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French oil hub strike cuts into Europe fuel supply
NEARLY 6 per cent of European refining capacity is now shut as the French oil port strike adds to output cuts due to planned maintenance work at plants across Europe, Reuters calculations showed on Wednesday.
MISC expects growth in oil-rig business
MALAYSIAN shipper MISC Bhd aims to ramp up revenue from its oil-rig engineering business after building its first deepwater oil-production platform, its chief executive said yesterday.
China Cosco in talks to buy ships as net profit tumbles
CHINA Cosco Holdings said yesterday it was in talks to buy bulk carriers from its parent shipping company, China Cosco Group, after posting a worse-than-expected 63 per cent fall in second-half earnings.
Ferry hits Australian skaters' boat party

Admiralty Casebook

A preventable grounding
THE grounding of the Singapore-flagged woodchip carrier Crimson Mars in Tasmania last year could have been prevented if simple precautions had been taken to ensure that conning orders were carried out correctly by the helmsman.

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Shipping News

French oil hub strike cuts into Europe fuel supply
NEARLY 6 per cent of European refining capacity is now shut as the French oil port strike adds to output cuts due to planned maintenance work at plants across Europe, Reuters calculations showed on Wednesday.
MISC expects growth in oil-rig business
MALAYSIAN shipper MISC Bhd aims to ramp up revenue from its oil-rig engineering business after building its first deepwater oil-production platform, its chief executive said yesterday.
China Cosco in talks to buy ships as net profit tumbles
CHINA Cosco Holdings said yesterday it was in talks to buy bulk carriers from its parent shipping company, China Cosco Group, after posting a worse-than-expected 63 per cent fall in second-half earnings.
Ferry hits Australian skaters' boat party

Admiralty Casebook

A preventable grounding
THE grounding of the Singapore-flagged woodchip carrier Crimson Mars in Tasmania last year could have been prevented if simple precautions had been taken to ensure that conning orders were carried out correctly by the helmsman.

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Maersk's container unit posts US$568m loss for 2006 Xiamen container volume up 20pc in January-February Shanghai trade surges 30pc in February Doubts cast on port statistics from Malaysia 'K' Line unit orders 3 hybrid transfer cranes for Japanese terminals Emirates Shipping Line turns to Inttra for e-commerce Lufthansa reports 4pc higher freight volumes in February Qantas bolsters service to New York Kuehne + Nagel makes Dubai its logistics hub in Gulf region

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FFFAI gets new state-of-art office-cum-education centre ABG shipyard to build tug for Cyprus Cabinet may clear way for direct ship chartering by BPCL, HPCL Full-fledged ex-im trade through Nathu La proposed France gateway to European market, avers envoy India-China trade to cross $ 50 bn by 2010 Japan, Poland see immense trade prospects with India Exports to Pakistan surge More wheat imports hinted at Ore exporters in for duty relief Kandla Port sets new single-day coal discharge record Enhance CONCOR capacity before entry of private players'MPs' panel Railways may form SPV for rolling stock production IRFC raises Rs 538 cr. from bonds in US to buy rolling stock Duty drawback report may be ready by April 15 Steel production may be crippled Fieo open house with DGFT on Sat. Export seminar at WTC today

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MARCH 29, 2007
Gondrand group appoints head of marketing and sales Ecu-Line and Econocaribe to collaborate Thai Airways uses Don Muang airport for domestic flights Nearly 2,900 containers daily on River Rhine

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MARCH 29, 2007
Aker wins fourth MSC cruise contract Three companies indicted in Clipper Trojan case STX wins 6 bulker order Cosco profits slide

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MARCH 29, 2007
Yantai Raffles Shipyard to build rock-placing bulker New Chinese diesel manufacturer racks up orders Car carrier chief engineers plead guilty in magic pipe cases Aker Yards to build fourth Musica class for MSC Cruises Hoegh and MOL confirm Neptune LNG ship charters

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MARCH 29, 2007
Tanker companies indicted for ilegally dumping oily waste Two ports in Israel join US Customs' security program US/Argentina agree on new Open Skies deal MarAd gives license to East Coast LNG project OOCL christens new container ship

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Lloyd's bounces back INSURER explores creation of underwriting platforms in three new areas after posting record profits of £3.66bn. Lloyd's rejoices in Fitch rating upgrade CMA CGM wins compensation in Saadé brothers' feud DAMAGES amounting to $999,685 marks new victory for Jacques Saadé against brother Johnny. Clarksons set to launch India liaison office SHIPBROKING and shipping services group set up base in India for tanker chartering business.

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MARCH 29, 2007
Napoli insurance estimates unveiled LONDON 29 March ' TT Club managing director Paul Neagle said today the containers onboard the MSC Napoli were valued at about $8M ESPMC-WITASS rate restoration THE ESPMC-WITASS conference is implementing a rate restoration in the southbound trade from Europe to the West Coast of South America and the Caribbean Service outages weigh Aries PRODUCT tanker and boxship operator Aries Maritime reported a significant drop in profits for 2006 and 'unsatisfactory' dividends, with out-of-service time to blame TT sees 'starling' rise in claims AN unexpected increase in the value of large operational claims reduced the good news message from Through Transport Mutual TT Club India calls for one cadet per ship INDIA will appeal at IMO to make it mandatory for all ship owners to carry cadets as part of a move to overcome the acute shortage of trained sea-going officers Vela appoints first Saudi captain VELA International Marine has appointed its first Saudi master to the command of 45,580-dwt products carrier Altair Star Horizon goes tracking inland USWC 'must tackle dwell times' Senator dismisses Hawaii fee fears Three killed in Sydney ferry tragedy Nenaco sells ships to pay debt Torm considers Norden options

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MARCH 29, 2007
CKYH upgrades all-water services Cosco, "K" Line, Yang Ming and Hanjin to open three express services from China to the U.S. East Coast as part of service upgrade. Cosco profits plummet CMA CGM tops bidding for Moroccan carrier U.S. raises rate of Q4 economic growth Talks in Marseilles port strike LA lobbies lawmakers for transport funds Ship freed in Tampa Northwest subpoenaed in airfreight price-fixing probe Canadian National says Q1 earnings to fall UTi earnings gain India lines increase rates

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MARCH 29, 2007
China COSCO sees 2006 net profits fall 64% China COSCO said today its net profit fell 64% in 2006, due to a weak global shipping market. CMA CGM has "no plan" yet for Singapore Strait terminal project CMA CGM has said it has no plans yet for Indonesia's Batu Ampar terminal project on the Strait of Singapore, despite the government's having approved an unusually long 50-year concession. CKYH to reshuffle Asia-ECNA services in May Feeder vessels told: leave Chittagong within 48 hours CN "optimistic" but 'prepared' on union vote US Democrats challenge President's authority on trade NW Russia squeeze to continue, as latest BCT opening date revealed: January 2009 Vancouver box backlog diminishing Estonian Railways to act for Russia's TransContainer India to re-tender Nicobar transhipment port feasibility study

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MARCH 29, 2007
Sinochem for Samco Saudi owner confirms Chinese group will take last of Hyundai VLCCs. Over and out Van Dyck and Du Moulin say au revoir as another Intertanko conference comes to an end. Prison for McKay brothers Ex-American Maritime Officers (AMO) president Michael McKay has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison. HHI raises sights again World's biggest shipbuilder expecting even more revenue in 2007 as it targets 10% operating margin. CSDC edges up profit China Shipping's listed tanker and bulker arm struggled against higher operating costs last year. Japanese owners face tax claim Nine-strong lumber cartel in hot water over undeclared income linked to Hong Kong "mediation" firm. Georgia frees Turkish ship Russia-flagged vessel which violated Georgian shipping laws allowed to sail after $30,000 payment. Clarkson has Panmure purring Company broker says Clarkson's share price offers a 30% upside as it raises earnings and dividend forecasts. Yantai grabs $78m order Singaporean yard to build 'flexible fall-pipe bulk carrier' for Dutch offshore company Van Oord. Aker goes fourth Norwegian yard group to build number four in MSC's Musica-class series of 4,000-passenger cruiseships. Arpeni on the up Indonesian tanker and bulker owner ends 2006 with higher profit and revenues. Sydney Ferries crash kills three Trouble mounts for Oz operator as ferry ploughs into vessel carrying national athletes with young girl still missing. RCL selling veteran Thai container line selling 24-year-old boxship to Salam Pacific of Indonesia. Up and down at Nel Mixed fortunes for Greek ferry operator Nel Lines as profit returns but revenues on the wane. Titan opts for storage Owner says it will convert half of its single hull VLCC fleet into storage vessels by end of 2007. Sumatec ordering again Expanding Malaysian owner now has six 8,000-dwt tankers being built at Yangzhou Kejin in China. Titan tumbles Weaker VLCC market in fourth quarter plus increased interest expense hit tanker owner. Box woes for CCHC Owner of boxship line Coscon suffered from the same malaise as other big owners in 2006 as profit plunged. Close call Dowa Line handysize bulker driven ashore after losing power 400 yards from Florida bridge. Twenty-six and counting Fearnleys says Korean and Chinese yards have snapped up orders for 26 large bulkers this week.

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MARCH 29, 2007
Seamen's union ban Greenpeace ship The Dutch-flagged Greenpeace ship the Esperanza is drifting outside Tokyo bay. According to a press release, their agent decided ... Spain checks Prestige for oil leaks Investigators will dive more than 3,500 metres to the wreck of the Prestige this summer to check how much oil ... MSC orders more from Aker Yards Aker Yards and MSC Cruises have signed a contract about the delivery of a 89.600 GT cruise vessel from the ...

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MARCH 29, 2007
Uruguay supplier advises early Easter bookings Congestion possible but Estimar reckons its improved barge capacity will help. Strike threatens French refineries Bunkering still at a standstill as blockade of Fos Lavera continues. New bunker barges for Kuwait KPC expects double-hull vessels to be deployed soon. New staff member at Dan-Bunkering Rotterdam market holds firm, Smit resumes services Refiners face 'immense problems' Oil industry consultant says there are 'no easy solutions' in low-sulphur bunker debate. Singapore: Residual fuel stocks down, distillates up Cosmo offering spot bunker sales Japanese refiner denies claims that supplies were interrupted. Fujairah: New figures suggest improved sales Port official expects Fujairah bunker sales to hit 18 million mt by 2008.