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Keppel to be 1st Asian shipyard to build ice-breakers
KEPPEL Corporation will become the first Asian shipyard to build ice-breakers, after securing a $260 million deal for two vessels from Russia's Lukoil Oil Company, controlled by that country's second-richest man Vagit Alekperov.
China river port firm hopes to break even
RIVER port operator CIG Yangtze Ports plc hopes to break even in 2007 despite tough competition, and will embark on a HK$500 million second-phase expansion in central China as early as next year.
N America grain freight rates fall, but long-term forecasts bullish
FREIGHT rates for hauling grains from North America to Asia have fallen after peaking late last week, but market projections remained bullish for the long term, brokers said on Wednesday.

Admiralty Casebook

When pallets are the packages
PALLETS packed within large intermodal containers are packages for the purpose of the US$500 per package limitation in the US Carriage of Goods by Sea Act , an appeals court in the US ruled last month.

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Shipping News

Keppel to be 1st Asian shipyard to build ice-breakers
KEPPEL Corporation will become the first Asian shipyard to build ice-breakers, after securing a $260 million deal for two vessels from Russia's Lukoil Oil Company, controlled by that country's second-richest man Vagit Alekperov.
China river port firm hopes to break even
RIVER port operator CIG Yangtze Ports plc hopes to break even in 2007 despite tough competition, and will embark on a HK$500 million second-phase expansion in central China as early as next year.
N America grain freight rates fall, but long-term forecasts bullish
FREIGHT rates for hauling grains from North America to Asia have fallen after peaking late last week, but market projections remained bullish for the long term, brokers said on Wednesday.

Admiralty Casebook

When pallets are the packages
PALLETS packed within large intermodal containers are packages for the purpose of the US$500 per package limitation in the US Carriage of Goods by Sea Act , an appeals court in the US ruled last month.

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Hanjin Shipping to renew Kaoshiung terminal lease EU: repeal of industry exemption to be subject to conditions FICT achieves new productivity record MOL to add stop to India-Pakistan container service AADA to reduce bunker surcharge ICTSI issues US$85m of notes through Standard Chartered Bank Coscon named shipping line of the year China's fourth independent air cargo carrier takes off SAS to increase China-Scandinavia capacity Thai to continue to provide Bangkok ground handling for Cathay

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Safmarine is 60 years young! SCI-ONGC JV may rope in L&T for offshore venture FEFC announces peak season surcharge MOL upgrades KEX service Tirupur units aim for exports worth Rs 10,000 cr. by 2008 Heavy rains dampen operations at Paradip Port States stress need for time-bound road/rail links to ports Work on Dhamra port to begin after monsoon Mundra Port on a roll! Prioritise capacity-addition projects in ports-Baalu CONCOR set to wean away portion of edible oil traffic by road on Kolkata Port-Nepal route

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JULY 6, 2006
Port of Rotterdam authority appoints managers from business community Hamburg Süd and Fesco complete cross-trade deal British Airways World Cargo selects Unitpool New operational structure for SBB Cargo New East European tyre DC in Romania Canada and Portugal sign air services agreement New website for Swiss SVS Aviation summit in India

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JULY 6, 2006
Titan Petrochemicals orders bunker barges Don't let yards "wriggle" warns lawyer BW Gas issues US$224m bonds Island Offshore orders platform support ships EC investigates Hellenic aid

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JULY 6, 2006
Abu Dhabi starts corvette construction World's fastest 6,655 TEU box ship Major Egyptian contract for Voith Turbo Island Offshore orders PSV's

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JULY 6, 2006
DOT looks at ending antitrust immunity for IATA CKYH alliance carriers change calls in AWE-5 run Hamburg Sud closes deal for FESCO liner services Port association calling for phase in of transport worker ID Eagle Bulk Shipping adds new Supramax bulk ship

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US and France named in P&I club attack on anti-pollution 'bullies' SHIPOWNERS are increasingly concerned about what they see as bullying and over-reaction by some countries in enforcing anti-pollution rules. Parliamentary ports probe to investigate foreign ownership FOREIGN ownership will be among the topics considered in a House of Commons transport committee investigation into British ports, the group's chairman confirmed yesterday. APM looks for greater autonomy TERMINAL operator APM Terminals has confirmed that it is keeping an eye out for possible acquisitions and signalled its intention to become less dependent on its parent company, AP Moller-Maersk. Greek owners in $6bn record newbuild spree AFTER a slow start to the year Greek shipowners have placed orders for new ships worth record amounts in the first half.

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JULY 6, 2006
Five targeted over waste reception THE European Commission is to take legal action against five EU member states for failing to respect EU legislation on improving the availability and use of port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues Finnlines offloads Team Lines FINNLINES, the troubled Finnish shipping group, has sold Team Lines, its feeder container shipping division, to Belgian company Delphis Stolt operating income on rise STOLT-Nielsen has reported improved second-quarter results and provided new updates on its legal conflicts Borgestad joins Aker in FPSO venture NORWEGIAN industrial group Aker Kvaerner is to take a majority stake in a joint venture with compatriot Borgestad to operate FPSOs Billy Star liability to be determined KEPPEL Batangas Shipyard might be held liable for pollution created by the sinking of the non-propelled barge Billy Star, even though the yard claims it is not responsible Bay of Fundy Ferries seeks state aid THE operator of a ferry service across Canada's Bay of Fundy says it will be closing at the end of October unless government help is provided Ponomarenko focuses on Novo port NYK doubles Atlantic N-S capacity Robles defiant as union changes Wärtsilä cleared of bribery charge BW Gas raises $226M in bond issues Blue Star buys DANE assets for $19M Grounded bulker awaits salvage Hyundai Group tightens grip over HMM

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JULY 6, 2006
Mineta calls on bipartisan support for transportation infrastructure solutions Outgoing Transportation Secretary warns the U.S. could lose its leading economic position if it does not resolve its transportation infrastructure problems. Hanjin Shipping deploys world's fastest boxship DHS: $168M for port security Proposal would allow more China high-tech exports S. Carolina agencies tossed from Charleston case Export ABCs: Certificates of Origin Raymond joins Carolinks board Rail carloads up OH Logistics acquires Barthco, others Feeders drop India region surcharges Some flooding of grounded Safmarine ship UK drinks deal completed by Kuehne & Nagel BDP founder Bolte dies

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JULY 6, 2006
Team Lines to diversify as Finnlines returns to 'core' with Delphis sale Finnlines' sale today of commercial feeder-operator Team Lines, to Delphis Shipping, leaves the Finnish company concentrating on other, core businesses, as the German-Belgian partners diversify their geography and, importantly, activities. Spoornet reports remarkable improvements in Jo'burg rail link South Africa's railway utility Spoornet has made dramatic improvements in efficiency, reducing the time taken to transport freight from the industrial heartland in Gauteng to Durban harbour. Hanjin to put world's fastest boxship on Asia-Europe trade NYK upgrades Atlantic north-south service Agulhas 'grounded' on previous wreck Yangshan boosts SIPG's throughput Greeks order four post-panamaxes from China yards South Korea's Daesan to build four berths Southampton stakeholders to apply for rail-gauge funding Vostochniy continues two-way growth dynamic: transit down, import/export up Lineas Feeder ends three-year search with feeder purchase

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JULY 6, 2006
SEC probes Stolt US securities regulators have questions about chemical carrier's admitted backdating of employees' stock options. UK attacked over piracy Lawmakers demand British government take action to end violence against seafarers. Seaspan adds four more New York-listed containership owner Seaspan is adding $180m more worth of boxships to a series for China Shipping. Svithoid oversubscribed Swedish tanker owner completes $11.7m rights issue to fund newbuilding programme. Stolt-Nielsen getting stronger Norwegian controlled tanker owner posts better profit from continuing businesses in first half. Delphis buys TeamLines Alexander Saverys hits the takeover trail as he builds his shortsea liner business. Rieber takes step forward Norwegian owner buys seismic survey ship plus UK shipmanager TMI. Eagle gains credit Royal Bank of Scotland increases credit facility to US-listed Eagle Bulk Shipping to $450m. Frontline wins appeal London court rules against charterer Vitol in 'Clash of the Titans' laytime battle. GE doubles up at STX Indian owner Great Eastern adds two more LR1 tankers to orderbook at Korean yard. Greek owner hits back Claim of lack of assistance refuted by owners of bulker which collided with tug in port of Kandla, India. Nigeria challenges AP Moller Consortium of local agencies set up to wrestle port operator monopoly in Apapa from shipping giant. Island back at Aker Norwegian owner Island Offshore signs for two platform supply vessels at compatriot Aker Yards. PNSC under fire Officers' union criticises enforced retirement of 14 members by Pakistan's national shipowner. Borgestad floats Aker's boat Aker Kvaerner and Borgestad of Norway form joint venture company to operate FPSOs. More money for Ukrferry Ukrainian freight and passenger ferry operator trebles profit in 2005. Blue Star wins Dane ships Attica-controlled Greek ferry operator buys rival's three-ship fleet at auction. Kaspar continues to grow Azerbaijan state shipowner bumps up cargo volumes in first six months. BW Gas raises Yara cash Norwegian owner issues three and five-year bonds to fund gas carrier fleet acquisition. Offloading underway Containers and fuel being removed from Safmarine Agulhas in bid to refloat grounded boxship. RCL in route revamp Thai intra-Asian operator to shake things up on Asia Middle East and Gulf feeder services. Jumbo adds another Growing demand from offshore industry prompts Dutch heavy-lift specialist to order fourth ship. Wartsila wins appeal Finnish court of appeal agrees with original verdict in bribery case involving engine builder.

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JULY 6, 2006
NYK, Hapag-Lloyd boost U.S./East Coast South America service to weekly RCL to join Middle East-Asia Express of OOCL, T.S.K. Inchcape names Coghlan chairman to assist "aggressive expansion drive" Emirates Shipping Line establishes Korean agency B+H buys tanker Salvors attempt to refloat Safmarine ship SJ Consulting adds ocean shipping analyst Canada, Algeria sign first air transport agreement Kuwaiti cargo handler NAS Cargo joins Cargo 2000 Velocity Express to buy CD&L Ryder introduces tracking system BIS proposes rules revising export licensing requirements for China California remains top U.S. ag product exporter Bolte, BDP International founder, dies FMC reviews 13 OTI applications, revokes 3 licenses FPS New Zealand opens Christchurch office Dalian Automobile Terminal opens

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JULY 6, 2006
Bullish prices keep West Coast quiet After a rush in San Francisco yesterday, suppliers reporting little demand in California today. California ports and IMO in emissions race LA and Long Beach putting local measures on the agenda as IMO looking to 2007 for global review. DOE: US oil inventory moves at a glance New box giant ticks environmental boxes World's biggest box ship has been assigned Lloyd's Register's Environmental Protection Notation. ARA market opens firm after crude gains Malacca Straits remains a piracy playground Pirates attacked two UN-chartered vessels and one Japanese bulk carrier over the past week. Singapore: Stocks of residual fuels and distillates drop Onshore stocks of middle distillates fall by nearly three million barrels from week-ago levels. Singapore spot market slows Strong crude prices in New York expected to send bunker prices on bullish prospect today.