvic contract MAN heavy goods vehicles manufacturer to rent out HGVs Ocean Airlines to start services in July Barwil first shipping agency to appoint own security officer DaimlerChrysler to name Cordes head of Mercedes

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JULY 14, 2004
Frontline snaps up single hull suezmaxes Nine missing after pirate attack NAT considers life after BP Farstad fixes Asian tonnage LR authorised for offshore vessel ACP US-based cruise numbers up

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JULY 14, 2004
General Maritime sells four single skin Suezmaxes With sale, percentage of double sided. double hulled ships in fleet is 89% and average age is 9.8 years USCG policy extension resolves conflicts with SOLAS Owners won't have to meet existing regs that conflict with new SOLAS requirements Keel-laying at NASSCO Third ship of BP quartet

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JULY 14, 2004
Port of Vancouver, USA buying Rufener Farm property Mitsui adding two vessels to LNG carrier fleet DHL wins delivery duties for U.S. Olympic team Hatsu Marine expanding with new Intra Europe service Maritime Administration releases latest North American cruise numbers

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Bulker design talks head for improved rules He expected shipbuilders would have something to say on corrosion margins, given the price of steel. The new rules could add between 0.5% to 3% in steel weight to a typical bulker, he said. Technically, Scuteri is IACS first lady NEW ground is being broken at the International Association of Classification Societies, following the appointment of the first woman to the body's technical co-ordination group, writes Hugh O'Mahony. Rina broadens its horizons HE HAS never been away, but the end of what turned out to be a high profile 12-month tenure as chairman of International Association of Classification Societies means that the energetic Ugo Salerno can refocus on his role as chief executive of Rina, writes Hugh O'Mahony. New Capital Insurance venture creates third empire at Lloyd's A POWERFUL combination of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and three of the top personalities in insurance is aiming to set up a third empire at Lloyd's that would create 'must have' stocks out of the relative minnow companies, writes James Brewer. Dynacom mulls New York listing George Procopiou is considering a New York initial public offering for his $2.5bn Dynacom tanker and liquefied natural gas carrier empire. Cosco in Japan VLCC yard deal CHINA Ocean Shipping Co is on the verge of signing a shipbuilding deal for two very large crude carriers with a Japanese yard, writes Sam Chambers in Shanghai.

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JULY 14, 2004
Petronas chairman Azizan dies THE chairman of Malaysian state-owned energy company Petronas, Azizan Zainul Abidin, died this morning at the age of 69 Trawler investigation begins FRENCH experts are investigating the Bugaled Breizh to establish why it sank after the vessel was towed into the Breton port of Brest yesterday Satellites to monitor oil spills DUBAI-based Regional Clean Sea Organization is soon to offer satellite services to monitor accidental oil spills or oil dumping in the Middle East Gulf Seattle approves port expansion THE Port of Seattle Commission has approved funds to begin designing a projected $50M expansion of Terminal 5, one of the city's three main cargo terminals Nenaco looks for new president METRO Pacific, owner of the heavily indebted Negros Navigation Co, has started its search for a new president to pull the company out of financial trouble Miami: charges following strike MIAMI has told shippers that it will waive some charges for vessels that have been alongside the quayside for days as a result of the two-week strike by truckers Cape Africa enters Cape Town Monti brings hope to Izar workers Pongola refloated in Beira Sovcomflot unveils fleet expansion Possible replacement for Izar SCI favours newbuilding tonnage Seattle mulls third cruise terminal Korean seafarers in jobs protest Unhappy longshoremen challenge vote Taiwan visit angers China

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JULY 14, 2004
Miami puts boxes on ice Massive backlog leads terminal operator to put hold orders on more incoming containers. U.S. import prices drop Smaller vessels trip security rules Supply chain a key to UPS growth, says CEO Slot-charterers shuffle Gulf-LatAm rotation China Shipping says IPO overallotment not used Singapore acts to curb box delays FedEx hub clears N. Carolina legal hurdle Boxes lead Antwerp traffic New commander for U.S. military logistics group

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JULY 14, 2004
Chinese shippers say they'll go to court over THC issue The China Shippers' Association (CSA) is considering bringing the controversial terminal handling charge (THC) issue to court as early as 'this year', VP Cai Jiaxiang told ci-online today in Beijing. Dutch fear Belgians are winning terminal wars as Euromax partners are slow in seeking EC regulatory approval Euromax, the planned Maasvlakte container terminal of ECT and Royal P&O Nedlloyd (RPONL), has not been given EC approval yet, RPONL board member Rutger van Slobbe confirmed. Static charter market reflects summer slumber Norasia and CSCL suspend AMX Concor expands ICD network Yang Ming takes delivery of twelfth 5,500TEU vessel

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JULY 14, 2004
Stolt probe widens US Justice Dept wants info on tank container business to add to parcel tanker investigation. GulfMark meets target US offshore shipowner gains majority acceptance for bond buy-back. The price of oil rises Number of dead and missing in tanker incidents more than twice last year's total as fires and explosions increase. French hold Schulte feedership France has detained an alleged polluter after letting one get away last week. CSPL clears debts Bankrupt Czech shipbuilder tries to satisfy creditors and former employees with pay off. Arison offloads $4.6m in stock Carnival Corp chief sells 100,000 shares to take advantage of twelve-month price surge. Volgaflot in the black Russian shipowner makes modest profit in 2003 and confirms dividend payments. SCI closes on bulker orders Indian owner has one more state-approval hurdle to jump before going to shipyards for capesizes. IPO fever Dynacom Tankers latest owner to float ideas of listing in New York. Frontline takes single-skin punt Fredriksen snaps up Genmar suezmax trio in "opportunistic" move to cash in on strong tanker rates. Japan holds 40 ships June port state control checks haul in Coscon boxship among small fry. Frontline issues equity Company raises $21.5m from private placement to pay for new Genmar single-skins. Coscol at it again Chinese owner makes another statement on profits, forecasting a 150% first-half rise. Europa gets facelift Hapag-Lloyd cruiseship to be modernised at Blohm+Voss shipyard in Germany. Pongola awaits inspection Tom Warden boxship refloated outside port of Beira in Mozambique. CSCL overallotment goes unused Evidence, if it were needed, that Chinese container lines' IPO got a weak reception from investors. Precious piles on the shares Thai shipowner has now spent close to $7m on its own stock as it continues with share buyback plan. Chao VLCC balks at Basra Crew of Venture Spirit refuse to call at Iraq's major oil terminal over concerns about security.

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JULY 14, 2004
Alleged terrorist threat to shipping Carriers raise congestion surcharge in Chennai port Frontline raises $21.5 million in equity Frontline raises $21.5 million in equity CORRECTION Cut in TACA's bunker charges effective Aug. 16 Volga-Dnepr studies cargo hub in Siberia GeoLogistics hires new CFO McHale leaves TSA CSX World Terminals appoints executives for Pusan project Port of Vancouver acquires land for future development

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JULY 14, 2004
Claim against shipyard 20 years after the job was finished A US Federal Court in New York has set the case about the ill-fated container vessel "MSC Carla" under ... Trouble with pumps and bowsprit on ill-fated schooner in Kattegat No clear reason for the loss of the schooner "Martha" was detected at the first hearings in Vejle, which is ... Fronline aquires single hull tanker trio Frontline has bought three single hull Suezmax tankers built 1989-1990. Seller of the "Suezmax Transporter", the "Centaur" and the ...