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Shipping News

Private Japanese shipping fund launched in S'pore
SINGAPORE scored another success in attracting shipping funds with attractive tax perks yesterday, when a group of investors launched the first privately owned Japanese ship investment fund here.
Malaysia open to joint patrol in Malacca Strait
MALAYSIA's defence minister urged neighbouring states yesterday to consider joint sea patrols in the busy Malacca Strait.
Piracy attacks in S-E Asia plunge in Q1
PIRATE attacks in South-east Asian sea lanes fell to their lowest level in five years in the first quarter of 2007 due to increased patrols and other anti-piracy measures, according to a report by Singapore researchers.
VLCC fleet growth rate may double
HK's March container volume falls 8.8% on competition

Strait Talk

A reality check on shipping safety
IT has been a bad couple weeks for shipping safety.

Port Shots

Port Shots
A cargo vessel ran aground off north-eastern Japan in the Pacific early yesterday but all 17 Russian crew members were safely rescued, Japan's coast guard said.

web site

Shipping News

Private Japanese shipping fund launched in S'pore
SINGAPORE scored another success in attracting shipping funds with attractive tax perks yesterday, when a group of investors launched the first privately owned Japanese ship investment fund here.
Malaysia open to joint patrol in Malacca Strait
MALAYSIA's defence minister urged neighbouring states yesterday to consider joint sea patrols in the busy Malacca Strait.
Piracy attacks in S-E Asia plunge in Q1
PIRATE attacks in South-east Asian sea lanes fell to their lowest level in five years in the first quarter of 2007 due to increased patrols and other anti-piracy measures, according to a report by Singapore researchers.
VLCC fleet growth rate may double
HK's March container volume falls 8.8% on competition

Strait Talk

A reality check on shipping safety
IT has been a bad couple weeks for shipping safety.

Port Shots

Port Shots
A cargo vessel ran aground off north-eastern Japan in the Pacific early yesterday but all 17 Russian crew members were safely rescued, Japan's coast guard said.

web site

Shipping News

Private Japanese shipping fund launched in S'pore
SINGAPORE scored another success in attracting shipping funds with attractive tax perks yesterday, when a group of investors launched the first privately owned Japanese ship investment fund here.
Malaysia open to joint patrol in Malacca Strait
MALAYSIA's defence minister urged neighbouring states yesterday to consider joint sea patrols in the busy Malacca Strait.
Piracy attacks in S-E Asia plunge in Q1
PIRATE attacks in South-east Asian sea lanes fell to their lowest level in five years in the first quarter of 2007 due to increased patrols and other anti-piracy measures, according to a report by Singapore researchers.
VLCC fleet growth rate may double
HK's March container volume falls 8.8% on competition

Strait Talk

A reality check on shipping safety
IT has been a bad couple weeks for shipping safety.

Port Shots

Port Shots
A cargo vessel ran aground off north-eastern Japan in the Pacific early yesterday but all 17 Russian crew members were safely rescued, Japan's coast guard said.

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Emirates, TS Lines partner on E Africa services China Merchants Holdings sees profits rise 7.4pc in 2006 Fangcheng to double handling capacity by 2010 APL's CIX service to serve booming N China-India trade Georgia Ports Authority to invest US$1.2b to fuel trade growth with Asia ICTSI appoints treasurer Dragonair Cargo launches web site ECS buys into West Africa cargo airline Christina Koh named global head of DHL's corporate communications

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OOCL to launch new China-India Express (CIX) service in May Sri Radhakrishna Shipping skilfully handles largest air chartered ODC cargo Int'l navigation congress sets up regional centres to facilitate technology transfer Bharati to relocate entire UK shipyard machinery to Mangalore! India offers new set of concessions to Asean on FTA N-E states want to boost border trade Exim Bank extends lines of credit to Mali & Djibouti S. R. Kulkarni turns 80 AMTOI's Annual Day on Friday Urgency of upgrading technology in refrigerated trucks being felt Mustard cargo swells WR's 2006-07 earnings Maersk Line provides dedicated Bangalore-Chennai block train with CONCOR's help Appreciating rupee: Textile exporters send S.O.S. to govt Foreign Trade Policy Analysis: Current Trends - By M. Sreedharan

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APRIL 17, 2007
MOL (Europe): Patrick Allain-Launey retires Waterfront Container Leasing appoints Ernst Glässel as European sales and marketing agent Etihad to increase flights to Australia ABX returns to takeovers JF Hillebrand Group acquires Trans Ocean Distribution

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APRIL 17, 2007
Frontline confirms suezmaxes US helicopters respond to pirate attack Grounded vessels refloated Scheldt UKHO covers India

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APRIL 17, 2007
Teekay and Torm swoop on OMI Coast Guard makes major changes to Deepwater ACLI to add more tank barges Two Navy contracts for Colonna's

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APRIL 17, 2007
Malaysia mulls pipeline bypassing Malacca Strait PROPOSED $14bn oil pipeline would be an alternative to tankers transiting busy sealane. Strait fund talks sought Tokyo Gas and Shell team up to ship LNG PARTIES enter into master time charter party relating to charter of each other's LNG fleet. Management shake-up for ailing Sea Containers LONDON-headquartered group to simplify management structure and bring in outside expertise.

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APRIL 17, 2007
Teekay, Torm to split OMI STAMFORD 17 April ' OMI Corporation has confirmed a definitive agreement to be jointly acquired by Teekay Shipping and Torm for $2.2Bn, pending shareholder approval Ganja 'torpedo' trade on the rise JAMAICAN anti-drug police have noticed a rise in cases of marijuana being smuggled out in canisters intended to be attached to US- and UK-bound ships' hulls Solid DVB to become sector-focused GERMAN transport bank DVB has managed to keep profit margins in ship lending stable despite strong international competition Rail boss Yakunin eyes ports VLADIMIR Yakunin, head of Russia's state-owned rail system, has unveiled an ambitious plan to take shareholding control of at least two western Russian ports Ontario Teachers blast NYNJ greed ONTARIO Teachers' Pension Plan has strongly criticised Port Authority of New York/New Jersey's transfer fee ultimatum for the Staten Island terminal deal Genting scores casino victory Piraeus repairs for Celtic Mist ITF looks at West Sailor crew complaints NCL joins Southampton cruisers HPH breaks Australia duopoly Korea pushes for single-hull ban Singapore remains Thome headquarters

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APRIL 17, 2007
Canada moves to end CN Rail strike Ottawa fast-tracks back-to-work legislation to end labor battle that has hampered rail service at Port of Vancouver, restart contract talks. Raymond: Time is now for short sea shipping New Japanese report criticizes HMT, Jones Act Food and Drug Administration plans restructuring U.S. expands anti-nuke container inspections Record year for Jaxport Profit drops at J.B. Hunt Werner earnings tumble June start for DP World India box project Volume boosts Dalian profit Eurogate boxes up 17%

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APRIL 17, 2007
Carrier: ASEAN feeders require minimum 1,000 teu ships Indonesian carrier Djakarta Lloyd will re-deploy its chartered-out 400 teu vessel in the domestic trade, following the end of its PIL charter, as the ship is too small to be deployed intra-Asia. Brisbane selects Hutchison UPDATE: Canadian government move nears in rail strike Shippers protest Rate Agreements' THC hike in four trades Korex becomes largest shareholder of Pusan East Container Terminal A rising tide lifts all boats: Seaspan net earnings rise alongside expanding fleet and revenues South Korean port Mokpo launches incentive plan

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APRIL 17, 2007
Teekay, Torm to split OMI Teekay and Torm are divvying up US suezmax and products-tanker owner OMI Corp in deal worth $2.2bn. Mexican mystery tankers Mexico's Pemex says it will charter in 10 products tankers with purchase option to renew its domestic fleet. Erika 'blackmail' charge A Paris court has been shown photos allegedly offered to the Erika's owner in a $500,000 blackmail bid. Maersk Broker lands in Germany Danish giant signs joint venture agreement with Albis to target newbuilding and s&p deals. CSCL off to better start Chinese container line has increased volumes and revenues in first quarter. Deutsche ends 10-year run German bank posts first profit decline on shipping in a decade but don't worry, say staff, it's all about cross-selling. Navios nets tasty charters Greek dry-bulk player sees trio grab deals of two or three years at average of $10,000 per day above current rates. New yard for Iran Work to begin this year on Caspian Sea facility at port of Feridunkenar. DVB overcomes low prices Transport financier logs leap in annual profit after fund management comes up trumps. StealthGas ship in careless Whispa hit? 'Collision' or 'close-quarters'? Details remain foggy of incident involving StealthGas carrier off UK. Vroon confirms Mipo quartet Dutch owner's order of four 3,500-ceu car carriers in Korea could cost it up to $220m. SMT heads to China German bulker owner orders four small multipurpose ships at Chongqing Dongfeng. Crew rescued off Japan Seventeen Russians plucked from stricken cargo vessel intentionally grounded by captain to prevent sinking. Gdansk trains sights on defence Polish shipbuilder hopes military contracts could give it much-needed cash boost. SNO getting bigger Romanian shipyard forecasting better profit and revenues this year as it signs 10 newbuilding contracts. SeaDrill bought to heel Punitive fines force Fredriksen drilling vehicle to make mandatory offer for Eastern Drilling. Two ships ground in Scheldt Sovcomflot multi-purpose vessel and Grimaldi Lines car-carrier ground near Antwerp in the past week. Same again for Japan March port state checks end in detention for 16 ships, unchanged from February's total. Lloyd Fonds on the up Sales and profit boosted in 2006 as Deutsche Bank containership fund set to swell coffers further this year. PGS buys into oil operation Norwegian seismic survey vessel player takes stake in UK exploration outfit Genesis. Surge for Seaspan US-listed boxship owner making much more cash so far this year after growing its fleet. Philippines ferry aground Passengers stuck on Maypalad-owned vessel overnight after it hit sandbank. Full house Frontline plays its last card with firming up of remaining two suezmax options at China's Jiangsu Rongsheng. Newcastle expansion approved Australians give the green light for new coal export terminal and expansion of existing facility. TOP sells Errorless Evangelos Pistiolis' US-listed tanker outfit books $1.1m profit on sale of ex-Fred Olsen suezmax.

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APRIL 17, 2007
Seaspan's 1st quarter profit up 65% Sea Containers calls on AlixPartners to aid restructuring Torm to buy back shares Con-way reports earnings drop, optimistic about Menlo outlook Wash. state legislators: Where is rail service for Quincy, Wash.? Fake CDs, books destroyed in China amid WTO allegations from U.S Shooting spree forces Va. governor to abandon trade mission Vietnam logistics industry lacking experience, capital, organization FKI Logistex merges Canadian divisions Georgia plans $1.2 billion of port improvements Eurogate earnings up 4% in 2006 HPH chosen to run two new Brisbane berths Atlantic Container Service promotes three

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APRIL 17, 2007
Frontline confirms last two suezmax vessels Frontline now has eight suezmax and four VLCC newbuildings on order after the company has exercised the remaining two options ... Danish safety training in Canadian oil project Force Technology in Copenhagen has completed a comprehensive full mission bridge simulation for the Enbridge Gateway Pipelines project. Force have ... DFDS swap ships on the North Sea routes DFDS Seaways will make a swap of ships on the North Sea routes. The latest purchase, the Princess of Norway ...

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APRIL 17, 2007
Poll result: No end in sight for residual fuel Industry survey concluding that tank switching and abatement will keep fuel oil bunkers in use. 28th IBC ready with 'Zero Emissions' agenda International Bunker Conference opens next week in Stavanger, Norway's 'oil capital'. Agents want reform of South African bunker sector Refiners have been 'very, very lax' in their treatment of the bunker market. New refinery offers first fuel oil tender Product is likely to end up in the Fujairah bunker market. Sea Diamond's fuel still causing concern Locals unhappy at slow pace of fuel recovery operation. OPEC lowers oil demand forecast Oil cartel says there is no need to increase production quotas. Work to start on Singapore oil caverns in November The first two underground oil storage caverns should be operational by December 2010. Tokyo prices competitive to neighbouring markets Tokyo demand 'tame' despite prices dipping below Busan. Japan: February bonded bunker sales fall Bonded bunker fuel sales dropped more than 20% both month-on-month and year-on-year.