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Chirac orders French asbestos ship to return home
FRENCH President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday ordered the asbestos-lined warship Clemenceau back home after France's highest court blocked its transfer to India for scrapping.
Bangladesh merchant offers to buy asbestos laden liner
A Bangladeshi scrap merchant has offered to buy a famed ocean liner crammed with asbestos for US$12 million, despite warnings from the government that it will not allow the vessel to be broken up here.
Aker Yards posts 4th consecutive quarterly gain
AKER Yards ASA, Europe's largest shipbuilder, reported a fourth consecutive quarterly profit as it benefited from a tax gain and rising demand for oil-exploration vessels.
Precious Shipping's 2005 profit rises 30% to record

Admiralty Casebook

Onus on shipowners to test crane hooks
A LONDON court last week ruled that a shipowner had not ensured the seaworthiness of a brand new vessel it had taken delivery barely a month earlier because it failed to test the safe working loads of hooks on the vessel's forward and aft cranes.

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Shipping News

Chirac orders French asbestos ship to return home
FRENCH President Jacques Chirac on Wednesday ordered the asbestos-lined warship Clemenceau back home after France's highest court blocked its transfer to India for scrapping.
Bangladesh merchant offers to buy asbestos laden liner
A Bangladeshi scrap merchant has offered to buy a famed ocean liner crammed with asbestos for US$12 million, despite warnings from the government that it will not allow the vessel to be broken up here.
Aker Yards posts 4th consecutive quarterly gain
AKER Yards ASA, Europe's largest shipbuilder, reported a fourth consecutive quarterly profit as it benefited from a tax gain and rising demand for oil-exploration vessels.
Precious Shipping's 2005 profit rises 30% to record

Admiralty Casebook

Onus on shipowners to test crane hooks
A LONDON court last week ruled that a shipowner had not ensured the seaworthiness of a brand new vessel it had taken delivery barely a month earlier because it failed to test the safe working loads of hooks on the vessel's forward and aft cranes.

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Record throughput in January for Shantou Hebei to invest US$24b on transport infrastructure Warmest Jan in over 100 years in the US drives up retail sales Harbin Railway Bureau tops 2005 rail cargo handling in China AADA to raise bunker surcharge next month Indonesian port operator wants control of JICT New Australian Customs office opens in Geelong OOCL launches e-Business service Qantas H1 net profits negatively affected by higher fuel costs Shippers support probe into alleged global airlines cargo price-fixing Fernandes headed to Jupiter

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Shreyas Shipping GDR issue West Asia Maritime plans IPO in March French President recalls Clemenceau Shrimp exporters to file anti-dumping review petitions before USDC Exporters to move court Pakistan to import more sugar from India Maharashtra to export 4 lakh tonnes of onions Edible oil base import prices hiked by $ 14-17 per tonne Basmati rice exports maintain pace Textile exports to US up by 27 pc in 2005 PPT hopes to award contract for iron ore-cum-coal berth next month 14 Big Guns apply for licence to operate box freight services on rail CONCOR's ICD-Mandideep flags off 1st export train to JNP South-Eastern Rly posts 33 pc growth in 10 months Rly Ministry may cut coal freight rates SICAL to spend Rs 350 cr. in Phase-I to connect its ICD-Noida to JNP & other strategic routes Delhi, Mumbai airport upgrade projects may get tax breaks

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Swiss appoints CFO P&O shareholders accept DP World takeover Etihad with three new Pakistan routes EU rail licence for Europorte 2 Record results for R'hlig group in 2005 Airfreight businesses acting as a cartel? Zeebrugge chooses Kalmar Smartpath New Route Africa for airlines and airports, Casablanca, 5'7 March

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Golden Ocean sees profit GL proclaims 'SAFEDOR' workshop a success Bonheur's shipping interests keep in the black

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Senators introduce water resources reform bill Clemenceau ordered back to France

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Crowley taps Cunningham as VP for Puerto Rico liner services Seattle-based Coast Guard cutter arrives at post in Antartica Maruba adds Long Beach to CLAN service lineup New drill barge christened by Panama Canal Authority "K" Line takes delivery of new LNG carrier

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Cunard's new Queen scheduled for delivery next year CUNARD'S much-delayed third cruise liner was unveiled in London yesterday. The $480m, 90,000gt Queen Victoria will be built by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. Legal action hint as four-vessel Greek bulk carrier deal goes sour AN EN bloc acquisition of four bulk carriers involving Brave Maritime and fellow Greek operator Eolos Shipmanagement appears to have gone sour to the point that legal action is considered likely, sources familiar with the reported transaction have confirmed, writes Nigel Lowry in Athens. Brussels denies plans to overthrow national flags BRUSSELS has backed away from suggestions it is seeking to create a European Union flag for merchant shipping after an outcry led by the British press. Countdown begins to Lloyd's List awards 2006 FINAL preparations are under way for the 2006 Lloyd's List Awards, to be presented next Thursday at a gala dinner in London.

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
US opposition to P&O sale brewing US critics are lobbying for a review of the sale of P&O Ports to Dubai Ports World (DPW), on the grounds that terrorist ties in the United Arab Emirates could somehow jeopardise US port security More mystery shrouds Colombo deaths COLOMBO'S Admiralty Court has arrested the research vessel Mezen, on board which three Russian seafarers had been found dead in circumstances as yet unexplained P&I targets dangerous goods MAJOR casualties involving dangerous goods could increase as the IMO code is not being properly followed, the UK P&I Club said today Generalov pays premium for Fesco stake SERGEI Generalov's Industrial Investors group paid an 18% premium at today's privatisation auction in Moscow to take the Russian government's stake in Fesco OMI earnings fall short OMI has issued a pre-earnings statement indicating results for Q405 that are below Wall Street's expectations Breakers respond on Clemenceau INDIAN ship breakers say the controversy over demolition of the French aircraft carrier Clemenceau will force themto upgrade working facilities and enhance their image Passengers: Grand Princess 'nearly flipped' Tanker sales boost Fred Olsen companies Freight futures pull Golden Ocean back Maersk to phase in service changes Mitsui, Vopak to merge terminals Kuok inducted into SMF board

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
New Orleans gets $12 million credit line The loan will help the port with operating costs, debt repayments and other expenses in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Business groups back US stance on China Terrorist fears spark opposition to DP-P&O deal ProLogis profit soars by 80 percent Carload traffic plunges Maruba extends S. America service to Long Beach P&O Ports renews Army contract ANL to join EPIC service on India-Europe trade US says it could walk away from trade talks Air France-KLM profit triples

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Operators race to meet Indian rail application deadline Up to 14 companies had submitted applications to operate container rail services by yesterday's deadline. Indonesian importers to boycott Danish products Indonesia's Importers' Association (GINSI) yesterday began a boycott of Danish products, in protest against cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, originating in Denmark. Maruba confirms post-Americas Alliance service-coverage UniFeeder to launch second Rotterdam-St Petersburg line Danube barge service to double frequency Maersk Line keeps a low profile Russian state stake in FESCO goes to existing shareholder's subsidiary HMM expands overseas network What price the Baltic Pearl? Fraser River volume rises may be short lived

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Precious profit record Long term charters shield top handymax owner from falling freight market and high bunker costs. Dangerous goods prove so UK P&I club launches campaign to highlight chemical cargo threat to containerships. Arneberg splashes out on Munch US-based Norwegian owner was one of the successful bidders at Fred Olsen's auction of paintings. Flat year for Concordia Swedish tanker company made little money in 2005 but not a big surprise as it had no ships to trade. Tamai Steamship on the rise Japanese bulker owner turns in better profit from diminished revenues in first nine months. Fesco owner strengthens hold Industrial Investors wins auction for state's holding of nearly 20% of Russian boxship owner, giving it about 80% of the company. Ninth aframax for Great Eastern Indian owner confirms purchase of double-hulled tanker delivered in January from Chinese yard. Merwede wins Subsea business Dutch shipyard to build pipe-laying vessel for Siem subsidiary. FFAs hurt Golden Ocean John Fredriksen dry bulk vehicle slips to fourth quarter loss after suffering derivatives loss. Olsen in the money Norwegian owner's holding companies Ganger Rolf and Bonheur profit from tanker sales in 2005. GATI orders at Asimar Indian owner books feeder containership order at Thai-listed ship repairer Asian Marine Services. Stealthgas raids Manila again Vafias company buys second Philippines-flagged LPG carrier this year. Eidsiva snaps up ro-ro Norwegian owner buys 1991-built Swedish vessel backed by 10-year charter. Disposals help Halim Mazmin Malaysian owner sees a near 10% increase in full-year profits on high rates and second hand prices. Clemenceau ordered home Former French aircraft carrier at the centre of an asbestos scare to return to France from Indian Ocean. PUM seals Swire deal Singapore shipbuilder Pan United Marine to build two offshore vessels for Hong Kong shipowner.

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Maruba, CMA CGM to add Long Beach calls Deutsche Post's 2005 profits up 40% ESC backs air cargo-pricing investigation Delta reports 4th quarter net loss of $1.2 billion Lufthansa's cargo down 3.1% in January OOCL Logistics opens transloading, warehouse facility for U.S. Midwest Saddle Creek appoints Rittenhouse FMC reviews 7 OTI license applications Lawmakers mount campaign to review DP World port deal Panama Canal Authority christens massive barge

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
Eidsiva buys Swedish ro-ro The Swedish forest company Holmen (ex MoDo) has bought Dag Engstr'm Rederi AB:s share in the 22,193-gt forest ... Crewman dies on Champion tanker A 31-year old Indian crew member on the Norwegian flagged "Champion Pioneer" died while bound and being held in ... Powerful tug delivered to Swedish flag SvitzerWijsmuller has taken delivery of the 10th and last tug in the M-class from Shipyard Baltija, Klaipeda. The tug ...

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FEBRUARY 16, 2006
West Coast markets finally move, prices down US West Coast prices were softening today in response to market movements elsewhere, but prices may be short-lived. Shipowner adopts low-sulphur fuel policy Westwood Shipping choosing to use 1.5% fuel on its new vessels, may expand to cover whole fleet. Partner chosen for one of Saudi Aramco's new refineries Partner chosen for one of two planned major export refineries in Saudi Arabia as oil firm seeks to ease capacity crunch. Fiji official bemoans lack of bunkering facilities Port official says Fiji needs improved facilities as vessel calls drop sharply. Teekay won over by promise of fuel savings BMT SeaTech reckons $1bn in fuel savings could easily be achieved across global fleet through improved efficiency measures. Singapore: Residual fuels up, distillates down Singapore bunker prices down, demand picks up Singapore's bunker demand has picked up since the start of February, with prices expected to firm towards month-end.