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EC to continue dominance in global maritime sector: official
THE European Commission's regional initiatives in the maritime sector will continue because of the intensity of economic activity in a relatively small area of European marine resources, warned the head of a new EC maritime policy task force.
Asia freight rates sink to near 2-year low
ASIA shipping rates have dipped to their lowest in nearly two years amid a surplus of ships and as Chinese importers digest the impact of the yuan's revaluation on their buying power, brokers said yesterday.
HK plans to lower port charges to attract more cargo
HONG Kong, which was overtaken by Singapore as the world's busiest container port in the first half, plans to lower some charges to attract more cargo shipments as competition from nearby Chinese ports increases.
Kuehne + Nagel's H1 net profit rises 34%
Typhoon pounds Japanese coast

Strait Talk

Globetrotting useful for IMO
OVER a year, International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos visits between 30 and 40 countries.

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Shipping News

EC to continue dominance in global maritime sector: official
THE European Commission's regional initiatives in the maritime sector will continue because of the intensity of economic activity in a relatively small area of European marine resources, warned the head of a new EC maritime policy task force.
Asia freight rates sink to near 2-year low
ASIA shipping rates have dipped to their lowest in nearly two years amid a surplus of ships and as Chinese importers digest the impact of the yuan's revaluation on their buying power, brokers said yesterday.
HK plans to lower port charges to attract more cargo
HONG Kong, which was overtaken by Singapore as the world's busiest container port in the first half, plans to lower some charges to attract more cargo shipments as competition from nearby Chinese ports increases.
Kuehne + Nagel's H1 net profit rises 34%
Typhoon pounds Japanese coast

Strait Talk

Globetrotting useful for IMO
OVER a year, International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos visits between 30 and 40 countries.

	web site

HK's Tsang says transportation development vital to regional economy Trade surges in Ningbo and Heilongjiang Province Asian tsunami leads to fall in wood imports to Zhangjiagang Kuehne + Nagel's interim net profit up 34pc Pacific Rim postal officials announce launch of express courier service Delta reports 2Q US$382m net loss Cargolux to negotiate with Boeing to buy 10 new planes Korean Air's June passenger traffic grows over 11pc

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JULY 26, 2005
Gefco Deutschland: K'hler new sales manager south Wallem Group further expanding in Asia Sale of Aviapartner to 3i and management Rotterdam to install radiation detectors at all terminals Ryder wins transportation contract with United States Postal Service Pakistan to enforce overload control regime Always Express selects software from Trans-Soft

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JULY 26, 2005
Panama Canal tolls "to more than double in 20 years" Another bumper quarter for OMI Hamburg Sud switches cargo away from Vancouver Cory buys Scottish agency business

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JULY 26, 2005
Navy moves towards paperless navigation Tidewater in $188 million AHT sale deal Japan pulls plug on Techno Superliner

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Ultragas fights $21m penalty over fatal chemtanker blast ULTRAGAS, a subsidiary of Ultramar of Chile, is to appeal against a $21.3m penalty levelled by two Brazilian environmental authorities following the fatal explosion on board the chemtanker Vicuña last year. Cyprus signs up to US ship boarding security initiative CYPRUS has become the fifth register to sign a "reciprocal" agreement with Washington that would allow US authorities to board or detain in international waters a Cypriot ship suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction. Storm steals BP's profits thunder SOARING oil prices boosted BP's second-quarter profits to $5bn, but problems with the Thunder Horse platform will stunt its production growth strategy.

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JULY 26, 2005
Summer tanker lull returns LOWER tanker rates are in store for the third quarter, with the traditional summer lull returning after its anomalous absence in 2004, according to OMI executives Chinese court suspends spill claim A COMPENSATION case involving the Hyundai Advance and MSC Ilona, which collided in 2004, has been suspended until lawsuits between the two are settled Florida bill to ban sewage dumping FLORIDA is moving to introduce legislation to bar casino ships from dumping sewage in US offshore waters, an initiative that is being applauded by the local media Alaskan concern over collision risk ALASKAN environmentalists have expressed concern after two tankers simultaneously transited the Valdez Narrows ' in violation of USCG rules Philippine collision: both guilty THE general cargo vessel Sulpicio Express Dos and the tanker Arowana III, which collided in the Philippines last week, were both found to have been at fault Barrow awaits cruise approval THE UK northwest coast of Barrow is the preferred location for a new cruise terminal, subject to approval being granted for the £7-10M project in late September Thomas doubts armed guards African Pride: tension mounts Brazil sends first ethanol shipment Seafarer card adds voicemail option OMI: strong rates weakening Hamburg Süd halts Vancouver calls Camillo Eitzen growth continues Singapore to review cruise capacity Typhoon approaches Tokyo Bay

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JULY 26, 2005
Vancouver jam forcing diversions Port says $500 million in goods stalled on docks; ocean lines shift schedules as strike by container truckers enters fourth week. Philly port dangles box incentive Problems for LA night gates ILA wins Evergreen round Red tape at Canada border: Report NWA Cargo revenue soars Gains for rail traffic UPS serving Qingdao weekly NOL opens RFID test center

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JULY 26, 2005
PierPASS maintains after dinner cargo flows The first full night shift under PierPASS showed a steady stream of truck traffic, PierPASS president and CEO Bruce Wargo said today. Ship diversions begin at strike-hit Vancouver region A joint service operated by Hamburg Sud and Chile's CCNI reportedly diverted the first ship from Canada's West Coast to the US as a result of the prolonged truckers strike. Indonesia THC to be cut Central bank denies further Renminbi appreciation ITF ramps up L&B campaign Demand stays firm as NOL records strong Period 6 returns Melbourne issues trial dredging schedule Commercial uncertainties have little impact on HK trade MSC takes delivery of world's largest containership Montreal posts H1 volume increase European owner orders containerships from Daesun

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JULY 26, 2005
Euronav in record first-half result Weaker second quarter fails to dent Belgian tanker operator. Pistiolis TOPs 5% TOP Tankers CEO breaks holdings threshhold after company grants him 190,000 shares of restricted stock. Shipowners in 'risk zone' A Moscow court could nullify some post-Soviet privatisations of shipowners, among others. Multraship buys out Bulgarians Dutch towage company and salvor Multraship has purchased Bourgas Tug Services. More piracy off Somalia The second Italian merchant ship within one week has been attacked by pirates. Valdez tankers 'too close' The US Coast Guard is taking the blame for letting Conoco Phillips tailgate ExxonMobile. Pirates drop cash demand Somalian thugs who have hijacked a food-aid cargo would settle for the rice if they could only get the ship ashore. Deep Sea Supply pays $188m Dean Taylor-led Tidewater will manage six AHTs for Norway's Deep Sea Supply. Ultragas appeals $21.3m fine Chilean shipowner Ultragas is appealing a $21.3m fine over a deadly explosion in Brazil. Matson raises Guam rates Revenue to help offset US to Hawaii container line's increased operating costs of new China service. US nabs Orion and Cosmoship Two bulk carriers and general cargo ship were held last month for security violations. Petrobras in FPSO deal Brazilian oil giant signs for two deep-water units in $1.2bn contract. Kiperousa could be CTL Time looks to have run out for stranded bulker with reports of all four cargo holds all flooded. Cory expands agency business Braemar Seascope subsidiary acquires Scottish-based Morrison Shipping & Morrison Tours.

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JULY 26, 2005
APL's container volumes rise 13% in June OMI's profits soar Vancouver strike forces Hamburg Sud to switch to Portland NSCSA's profits jump 22% MarAd approves 2 vessel flag transfers Sea Star Line promotes Schloth UPS acquires Lynx Express in U.K. America West Airlines, US Airways merger passes another test PWC Logistics, Dnata establish inter-airport logistics company FreightPath introduces new air cargo software Teamsters quit AFL-CIO Hub Group posts 2nd-quarter net income of $7.9 million Inland Marine Underwriters release cargo-specific guides Kuehne + Nagel's half-year net earnings up 34.4 percent EX-IM Bank approves $180 million in insurance for Iraq-bound grain Late registrations force PierPass to delay daytime container fee Georgia ports break cargo tonnage record Port of Long Beach budget cut by $40 million U.S., Cyprus reach ship-boarding agreement Proposed northern Moroccan port receives $374,000 U.S. security grant

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JULY 26, 2005
2004 record breaking year for Wallenius The Swedish car carrier specialist Walleniusrederierna reports a SEK 1.1 billion (EUR 117 million) pre-tax profit for 2004, more ... DFDS and Sovcomflot in ferry co-operation DFDS and Sovcomflot has entered an agreement covering a railway ferry service between Ust Luga, Baltiysk (Kaliningrad) and Sassnitz/Mukran ... Smoking policy on its way to Svitzer tugs SvitzerWijsmuller may become the first Danish shipping company with a smoking policy for its employees. The company's 12 Danish flagged ...

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JULY 26, 2005
Prices, demand rise in Houston ahead of DOE data Prices firm in Houston as suppliers widen price margins above cost and take advantage of above-average demand. World Fuel Services CEO to address San Francisco forum World Fuel Services Corporation (WFS) chief the latest high-profile speaker to confirm their attendance at the Bunkerworld Marine Fuel Sustainability Forum in San Francisco, October 5-7. Valero Q2 results: Highest quarterly net income ever Valero Energy Corporation (Valero) released its second quarter (Q2) results today, reflecting the highest quarterly net income in the company's history. Ultragas to contest $21 million Vicu'a fine Brazilian environmental authorities have imposed a $21.3 million fine on Sociedad Naviera Ultragas, but reports say the fine, arising from an explosion and resulting bunker spill will be contested. Russia: Oil export duties on the rise again The Russian government has raised export duty on crude oil and oil products effective August 1. ARA market quiet but holding firm at noon Widespread problems still evident with MARPOL VI requirements Bunker trader warns that suppliers still unable to produce a MARPOL Annex VI compliant Bunker Delivery Note, while many owners also remain baffled by legislation. Approaching typhoon halts Tokyo's bunker activities Bunkering activities at Tokyo Bay have been temporarily discontinued due to an approaching typhoon expected to hit Japan's main island in Tokai region. St. Croix officials push for project to entice more bunker stops Officials in St. Croix, the US Virgin Islands, are hopeful that a dredging project that could entice the return of voyager-class cruise vessels to lift bunkers at the island will go ahead before the start of the tourist season. Strong freight revenues cover bunker cost, broker says Poten & Partners have said in a report that strong freight revenues in recent times have helped to cushion the impact of rising bunker costs. Expected fall in US crude stocks sends oil prices up World crude oil prices rose slightly yesterday as traders anticipated a drop in US crude inventories caused by recent hurricanes assailing Gulf of Mexico production.