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TNT Express expects over 20% growth in its Asia business
BANKING on its strategy paying off, TNT Express expects over 20 per cent growth in its Asia business this year despite the global downturn.
Dry bulk stocks in choppy seas on charter risk
Investor fear of charter counterparty risk and weakness in freight rates may continue to weigh on the dry bulk shipping stocks in the near term.
Gains in Baltic Dry Index slow down
The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of shipping costs for commodities, gained the least in three sessions and forward contracts for hauling iron ore slumped amid speculation steelmaker demand for the raw material will wane.
Three groups bid for US$3.35b Panama Canal project
Kuehne & Nagel's Q4 profit up 7%
Maersk to raise rates for some routes

Port Shots

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Singamas Container Holdings said yesterday it planned to sell about HK$492 million (S$98 million) worth of new shares at a discount, raising capital to repay part of its bank loans.

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Shipping News

TNT Express expects over 20% growth in its Asia business
BANKING on its strategy paying off, TNT Express expects over 20 per cent growth in its Asia business this year despite the global downturn.
Dry bulk stocks in choppy seas on charter risk
Investor fear of charter counterparty risk and weakness in freight rates may continue to weigh on the dry bulk shipping stocks in the near term.
Gains in Baltic Dry Index slow down
The Baltic Dry Index, a measure of shipping costs for commodities, gained the least in three sessions and forward contracts for hauling iron ore slumped amid speculation steelmaker demand for the raw material will wane.
Three groups bid for US$3.35b Panama Canal project
Kuehne & Nagel's Q4 profit up 7%
Maersk to raise rates for some routes

Port Shots

Portshots
Singamas Container Holdings said yesterday it planned to sell about HK$492 million (S$98 million) worth of new shares at a discount, raising capital to repay part of its bank loans.

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Zim picks new CEO to seek best terms from shipyards, banks Idle box ships hit record 1.35 million TEU, 10.7pc of world fleet Yangtze beats Mississippi and Rhine as top cargo carrier Chongqing port box volume down 28.8 per cent Qingdao Qianwan port to build Northeast Asia trunk transit port China steel overproduction will ruin profitability, official warns CSCL offers Singapore-Red Sea service (RES1) Fesco cuts capital investment by US$250 million in 2009 Critical congestion causes friction in Dar es Salaam Construction of Ennore Port's new box terminal begins Sino-Russia rail freight volume hits a record low St Louis aims to develop air cargo hub with China DHL wins Excellent Services Brand Award 2008 third year running CHAMP, OAG team up to automate cargo tariff distribution

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Hajara sees freight levels rebounding in months EU works on anti-piracy law even as naval patrols lessen threat Softlink expands in S. India, launches 2 products Carriers slashing rates to attract scarce cargo Finally, Baltic Dry Index shifts course & sinks Bulgaria lists areas for link-ups with India Inc Global agencies' certification madevital for scrap imports Chinese toys import ban relaxed Castor oil exporters extended farm scheme benefits A.P.V.N. Sarma to meet port union leaders on March 9 PPPAC clears Kandla Port's multipurpose cargo project Jawahar Customs achieves lowest cargo dwell time The mood will still be bleak-Moody's Fieo lists 4 steps vital in plunging-rupee scenario Move to cap banks' transaction fees for exporters SRTEPC organises interactive meeting with ECGC chief At the helm of CII-Maharashtra

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MARCH 3, 2009
Kuehne + Nagel: record result in 2008 ' despite financial crisis Kuehne & Nagel (K+N), the Schindellegi (Switzerland)-based forwarding and logistics corporation, posted record sales and profit results in 2008, despite a marked slowdown in the se... Fercam inaugurates new branch in Vienna The global logistics and transport company Fercam, based in Bolzano (Italy), opened an office in Vienna on 2 March. The facility is Fercam's second in Austria. The service provider... Swisslog to build cigarette warehouse in China The Chinese cigarette producer Hangzhou Cigarette Factory has contracted Swisslog to design and implement a new production plant with automated logistics processes. The deal is wor... X-press Container Lines launches new weekly Rotterdam-Liverpool service X-press Container Lines (UK) Ltd is about to launch a new weekly container service from Rotterdam to Liverpool Freeport. The first sailing is scheduled for 12 March.... Newbuilding L 216 named at Odense Steel Shipyard Odense Steel Shipyard (Denmark) named its latest newbuilding, a 7,000 teu containership, for the Danish A.P. Moller-Maersk Group on 28 February. The "Mathilde Maersk" is the l... Bayernhafen group registers solid growth in 2008 The German port group Bayernhafen registered solid growth in 2008, despite seeing signs of the looming economic crisis. The group's six locations - Aschaffenburg, Bamberg, Nurember...

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MARCH 4, 2009
German ship nabs suspected pirates Deep Sea cancels newbuilding Israel Corp picks new Zim boss Mission chief to retire

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MARCH 4, 2009
Commandant delivers State of the Coast Guard address

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MARCH 4, 2009
Port of Tacoma finishes Tideflats Terminal analysis Bellingham Port Commissioners Ok innovation zone construction bid Neah Bay Coast Guard station earns superior readiness honor Seattle Port Commission moving meeting to Ballard Panama Canal Authority receives bids for new locks

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MARCH 4, 2009
Bloated bulker orderbook 'spells disaster' for shipping markets HOWE Robinson warns of "wave of destruction for banks to rival the sub-prime crisis". 'Pitch black' horizon for capesize newbuildings Fredriksen set to come to rescue of Golden Ocean JOHN Fredriksen's offer to buy majority of $200m bond issue could help prevent company be in breach of covenant.

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MARCH 4, 2009
SEAS loops from Asia combined CMA CGM said today it would combine its two loops from Asia to the East Coast of South America Hapag halts on forwarder commission GERMAN container line Hapag-Lloyd has delayed the proposed abolition of forwarder freight commissions following talks with the German Committee of Freight Forwarders US biofuels hit by EU tariffs US BIOFUEL companies will be taking a blow, as European governments have decided to impose duties on such exports to the EU EC-Warsaw yards tiff reported THE EC competition spokesman told Fairplay today that the commission is exchanging correspondence with Warsaw about the sell-off of the Gdynia and Szczecin yards Box bankruptcies, then recovery RECOVERY in the box ship sector is a long way off but on the way, Urs Dur, VP at Lazard Capital Markets, assured the Marine Money Conference in Dubai today Dredging co-operation seen GREENS are working together with the dredging sector to achieve engineering projects while also maintaining habitats, the British section of the Central Dredging Association has heard

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MARCH 4, 2009
Clean Trucks Hearing Held UTU Asks Obama to Name STB Chair Clean Truck Challenge Headed for the Top NYNJ Port Requires Sealink for TWIC Obama Taps Fla. Official for FEMA NOL Box Volume Plummets Lone Star Overnight Blankets Texas Global Ship Lease Loses $44M Taiwan's trade surplus with China declines Japanese Firm to Invest in Korea WTO Head Optimistic on Doha Round Recession Puts Freeze On Lakes Season Intermarine Takes Delivery of Industrial Egret BNSF Pegs 2008 Development Impact Poland to Auction Shipyards Chipolbrok launches Adam Asnyk CMA CGM Cuts Capacity Maersk to Update SAMBA Obama Sends Out Transport Funds Regional LTL Hauling More Truckload

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MARCH 4, 2009
K+N: solid 2008, but radical cuts to come? TWIC eases into Seattle Emergency rate hikes from MSC Reefer Express at Thamesport CRCTC, CRIMT and YICT start express rail link

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MARCH 4, 2009
Thank you, China US-listed bulker owner shares surge Wednesday, with eight players jumping by more than 20%, as China preps further stimulus measures. Barge owner flat American Commercial Lines quarterly profits barely move but beat expectations. Blue Star freed After two months in pirate hands, first ship hijacked in 2009 is freed. Golden ticket John Fredriksen comes to Golden Ocean's rescue, turning on the cash tap with offer to buy two thirds of $200m bond issue. Two become one Four liner operators consolidate loops on service between South America and Asia, cutting capacity by 35%. Eagle upgraded Cantor Fitzgerald takes "sell" label off Nasdaq-listed Eagle Bulk Shipping's stock. NATS' divi pledge Herbjorn Hansson vows to keep churning out dividends while it is making a profit. GSL reports loss But Ian Webber-led containership owner Global Ship Lease sees cash profits beat Wall Street forecasts. Tallink mixed Estonian ferry group's passenger volumes rose 15% in second quarter, but freight volumes took a battering. Kherson edges up Ukrainian shipbuilder, which also controls the Chernomorsky yard, posts narrow profit increase for 2008. Heroic effort South Korean master and crew honoured in Florida for rescuing sailor his vessel capsized. BDI bogged down Khalid Hashim says Baltic Dry Index will struggle to break 2,000 points over the next year as orderbook bites and rescue packages bed in. Strike two! Same Latvian ship again stalled in same Irish port by same number of crew looking for similar amount in wage arrears. Pain rolls on Five weeks in and no end in sight for North Sea spot market slump, brokers say. Sale scrapped Montenegro pulls Bijela shipyard privatisation for third time after lack of detail from UAE bidder. RCCL bags more Richard Fain-led firm takes borrowing past EUR 1.34bn in past eight months with loan to cover fourth Solstice newbuilding. Russian ship held Norway hauls freighter into port as fisherman remains missing from smashed boat. Oakland upgrade Ports America lines up $150m work on five berths at Californian port, as part of 50-year concession. Hartmann double German group's first AHTS newbuildings pick up long term deals. Big fish fixed Siem Marlin nets potential $60m charter with Chevron off Nigeria. Crew rescued Five men taken from waters off Norway by rescue boat after their small cargoship sinks. Maersk restores Danish boxship giant forced to raise tariffs on Asia-South America and Med-US routes after rate collapse. Merger delay? Report claims tie-up between Japanese shipbuilders USC and IHI on hold until later this year as newbuilding demand falls away. RCL in the red Thailand's Regional Container Lines takes a battering with fourth quarter and full year losses. GNV stronger Italian ferry operator says passenger and vehicle numbers rose despite economic decline in 2008. Omega burnt Interest rate derivative losses push US-listed product tanker outfit to a loss in the fourth quarter.

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MARCH 4, 2009
Koch: Supportive shippers drowned out on TSA plan Maersk hikes Med/U.S., Asia/Latin America rates MSC routes WB Asia/Europe service around Africa Bisignani: Fall in air freight demand "shocking" Obama visits DOT as stimulus funds roll out Yellow, Roadway integrate networks U.S. cargo uses Russia to reach Afghanistan House tries to track stimulus money Hicks to join transportation planning firm Stimulus at work FMC reviews 24 OTI license applications Panama Canal receives 3 bids for lock construction Ports America awarded Oakland concession House funds Oakland deepening project

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MARCH 4, 2009
Aker Verdal expects extensive lay offs The Norwegian shipyard Aker Verdal is forced to lay offs after the postponement of a large building project for ConocoPhillips. The project was due to start after the turn of Nine suspected pirates arrested Nine suspected pirates were arrested in the Gulf of Aden on March 3, after the German warship Rheinland Pfalz and the American destroyer Monterey managed to fend off a pirate Tough market for anchor handlers The market for anchor handling vessels, AHTS, is now the worst since 2004, the reasons being idle rigs and new tonnage entering the market. Daily rates have been slashed by Containerships buys Contaz Containerships has acquired 100 per cent of the shares of Contaz Maritime Transport & Trade S.A. of Turkey. The price is undisclosed. "Containerships has for a long time considered expansion of New ballast tank alliance A Global Industry Alliance, GIA, has been launched to tackle the threats of marine bio-invasions caused by the transfer of alien plants and animals in ships' ballast tanks. The

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MARCH 4, 2009
Europe: Bunker prices firm Prices up in Rotterdam with 'plenty of demand'. Crude gains supported by DOE report Oil already firm on Chinese recovery hopes ahead of US oil inventory data. Container line suffers bunker hedging losses Thailand-based shipping line posts worse than expected Q4 results. Iran fuel oil exports 'holding steady' Traders say Iran has committed to supply up to 400,000 mt of fuel oil a month for the rest of 2009. Bunker tanker delivery 'imminent' Newbuild will be company's third for Fujairah market. Chinese fuel oil imports jump in February Observers see signs suggesting China's domestic economy could soon start recovery. Asia: Bunkers mostly soft mid-week Bunker prices continue to ease at most key Asian ports. March bunker output stable despite falling demand Japanese refiners have differing plans for bunker outputs in March. Aegean to put new double-hull in Trinidad and Tobago New 6,300 dwt bunker tanker built in Chinese shipyard. Iranian supplier waives offshore barging fee BGK Bunkering also gains permission to carry out night bunkering inside port.