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Shipping News

Offshore engineering R&D gets $10m boost
OFFSHORE engineering research and development in Singapore was given a boost yesterday with a new research programme being set up at the National University of Singapore with research grants of $10 million over the next three years.
Cosco Pacific sees H2 profit up 29%
COSCO Pacific Ltd, Asia's third-largest container-terminal operator, boosted its second-half profit 29 per cent, as China's growing trade increased demand.
Panama Canal may resist calls to delay toll hike
THE Panama Canal will probably resist calls from shipping lines to spread out proposed toll increases, threatening profits for companies such as AP Moeller Maersk and Evergreen Marine Corp, analysts said.
New biometric ID cards in US ports raise concerns

Admiralty Casebook

Physical nexus test for in rem claim overturned
THE Supreme Court of Canada has finally put to rest uncertainty over how a phrase in the Federal Court Act that provides for admiralty jurisdiction of a court over the arrest of cargo or any property other than a vessel is to be interpreted.

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Shipping News

Offshore engineering R&D gets $10m boost
OFFSHORE engineering research and development in Singapore was given a boost yesterday with a new research programme being set up at the National University of Singapore with research grants of $10 million over the next three years.
Cosco Pacific sees H2 profit up 29%
COSCO Pacific Ltd, Asia's third-largest container-terminal operator, boosted its second-half profit 29 per cent, as China's growing trade increased demand.
Panama Canal may resist calls to delay toll hike
THE Panama Canal will probably resist calls from shipping lines to spread out proposed toll increases, threatening profits for companies such as AP Moeller Maersk and Evergreen Marine Corp, analysts said.
New biometric ID cards in US ports raise concerns

Admiralty Casebook

Physical nexus test for in rem claim overturned
THE Supreme Court of Canada has finally put to rest uncertainty over how a phrase in the Federal Court Act that provides for admiralty jurisdiction of a court over the arrest of cargo or any property other than a vessel is to be interpreted.

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MSC's new European Silk service calls at XICT HK's container throughput rises 14.2pc in February New York and Los Angeles experience strong TEU growth ABX Logistics opens new office in Shenzhen Panalpina posts US$152.1m profit, up 53pc in 2006 Duisport Group posts 1pc higher EBIT in 2006 Chinese containers redesigned as UK jail cells Air China and Cathay Pacific to set up air cargo JV Price-fixing payout weakens Lufthansa Cargo profits DHL clinches `Excellent Services Brand Award 2006'

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m.v. CMA CGM Rio Grande makes maiden call at GTI as part of Vasco Express service India Steamship inks deal to acquire Aframax tanker TCI Seaways acquires 5th vessel Vijay Sheth remains Great Offshore MD Exports get added spice Top Israeli leaders apprised of investment opportunities in port & road sectors Coal-handling port, power plant to come up in Nagapattinam Dhamra port to become operational in 2 years CWC meets trade on Golden jubilee celebrations Railways working out busy season freight surcharge 13 land customs stations to be developed along northern borders Norms eased for conversion of sector-specific zones into multi-product SEZs GST regime may end most export schemes, says Hoda panel member

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Alitalia gets new CEO New Europe-East Coast South America Service (ESX) China to challenge Boeing, Airbus Rail4chem shareholders raise investment Gefco boosts sales in 2006

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MARCH 22, 2007
Galileo "in crisis" ESPO fears EU "central planning" UK budget ignores shipping UK detains six OSG fined US$27, with US$10m more to come USCG "ignoring tracking deadline" "K" Line switches to low sulphur fuel for Pacific Northwest calls Philadelphia port row

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MARCH 22, 2007
Plea for ratification of antifouling convention

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MARCH 22, 2007
Sea-Tac Airport businesses earn Best Concessions honors Deal places MEBA officers onboard Excelerate LNG carriers Diana Shipping enters into time charter deal for vessel DANEA AAPA taps Panama President at Port Person of the Year Overseas Shipholding Group hit with $27 million pollution fine

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Russian mega-merger gets Kremlin green light POWERFUL ministry has thrown weight behind Russian shipping mega-merger of Sovcomflot and Novoship. Ambitious Sovcomflot inks landmark Rosneft deal Inmarsat moves for Stratos MARITIME satellite communications giant moves step nearer in $250m bid for leading distribution partner. Maersk seeks partnership deal for Volkswerft DANISH giant holds talks with German yard Peene-Werft about cooperation with its own Volkswerft Stralsund.

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MARCH 22, 2007
Manpower strains 'linked to accidents' STAMFORD 22 March ' Statistics compiled by class society DNV reveal an increasing incidence of serious maritime accidents across several sectors, including tankers Bishop blasts poaching culture RAMPANT poaching continues to exacerbate the growing shortfall of qualified officers, V.Ships, CEO Bob Bishop told the Connecticut Maritime Association yesterday Novoship share transfer limit agreed LIMITS on the transfer of shares between Russia's state-controlled tanker companies Novoship and Sovcomflot have been agreed this week Delhi tax savages Goa ore exports IRON ore exports from Goa, India, have recorded a drastic fall, following a new levy of Rs300 per tonne imposed by New Delhi Traders plan legal action against strikes Irish Continental in share surge Hanseatic sets up on Tyneside Novoship sales stir market OSG confirms shuttle move Sheths raise stakes at Great Eastern Congress offers to fund LNG safety OSG whistleblowers rewarded Aboitiz rationalises routes Eletson to offload Samothraki cargo

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MARCH 22, 2007
China wants liner groups to negotiate rate changes with its shippers Beijing unveils new rules requiring liner conferences and discussion agreements to consult on surcharge and rate changes. ILA's Bowers not ready to resign Rail freight declines LA-Long Beach a growing economic engine: Report Port of Rotterdam braces for renewed tug strike CMA CGM exec warns of more carrier mergers Export ABCs: UCP 600, Pt. 2 IAS, Trinium form joint venture for box tracking EU approves landmark air agreement with U.S. Trade sues Michigan over ballast-water law Hub names new CFO

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MARCH 22, 2007
Li Ka-shing: further selldown of port assets unlikely Tycoon Li Ka-shing said today that it is unlikely for flagship conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa, the parent of Hutchison Port Holdings, to further sell down its ports and other assets. UPDATE: Grand Alliance to start Asia-Black Sea Express in June The Grand Alliance is starting a weekly Asia'Black Sea Express (ABX) in late June, following the split between CSAV Norasia and Hapag-Lloyd on the same route. ITF resolution supports FNV Bongenoten in Smit dispute Modern Terminals sees profits fall 4% in 2006 National Container Company regains Vladivostok position with Fesco group move Rotterdam Customs work-to-rule affects container shipping Timeline of Betuwe line keeps on lengthening COSCO Pacific to diversify terminal portfolio Yang Ming to place US$900m newbuild order Handling resumes at non-oil terminals of Marseilles-Fos Russia revives "North-South Corridor" idea with India-Iran-Russia sea-rail proposal

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MARCH 22, 2007
Monarch of the Fjord Entries are winging through the wires for TradeWinds' first maritime photography competition. Morten's top ten CMA's 2007 Commodore takes a leaf out of David Letterman's book to list the joys of working in shipping. Norway owners in the money The shipping industry is doing so well that in Norway, even the shipowners' lobby turned a net profit for 2006. Ultrapetrol tumbles South American US market newcomer sees dry-dockings erode earnings but share price recovers after shaky start. Lauritzen puts on brave face Danish bulker and gas carrier player is happy with 2006 performance, despite big drop in profit. OSG whistleblowers rewarded 12 crew to pocket $437,500 each for revealing systemic and long-running oil dumping violations on US tanker owner's vessels. Samothraki awaits lightering Eletson sending another of its product tankers to take fuel oil cargo from vessel which grounded off Gibraltar. UK holds six in February Five general cargoships detained last month, together with high-profile Golden Ocean bulker Golden Glory. Zim picks Samho Israeli owner to take delivery of more 10,000-teu ships in 2010 from Korean yard. Gulf Offshore inks Aker order Norwegian yard group at centre of share sale to build two PSVs for UK offshore player. Aker Yards goes to 2% Norwegian shipbuilder ups ownership of its shares after exit by parent Aker. Sydney Ferries in trouble again Australian ferry hits whale-watching ship before crashing into bridge. Fire hits Color Line ferry No injuries reported as electronic notice board causes minor blaze between Norway and Denmark. Mexican ship caught in drug bust Authorities hail largest maritime drugs bust in US history as 21 tons of cocaine found on vessel off Panama. Russian ministries get behind merger Economy and transport chiefs set conditions for combination of Sovcomflot and Novoship. DNV sees casualty creep Class society blames stress and fatigue as accident rates starting to show an upward trend again. Ball gazing has MOL upbeat Japanese giant ups 2010 profit forecast by 10% as world trade set to take off. GA eyes new trade The four members of the Grand Alliance have set their sites on a new Asia ' Black Sea service. Euroseas snaps up fifth boxship Greek owner pays $19.5m for 1995-built vessel owned by Gerd Ritscher. ADB to aid Colombo Asia Development Bank agrees 25 year loan to help upgrade facilities at Sri Lankan container port.

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MARCH 22, 2007
China tightening liner conference rules MOL sets midterm fleet, profit targets Grand Alliance starting Asia/Black Sea service Maersk introduces Vancouver congestion charge NYK receives two 8,600-TEU ships U.S. Coast Guard interdiction nets record cocaine seizure Hoegh Autoliners Inc. hires new marketing VP FedEx 3rd quarter earnings down 2% Lufthansa Cargo's operating profit down after price-fixing settlements Trucking company owner Garner dies U.S. Chamber praises Chinese efforts on eve of IPR conference UTi reshuffles upper management, launches five-year plan GAO voices concern about U.S. food aid program TSA sets TWIC prices U.S. calls for global ban on commercial fishing subsidies FMC reviews 11 OTI license applications Philadelphia area businesses promoting new terminal Yantian's third birth ready Enterra, Holt form alliance for Philadelphia port "K" Line ships to use low-sulfur fuel while docked in Pacific Northwest

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MARCH 22, 2007
Fire on Color Line's Peter Wessel Color Line car and passenger ferry the Peter Wessel was expected at Fredrikshavn late morning today after a fire in ... Fatigue possible factor behind coaster collision The Danish Division for Investigation of Maritime Accidents and the Swedish Accident Investigation Board has jointly investigated the collision between ... Reasoned opinion from EU to Estonia The European Commission has sent a reasoned opinion to Estonia for failure to respect EU legislation on better availability and ...

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MARCH 22, 2007
K-line joins low-sulphur bunker club Shipowner announcing new distillate fuel policy for US West Coast. Norway declares its support for distillates Government ministers welcome "aggressive, long-term" solution to pollution from ships. Dan-Bunkering welcomes new staff Trader joining an expanding Middelfart team. Mega-container ship to resume sea trials Problem with fuel feed was behind sea trial glitch. UK consultant joins debate on market size Lack of consensus over bunker consumption a challenge to legislators. Rotterdam market firms Thursday morning Singapore: Residual fuel stocks at one-month high Build in onshore stocks fail to depress bunker prices. Asian bunker prices surge Tight supplies in most Asian ports cause bunker prices to rise. OPEC pledges sufficient supply Oil supplies sufficient to meet demand in an anticipated robust world economy. Oil prices rise slightly Plunge in US stocks of gasoline pushed oil prices up slightly.