BRIEFS

web site

Shipping News

Haji-Ioannou, burned by Web venture, pushes cheap cruises
ON Stelios Haji-Ioannou's cruise ship clean sheets cost extra. Mr Haji-Ioannou, founder of Luton, England-based EasyJet plc, Europe's No 2 low-cost airline, is extending his EasyGroup brand into cruises, pizza and car insurance with one unifying theme: cheaper is better.
Daewoo's profit in Q4 more than triples to 32b won
DAEWOO Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, the world's second-largest shipbuilder, more than trebled its fourth-quarter profit from a year earlier as prices of vessels started recovering from a decade low.
Winds close Novorossiisk port for fifth day
RUSSIA's second-largest oil port, Novorossiisk, was closed to shipping for a fifth consecutive day because of high winds and snow in the Black Sea, local ship agents said.

Strait Talk

Ports and politics
PORTS have been in the headlines in recent weeks. PSA's approach to UK ports and ferries company P&O, coming just as Dubai Ports World looked increasingly secure in its friendly bid, has kept even business journalists who normally have to look up the word 'shipping' in the dictionary in a frenzy.

web site

Shipping News

Haji-Ioannou, burned by Web venture, pushes cheap cruises
ON Stelios Haji-Ioannou's cruise ship clean sheets cost extra. Mr Haji-Ioannou, founder of Luton, England-based EasyJet plc, Europe's No 2 low-cost airline, is extending his EasyGroup brand into cruises, pizza and car insurance with one unifying theme: cheaper is better.
Daewoo's profit in Q4 more than triples to 32b won
DAEWOO Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co, the world's second-largest shipbuilder, more than trebled its fourth-quarter profit from a year earlier as prices of vessels started recovering from a decade low.
Winds close Novorossiisk port for fifth day
RUSSIA's second-largest oil port, Novorossiisk, was closed to shipping for a fifth consecutive day because of high winds and snow in the Black Sea, local ship agents said.

Strait Talk

Ports and politics
PORTS have been in the headlines in recent weeks. PSA's approach to UK ports and ferries company P&O, coming just as Dubai Ports World looked increasingly secure in its friendly bid, has kept even business journalists who normally have to look up the word 'shipping' in the dictionary in a frenzy.

	web site

IRA unveils 2006 rate restoration schedule Grand Alliance signs up to call at VPA terminals for 10 years Fraser River to offset dredging costs with river sand sales Danish line involved in Indian FDI venture Port of Montreal handles 1.25m TEU in 2005 F S Mackenzie sets up shop in Germany Shanghai Airlines employs 757-cargo jet on Shanghai-Macau route Asiana signs up for full memberships of Cargo 2000 FPS NZ receives IATA accreditation EGL selects OAG airfreight rates database

	web site

India, Bahamas to sign MoU on cruise shipping Old ships accounted for 31 pc of dry-bulk fleet in 2005 GE Shipping board to meet on January 30 DEPB scheme may be given indefinite extension Commerce Minister to organise PM-exporters meeting Gulf-Asia VLCC rates spurt on Asian demand surge Garlic exports swell Misuse of EPCG scheme: car import rules tightened Switzerland exploring FTA Baalu commissions Mumbai Port's new harbour tug Ajit Major Ports Chairmen make strong pitch for tax sops Bangla port installing scanners to detect deadly cargoes NMPT keen on joining SPV for Mangalore SEZ IOC, GSPC put Gujarat LNG terminal plans on back burner MbPT, JNPT heads see ample scope to develop third port at Rewas-Mandwa Paradip Port Trust plans massive rail, road upgradation Railways, Planners preparing revenue-sharing model for dedicated freight corridor Infrastructure projects get Rs 25,000 cr. from IDFC 11 bidders in fray for Delhi, Mumbai airports

	web site

Van der Weide joins Global Airline Services HHLA and Kalmar to cooperate in automating terminal Airbaltic to fly from Düsseldorf to Riga and Vilnius Hupac shifts more than half a million trucks to railway IHG - highly successful in Spain

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
Eastern Europe to lead way in box port growth 'K' Line to boost Asia-North America routes LR hands OSG fleet ballast water notation Moore Stephens says cheap finance is on way out

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
Chouest continues aggressive newbuild strategy Bollinger delivers Bordelon OSV's Paris MOU plans MARPOL Annex I campaign Inchcape helps Kenya boost anti-piracy measures Court challenge to EU ship pollution penalties

	web site

Major box players send chill through small lines MAGISTRAL Container Lines, a small intra-Asian operator, is cutting back on chartered tonnage as market conditions deteriorate. Dry bulk freight rates 'will remain at very decent levels' DRY bulk freight rates will remain at decent levels this year with a pick-up in 2008 as owners are forced to scrap elderly tonnage and demand continues to rise, according to Pacific Carriers' Keith Denholm. ICS gives moral support to pollution legal fight while BIMCO mulls action INTERNATIONAL Chamber of Shipping secretary general Chris Horrocks backed the planned legal challenge to the European Union ship source pollution directive yesterday, although the association will not be joining the coalition of trade associations directly involved, writes Sandra Speares. SBM bags $1.5bn in orders SBM Offshore announced a string of orders valued at an estimated $1.5bn, including a contract with Esso Exploration Angola for two floating production, storage and offloading conversions for the Kizomba C development. Crackdown on ship oil filter polluters THE Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control has launched a concerted campaign to stamp out illegal bypassing of the oil filtering systems on board ships, writes Hugh O'Mahony.

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
Master killed in Syrian port tragedy THE master of a Turkish-owned vessel died when a 54-year-old ship dramatically broke up and sank near the entrance to Tartous port, Syria, at the weekend Bulker grounds at Santo Domingo A LIBERIAN-flagged and German-owned bulker bound for Santo Domingo only made it to the harbour entrance before running aground early yesterday Pemex oil exports hit record PETROLEOS Mexicanos reported this week that it earned a record $28.28Bn from oil exports during 2005, despite several shutdowns caused by the storm season Captain blamed for APL grounding THE chief officer of the APL Panama, which ran aground on Christmas night off the port of Ensenada, Mexico, has blamed the ship's captain Ladyman: Red Ensign is safe Bangladesh has 60% breaking market EU faces legal challenge on pollution Daewoo building profits collapse Fleetwood tackles maritime apathy GAC sees rising star potential High density fuel alert issued

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
U.S. container terminals want more automation, says PMA's McKenna Terminals will have to completely automate box handling to keep up with projected growth, according to West Coast port employers group. DOT proposes national freight policy CN results strengthen New tonnage to hit box charter rates "K" Line upgrades Asia-N. America services Norfolk Southern names Moorman chairman Coast Guard salvaging 2,300 Louisiana vessels Record profits for BNSF Strong Q4 for CSX OH Logistics seeks acquisitions

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
INSC accuses carriers of levying extra charges Indonesian shippers have accused some carriers of levying supplementary fees of US$30/TEU, excluding terminal handling charges, and US$40 for bill of lading charges ' higher than the US$10 government maximums. Patrick to dissolve troubled joint venture with Toll Soon after revealing what it claims is a massive deterioration in Pacific National profits Patrick Corporation has begun formal action to dissolve the joint venture with hostile suitor Toll Holdings. Japan leads Asian nations in accusing Brussels of being 'one-sided' APL sees average revenue/box slide in P12 Canadian ports await post-election initiatives Maersk and MSC launch new Australia-Asia services Portland's 41.56% drop 'significantly less' than expected Carrier defections stunt Contship growth Containerships gun for bulk cargo India expected to give duty exemption on temporary box imports Shipping Australia Ltd: New conference is unlikely 'in the short term' K Line to expand transpacific routes' capacity Kaliningrad port volumes up over 55% in 2005 Manzanillo gets Latin America's first super post-panamax cranes

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
Euronav makes $81m Revived hire market in fourth quarter helps tanker owner close strong 2005. Under my thumb Coast Guard enforcing new fingerprint rules for mariner licenses in security crackdown. S&P boost for Gard Rating agency takes a positive view of Norwegian P&I club and upgrades hull insurance offshoot. Pier pressure for Wilhelmsen Vehicle carrier undamaged after avoiding collision with pier in Georgia. Two drown off Syria Loss of North Korea-flagged cargoship off Tartous claims two lives while five crew members are rescued. Bigger and faster for K Line Japanese owner's 5,500-teu newbuildings to cut transit times across the Pacific. Three's a crowd Rising fuel costs and falling passenger numbers lead to reduction in services at Irish Ferries. Western Bulk share coup Christen Sveaas dominates ownership of Norwegian handymax operator after buying out partner's stake. Daewoo builds on orders Korean yard announces improved fourth-quarter results as vessels ordered at higher prices come on the books. Everard calls for investment Spend cash on the environment or regulators will spend it for you, British shipowners told. KLC teams with Saigon Shipping Korean owner launches logistics joint venture with long-standing Vietnamese partner. Aboitiz chops prices Philippine ferry owner reacts to airline competition by cutting passenger fares in half. Spill barge goes for repairs Discharge of petrol at New Haven resulted from hull puncture in US owner Hornbeck's vessel. Owners tackle EU on pollution Shipping group led by Intertanko starts legal challenge against new criminalisation law on spills from vessels. Varun hits the heights India's expanding tanker and gas carrier player has chalked up another big profit jump in the third quarter. Search for Greek captain off Algeria Honduras-flagged cargo vessel disappears with its master in rough seas as seven crew members are saved. NOL volumes rise 5% Growth in containers handled by Neptune Orient Lines continued to remain positive in December. Shell reigns supreme Oil major retains title of top ranked clean charterer to add to that of number one crude oil charterer. Quintana extends Coal Age US-listed bulker player gets another four to six months work for panamax, albeit at lower rate. Fredriksen gets diluted SeaDrill's fresh equity issue of 75m new shares sees Fredriksen's stake in the company slip to below 41%.

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
"K" Line to upgrade transpacific capacity APL's box traffic up 11% in 2005 Weyerhaeuser to use GT Nexus platform MSC starts Mexico/U.S. Gulf/East Coast to Med loop Tropical Shipping to start Canada/Port of Caucedo service U.S. Navy captures pirate vessel off East African coast FedEx raises stake in Chinese express business EGL signs up to use OAG's Internet air cargo rates tool Avion Group joins Iceland stock exchange DOT looks to new funding approaches for infrastructure Rail official calls for linkups between carriers U.S. restores Ukraine's GSP status CBP official urges security investment abroad Toyota picks Ryder as logistics manager for new Texas plant SHIPEX contracts for IES trade operations software Port of New Orleans' cargo volumes at 80% of past levels Manzanillo terminal receives six super post-Panamax cranes Port software veterans launch new firm SAPO orders another 25 straddle carriers from Kalmar

	web site
JANUARY 24, 2006
Port clarifies 1.5% low-sulphur ruling Port of Los Angeles Harbor Commissioners inserting stricter conditions into terminal lease agreement. Spanish maritime group ceases bunkering operations Group announces immediate withdrawal from bunker trading and bunker manager's resignation. Debunkerings plague shipowner's green fuelling policy Global Ro--Ro operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen has reported a string of debunkerings, which the company claims is directly linked to its procurement of low sulphur bunker fuel. Off-spec fuels reported in Suez area Recent Suez samples display similar problems to those seen in Port Said last year, but local source claims it must be a mistake. Shipping coalition launches legal challenge against EU Directive Coalition contends European Court of Justice should consider the validity of EU Directive on Ship-Source Pollution. Rotterdam market seen easing with crude Bunker oil spill continues to threaten marine life Bunker fuel spill continues to threaten mangrove forests and marine life in the Philippines. South Korean refiner set to exit fuel oil export business GS Caltex starting refinery upgrade project and directing fuel oil supplies only into domestic bunker market.