BRIEFS

web site

Shipping News

Dubai port operator awards London Gateway contract
Dubai's port operator said on Wednesday that it has awarded a US$745 million contract to British firm Laing O'Rourke and Belgium's Dredging International for the first phase of a project to develop a port and business park in Britain.
Lockheed may get more orders from US Navy
Lockheed Martin Corp may realise sales of as much as US$640 million from the US Navy's decision to cut back its newest destroyer programme in favour of buying eight more of an older class of ship, according to a company estimate.
Harbour fees push Rotterdam port's H1 profit up 18%
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest, said first-half profit rose 18 per cent, buoyed by higher harbour fees and increased cargo flow.
Frontline Q2 operating profit lags forecasts

Logistics

FedEx may lose US$3.5b from driver classification dispute
FedEx Corp tells its ground-service drivers when to work, what to charge customers and what kind of socks and shoes to wear, the workers say. Drivers who sued the company argue that that makes them employees.

web site

Shipping News

Dubai port operator awards London Gateway contract
Dubai's port operator said on Wednesday that it has awarded a US$745 million contract to British firm Laing O'Rourke and Belgium's Dredging International for the first phase of a project to develop a port and business park in Britain.
Lockheed may get more orders from US Navy
Lockheed Martin Corp may realise sales of as much as US$640 million from the US Navy's decision to cut back its newest destroyer programme in favour of buying eight more of an older class of ship, according to a company estimate.
Harbour fees push Rotterdam port's H1 profit up 18%
The Port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest, said first-half profit rose 18 per cent, buoyed by higher harbour fees and increased cargo flow.
Frontline Q2 operating profit lags forecasts

Logistics

FedEx may lose US$3.5b from driver classification dispute
FedEx Corp tells its ground-service drivers when to work, what to charge customers and what kind of socks and shoes to wear, the workers say. Drivers who sued the company argue that that makes them employees.

	web site

Hutchison Whampoa revenue up 25pc, but profit down 63pc CSAV Norasia to add Lisbon call on ANE service China-Japan rate hike after SYMS service suspension Storm brewing over California container tax Maersk bolsters feeder capacity on Port Said-Ashdod route Southampton Port plays host to 9,600-TEU CMA CGM giant Nigeria urged to review or scrap shipping and port charges Qantas posts record 46pc profit hike despite stiff headwinds Air China trans-Arabia flight rights may access Israeli market CEVA Logistics appoints Hacis to handle export cargo in HK Bahrain Air, KLM enter cargo exchange deal Air Asia Airlines to offer Kuala Lumpur to Guilin service China's aviation is up but growth slackens in first half

	web site

Garware Offshore augmenting fleet NOL promises to retain Hapag-Lloyd brand & staff after acquisition Koreans bid for market thrust: Meet on Aug. 28 Three-fold rise in tanker rates in early 2009 seen CSL's small ship division proposal gets green signal ICS Madras branch commences registration for 2009 exams SKS Logistics to pay 9.5 pc dividend King of fruit to captivate Aussies Polyester film dumping duty under review Tea exports turn tepid, with markets melting away FTA with Indonesia being worked out PEC invites bids to import pulses Land acquired for Vallarpadam ICTT rail-road link IndiaLinx begins weekly service from ICD-Loni to Mundra Port US Customs postpones new cargo manifest system Export curbs eased on some grains, edible oil SC adjourns hearing of all SEZ petitions to Aug. 26 Chidambaram more optimistic of growth than EAC Fieo: Retain export sops in 2008-09 China will continue to lead exports from S-E Asia, finds study

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Transport Intelligence appoints Thorby as senior analyst Globe Express Services opens Los Angeles office

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Somali pirates seize three more ships USCG man sentenced for pollution cover -up DP World launches London Gateway project UK owners support Japanese labelling initiative US terminal operator fined for dumping offence

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Austal USA promotes Perciavalle Big bids at offshore lease sale Pirates seize third ship in same day Former Coast guard CWO sentenced Record Frontline earnings disappoint analysts Pirates seize two more ships

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Bellingham Port Commission Oks university's move to waterfront Roundtable meeting set to discuss Hillsboro Airport Port of Tacoma inks new guide for truckers Foss looks for Green Passport for new low emission hybrid tug Crowley earns awards for liner/logistics units

	web site

K Line's heavy lift ambitions takes a hit ITS German unit SAL has ended a contract for four heavy-lift vessels after the shipyard asked for a higher price. K Line moves to ensure shiprepair space Daewoo confirms KOTC order at record price EACH of the four VLCCs in the order will cost $177m, and all the vessels will be delivered in 2012. MISC yet to hear from crew and hijackers of tanker THE Malaysian company is working with authorities to monitor the situation.

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Frontline shares drop on quarter data SHARES in Frontline fell today in Oslo after its second-quarter profits fell short of forecasts for the world's largest crude tanker company Sulpicio told to add outside overview MANILA has told the Philippines ferry operator Sulpicio Lines that it must hire an outside company to manage its ships before it will be allowed to return its fleet to full operation Three die as workers used for yard test PROTESTERS have carried a mock coffin through Istanbul to dramatise their allegations of poor safety in Turkish shipyards Stubborn Fay dogs cruising TROPICAL Storm Fay continued today to churn off the eastern coast of Florida, forcing more scheduling changes for cruise lines Demand surges for US mariners THERE is demand aplenty for US mariners, according to new data released today by the US Maritime Administration

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Los Angeles, Long Beach rebut ATA's clean-trucks case The ports filed a motion opposing the trucking group's bid to block the program's concessions provision. Customs to withdraw proposal to eliminate first-sale rule Charleston earnings top record, despite decline in boxes CMA CGM to open joint terminal in Tianjin Intermarine reduces fuel surcharge Rail carloads, intermodal units decline CEVA profit rises 3.2 percent Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, sponsor of HMT bill, dies Fay keeps ports closed China supplants U.S. as Japan's top export market Revenue, volume climb at Hutchison Ports

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Contargo takes full control of CCES Maersk: Asia Australia, three becomes four in Boomerang effect CMA CGM takes a stake in Tianjin Montreal posts strong first half box traffic GPA chief lauds 'Gateway Project'

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
VLCCs hit bottom Speaking optimistically of tanker prospects, Frontline CEO says the market is about to level out. Strike three! German ship the latest to be snared by pirates in Gulf of Aden, hours after two other ships seized. Ithaca takes FPSO Canadian exploration company signs up with Bluewater to use the Uisge Gorm at its Athena field. SFI shares spoils Fredriksen-controlled owner sees second quarter profit rise 80% following Frontline's record showing. New ore port Steelmaker ArcelorMittal and iron ore producer team up to build Rio de Janeiro facility. Norden upgraded A New York analyst lifted her rating on Norden Thursday, saying the company should benefit from high bulker demand. Cadets find jobs About 85% of 2008 US merchant marine graduates find shipboard jobs. North Sea defied Bakken-led offshore vessel owner Farstad Shipping sees quarterly profits rise 53% despite North Sea rates below expectations. Pride dented Pride of Telemark hit pier after master misjudged current, watertight doors and pumps failed and black box was wonky. Two ships seized Somali piracy reaches fever pitch as Japanese tanker 'Irene' and Iranian bulker seized within one hour. Exporting imports Freeport LNG is applying to export LNG from its Texas receiving terminal to keep it running in a slow market. Not our ship Besiktas MD Yavuz Kalkavan says lifeboat tragedy at Gisan did not involve one of its vessels. 'Stop madness' IMB issues new urgent warning on piracy in Gulf of Aden but not before two more ships are hijacked. Svithoid sees red Swedish tanker owner manages to significantly improve revenues but still slips to quarterly loss. Li makes more Li Ka-Shing's Hutchison Port Holdings sees pre tax profit picks up 19% in the first-half. STX can take it all South Korean's free to force the transfer of all shares in Aker Yards after taking holding beyond 90%. OSG faulted Nuts-and-bolts corrosion led to stores crane collapse on Overseas Camar, badly injuring bosun. Tianjin tie-up CMA CGM joins forces with Asia International Shipping to build a boxship terminal at Tianjin. "All time high" Fredriksen-controlled tanker behemoth Frontline reports best ever net profits for a second quarter. Tax rattles Rieber Tax man gobbles up a rise in operating profit to slice 4% from second quarter bottom line at Steve Rong-led owner. STX's bulky order Size of two bulk-carriers ordered at Korean yard a mystery, as is identity of Middle Eastern buyer. Nexus loses less Anders Holm-led FPSO owner cuts second quarter deficit as project revenue picks up. Wilson serves big Norwegian bulker owner aces second quarter as larger fleet smashes higher overheads. Swiber eyes Gulf Raymond Goh-led offshore player joins forces with Rawabi Holding for assault on the Middle East. Paris inks two Paris Dragnis-led Goldenport Holdings has added to its orderbook with two more supramaxes. Disposals lift MBC Ship sales in second quarter plus strong freight rates help lift Kuok ship owning outfit.

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Maersk adjusting Asia/Australia operations Bye, bye Gemini British Airways World Cargo to lower fuel surcharge BNSF reopens terminal for building materials Con-way Freight fills No. 2 slot Exchange rate, integration costs temper CEVA results DHS rotates cargo policy personnel NRF to join ATA suit against SoCal truck plan DP World awards first big London Gateway contract CMA CGM doubles Chinese terminal investment with Tianjin venture Hutchison reports increase in sales, container throughput Firms want to build oil terminal off Texas coast Houston looks to add cranes, fund study for new terminal

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Camillo Eizten orders four supramax bulkers Camillo Eitzen & Co ASA (CECO) has ordered four supramax bulk vessels, to be delivered from Japanese yards in 2012'2013. All four units are 60,000 DWT and long-term contracts of about 30 years has been secured for the vessels ... Malaysian vessel hijacked off Somalia Malaysian MISC confirmed yesterday that the chemical tanker Bunga Melati Dua has been hijacked by armed pirates off the coast of Somalia. The vessel was carrying 32.000 tonnes palm oil when it was attacked in the Gulf of Aden ...

	web site
AUGUST 21, 2008
Healthy results reflect 'significant growth' Barge company reports rise in income as market expansion continuing. Fuel oil soars in Rotterdam European bunker prices set for sharp gains Friday morning after late Thursday rally. Future of Colombo bunkering facility still unsettled LMS employees agree to resume bunkering, but refusing to remove products from tank facility. UAE oil spill plan delayed Coast of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan plagued by frequent oil slicks. Rotterdam market increasing Singapore prices extend gains Bunker prices continue to rise at other major Asian ports as well. Singapore residual fuel stocks up 5% Middle distillates stocks at a five-year high. Hong Kong bunkering operations to be suspended Typhoon Nuri nears the territory. Goldman maintains high forecast for oil prices Oil to rebound above record levels by the end of this year, Goldman says. Busan plans new oil terminal Construction work to start after a planned groundbreaking ceremony next year.