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Shipping News

Asia set to eradicate shipping cartels
Asia is the next in line for maritime regulatory reform to eradicate monopoly practices by liner shipping companies, following similar efforts in Europe and North America, an industry forum was told yesterday.
Indian ports struggle to cope with growth surge
A US$12.4 billion plan to upgrade India's ports to keep pace with economic expansion promised much, but in three years there has been little progress beyond initial announcements and private firms are opting to build their own.
Japan's shipbuilders lose market share in H1
Shipyards in Japan, the world's third-biggest shipbuilder by tons of new vessels ordered, lost market share to competitors in South Korea and China in the first half.

Strait Talk

IBIA takes on the future
LAST week, bunker suppliers, brokers, traders from around the world and a few of their customers gathered in Montreal for the International Bunker Industry Association's (IBIA) annual convention. Well, almost from around the world. Singapore wasn't exactly over-represented despite its prominent position in the global bunker market.

web site

Shipping News

Asia set to eradicate shipping cartels
Asia is the next in line for maritime regulatory reform to eradicate monopoly practices by liner shipping companies, following similar efforts in Europe and North America, an industry forum was told yesterday.
Indian ports struggle to cope with growth surge
A US$12.4 billion plan to upgrade India's ports to keep pace with economic expansion promised much, but in three years there has been little progress beyond initial announcements and private firms are opting to build their own.
Japan's shipbuilders lose market share in H1
Shipyards in Japan, the world's third-biggest shipbuilder by tons of new vessels ordered, lost market share to competitors in South Korea and China in the first half.

Strait Talk

IBIA takes on the future
LAST week, bunker suppliers, brokers, traders from around the world and a few of their customers gathered in Montreal for the International Bunker Industry Association's (IBIA) annual convention. Well, almost from around the world. Singapore wasn't exactly over-represented despite its prominent position in the global bunker market.

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No change in relative standings of world's top three ports Four shipping majors launch new Asia-Black Sea service Evergreen names tenth 7,000-TEU S-series ship in Japan PIL, Wan Hai Lines to start new Far East to Black Sea service Cargo threat remains high, Homeland Security chief tells US Senate committee ICTSI appoints senior executives for Syrian CT Shenzhen Airlines launches thrice weekly Japan service Sichuan Airlines launches Chengdu-Seoul service Cathay increases frequency of Hong Kong-Sydney service Air France Cargo boosts Bahrain service by adding fourth flight 10 foreign carriers apply for licenses in Kenya

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High freight rates from Kolkata Port eroding exporters' margins-EEPC Seaways Group strengthens position on East Coast with m.v. Marina Star 2 Reliance Group to invest heavily in shipbuilding & dredging Flanders keen on closer economic ties with India Limited milk powder export to Bangla allowed Rites to study scope for improving KDS, Haldia rail systems Diamond Harbour seen ideal for box terminal in short run Transport service tax refund for exporters Jet Airways cleared to land in Gulf countries from January 2008 ...to develop logistics parks in its SEZs Maintain roads with portion of taxes collected from transport sector, moots panel New DEPB replacement scheme under study Fieo receives prestigious iso 9001:2000 certificate

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Schneider Logistics chooses John Ferguson as vice-president, international Turkey privatises port of Derince Variglog no longer markets Varig First US truck rolls into Mexico NYK Logistics (Scandinavia) AB opens office in Kotka, Finland

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Tanker group complains about EU SECA Mitropoulos calls for "new ethical mindset" Indian ports struggle to cope but Mid East may face overcapacity CBT ban in force next year BW wins buoy deal for New England LNG project Gulftainer in deal with Lanco Maasvlakte 2 deal signed EC: "Carlyle can buy Zodiac Marine"

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Merrill-Stevens opens Mexico City office APL buoy system for Neptune LNG port Cheniere charters Shell LNG ship 442,000 dwt tanker coated with Intersleek

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Class tells IMO: hands off newbuild standards IACS voices "genuine concerns" about the IMO's involvement in setting ship construction requirements. Emissions are the next big target for class societies Panama breathes life into ban on TBT use ANTI-fouling convention set to come into force next September after Panama signs up. Voulgarakis to head Greek shipping ministry GEORGE Voulgarakis was today picked to lead the newly-merged ministry of merchant marine. 'I see catastrophe as the last domino to fall' THE world's reinsurers met at Monte Carlo last week and there was much to discuss, after a tougher-than usual year. Stirring the melting pot THE northwest passage was open this summer for the first time in history, as sea ice seems to be melting faster than ever.

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
1,000 Indians have fake documents India has warned that there could be over 1,000 Indian nationals serving at sea with fake certificates Panama puts an end to TBT TBT anti-foulings have now been consigned to history with Panama's accession to the AFS Convention yesterday Conversions to cut tanker imbalance THE conversion of 20 VLCCs to bulkers should alleviate at least some of the tanker trade's supply-demand imbalance next year, concludes JP Morgan analyst Jonathan Chappell South Florida ports risk bypass SOUTH Florida ports run the risk of being bypassed if they do not improve infrastructure and upgrade the northbound freight rail system DP World eyes Maasvlakte 3 and 4 DP WORLD has shown interest in bidding for Rotterdam's Maasvlakte 3 and 4 Maersk grows cool on Latin America TRADE between Latin America and the US is projected to thrive in the future, but Maersk doesn't see itself in the carrier mix Crew jump ship off NY Superferry fate in balance Tinto freed from spider web Worker fined for seagull massacre Colombia's Coal War heats up China builds yet more shipyards Hapag sees growing pains in Hamburg Dry cleaning for ghost fleet? Italians demand 'missing' subsidies Caribbean security strides may slow

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Customs to release draft of 10+2 plan Importers next month should see what Customs' latest security initiative involves with the release of the "10+2" draft. TWIC enrollment could begin in October Customs targeting criticized Rail chiefs scan for peak China must improve logistics integration, says APL exec Vancouver ports schedule January 1 merger Report: India's SCI forced to pay port customs bribes CSAV sets Ukraine call Panama holds info session on Canal expansion SDV acquires forwarder Trucker turnover drops

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
PSA builds on world ranking Shippers' associations confirm vows ESC opts for caution of over proposed EC competition guidelines

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Steadily seeking suzies OSG continues to ramp up its suezmax fleet with two more in-charters after friends at Double Hull Tankers pay $90m for 2000-built Ottoman Dignity. Mexico OKs Repsol LNG Spanish company approved for $1b contract to supply proposed Mexican terminal. Put that TBT away, IMO says In September, an international convention goes into effect, banning the use of chemicals known to harm oysters and cause snail sex changes. Cargo security 'not consistent' US Homeland Security Department watchdog arm finds flaws in security system to monitor containership cargo. Malaysian firm nabs AHTSs Alam Maritim pays $25.3m for two vessels to support offshore exploration and production. Double-digit box growth seen Analysts predict 10%-per-year growth of containership demand over 18 months. One missing off New York Search continues around Staten Island for one of two brothers who jumped from K Line vessel. Vafias warns of crew crisis Stealthgas chief sees wage pressure ahead as well qualified crew dry up, while company announces host of charters. Samios to pay up Greek owner to compensate Latvian telecoms firm for snapping cable during grounding of Golden Sky. SSN goes up for sale Ernst & Young draws up privatisation documents for Polish yard, with first bids in by 19 October. Limarko lines up boxship Lithuanian reefer specialist has identified a containership to add to its fleet. Four biggies for CSDC Board of China Shipping Development approves order of VLOC quartet for $460m. STX hits China hurdle Korean shipbuilder cannot get permission for drydock at $1bn Dalian yard. Hapag-Lloyd counting the cost Security drive to push up expense of carrying boxes to the US, German owner says. Hanjin ship comes unstuck Build up of sand wave thought responsible for brief grounding of Korean boxship in Columbia River. A thousand fake seamen Fresh scandal over phoney crew licences as Indian police arrest three. FreeSeas turns it around Higher revenues see Greek dry-bulk owner post profit in second quarter after last year's loss. Five vie for new link Bidders aiming to win deal for passenger/freight service between Norway, Shetland and UK mainland. UN Ro-Ro chairman says no Saffet Ulusoy opposes deal to sell 87% of Turkish ro-ro company to US private equity company. MCA braced for strikes UK's maritime safety agency facing strikes by coastguard and surveyors over pay.

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
APL's box revenue up 10% Danaos adds to vessel order IPBCC carriers to raise westbound reefer rates ITF sets up Maersk Web site CLARIFICATIONS: Evergreen C-TPAT, boxship in Bohai Sea collision U.S.-flag Great Lakes cargo down 2.7% in August iGPS taps Sparn for CIO New Zealand firm buys Target Logistics Partners sign up for new 4 million-TEU Rotterdam terminal Daito introduces "hybrid" crane at "K" Line's Yokohama terminal

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Tax could starve yards of offshore orders The new tax proposals from the Norwegian government could strip offshore companies of upwards to NOK 7.0 billion in equity ... Police searches for missing master The master of the coaster Ocean Jasper and two of his crew has disappeared from the vessel that is being ... VLCC owners run up heavy losses Latest VLCC fixtures from the Arabian Gulf (AG) show that owners still sustain heavy losses in the spot market. Front ...

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SEPTEMBER 18, 2007
Association bemoans SECA 'confusion' Liability issues being raised with mismatch of European implementation dates. O.W. Bunker South Africa change of address New hopes for Indian bunker terminal Cochin Port Trust says state authorities have agreed to allow tax exempt supplies. New call for agreement on fuel testing Fuel testing agency says standard laboratory procedures would help resolve bunker quality disputes. Industry association calls for more involvement IBIA chairman says if members want it to be a social club 'they may have the wrong chairman and wrong secretariat'. Rotterdam market firm Chemoil to buy stake in Calsoft Chemoil announces open offer to acquire a 20% stake in the India-listed software firm. 'Super Typhoon' disrupts Taiwan bunker market Chinese Petroleum Corp office closed; major ports affected.