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Shipping News

No penalties for late river wheat shipments: CME
Shippers of soft red winter wheat will not be penalised for loading delays tied to current flooding and high water along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, CME Group said on Monday.
Water levels on the Rhine, Danube fall
Water levels on the Rhine and Danube in Germany have fallen again after dry weather and ships cannot sail fully loaded on both rivers, traders said on Monday. In some southern areas of the Rhine, vessels are sailing less than 50 per cent full, one trader said.
China-made yachts mark rise of local luxury brands
Caprice Lam took 90 minutes to close his first luxury-yacht sale, from the time the customer stepped aboard the 62-foot vessel on China's Hainan Island to the moment the bank wired the 35 per cent deposit.

Strait Talk

More than just a bunker hub
SINGAPORE Maritime Week has come and gone, very successfully, and no doubt most minds are firmly fixed on day-to-day business once more.

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Shipping News

No penalties for late river wheat shipments: CME
Shippers of soft red winter wheat will not be penalised for loading delays tied to current flooding and high water along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, CME Group said on Monday.
Water levels on the Rhine, Danube fall
Water levels on the Rhine and Danube in Germany have fallen again after dry weather and ships cannot sail fully loaded on both rivers, traders said on Monday. In some southern areas of the Rhine, vessels are sailing less than 50 per cent full, one trader said.
China-made yachts mark rise of local luxury brands
Caprice Lam took 90 minutes to close his first luxury-yacht sale, from the time the customer stepped aboard the 62-foot vessel on China's Hainan Island to the moment the bank wired the 35 per cent deposit.

Strait Talk

More than just a bunker hub
SINGAPORE Maritime Week has come and gone, very successfully, and no doubt most minds are firmly fixed on day-to-day business once more.

	web site

Maersk to raise Asia-Europe rate US$250 per TEU from June 1 CMA CGM to raise Asia-north Europe rates US$225/TEU from June 1 China-to-Chennai loop with 1,700-TEU ships from Hanjin, CMA CGM, TSL, BTL CTSA increases currency surcharge to 10pc from June 1 First 8,888-TEU ship of eight, OOCL Beijing, is named in Shanghai Asia-Europe main ports' first quarter volumes increase, Mumbai sole decliner SITC first quarter profit up 7pc as sales rise 24pc to US242.9 million Lay-ups return to pre-crisis levels with only 0.9pc of box fleet idle Samudera profit hits US$152,000, erasing last year's $1.4 million quarterly loss China signs accords to nearly double trade with Indonesia by 2015 HAFFA re-elects chairman Paul Tsui, appoints executive council Mumbai rival APMT Pipavav Q1 profit soars 46pc to US$1.3 million South Africa's Transnet picks Konecranes for Johannesburg box depot Norfolk Southern Q1 intermodal revenue up 18pc, profit rises 26pc TIACA sees major trouble if US insists on 100pc screening deadline FedEx Express builds regional air freight hub in Singapore Construction work starts on new cargo facility at Edmonton airport

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SCI recognised for its shipping prowess at Dun & Bradstreet-Rolta Corporate Awards Exporters eye big opportunity in Pak MPSEZL to develop Australia's Abbot Point Coal Terminal After Lucknow, Emirates SkyCargo sets sights on Jaipur, Coimbatore & Amritsar Pvt. firms may get more investment options in rail sector Ban on maize exports sought to rescue poultry sector Core industries grow 5.9 pc in 2010-11 Curbs sought on used equipment imports to ensure quality Forex reserves climb $ 1.79 bn to $ 310 bn High output may push pulses imports lower by 14 pc RBI hikes FII cap for infra cos NCDs, bonds RBI raises short-term lending rate to 7.25 pc Vegetable oil imports to dip to 3-year low India, Mauritius to convene JWG on DTAA

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MAY 3, 2011
TAV Airports renovating two airports in Fyrom The Turkish TAV Airports Holding has completed the renovation of Ohrid airport in the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (Fyrom). The group, which started managing both ... IST Group plans to produce railcars mechanics in Russia The Russian-based investment conglomerate IST Group will establish a new venture in Tikhvin, a city near St Petersburg, to make freight cars using systems from a US su... Master plan to develop operations at Cleveland airport The US state of Ohio has unveiled a USD 1.6 billion (EUR 1.1 billion) master plan to expand Cleveland Hopkins International Airport over the next 24 years. The construction of a ne... Former Air France cargo executives indicted in conspiracy to fix rates and surcharges on air cargo shipments A Chicago IL (USA) grand jury returned an indictment against Marc Boudier, former executive vice-president of the cargo division of Air France, and Jean Charles Foucault, former vi... Union Pacific Railroad investing nearly USD 29 million for track improvements to Its Missouri Line The US rail service provider Union Pacific Railroad will continue improving Missouri's transportation infrastructure with a nearly USD 29 million investment to enhance the rail lin... Volvo: truck deliveries up to and including March 2011 Volvo Trucks' global deliveries in Q1/2011 were 81% higher than in the corresponding period last year. Deliveries to Europe increased gradually during the first quarter of the curr... Norfolk Southern: railway operating revenues up 17 % The US rail service provider Norfolk Southern Corporation reported a Q1/2011 net income of USD 325 million, 26 % higher than USD 257 million for the same period in 2010. First-quar... Natural gas motors for medium duty trucks The engineering and consulting service provider, MBtech, a subsidiary of Daimler, has developed a natural gas powered concept called "Compressed Natural Gas 4 Cylinder" (... Scania's truck deliveries up by 71% in Q1 Scania's truck deliveries rose to a total of 17,562 units during the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 71% compared to the first quarter of 2010. In Europe, deliveries jum... "NYK Lodestar" linking Ho-Chi-Minh City and Hamburg The "NYK Lodestar" recently docked at the HHLA Container-Terminal Altenwerder (CTA) in Hamburg (Germany). The vessel's cargo included containers shipped directly from Vietnam for u... "Stena Transporter" launched on Stena Line's Killingholme'Hook of Holland route The "Stena Transporter" has been officially launched on Stena Line's Killingholme ' Hook of Holland route, following a EUR 110 million investment to raise freight capacit... Dockwise announces USD 34 million contract awards Dockwise Ltd has announced that its subsidiary Dockwise Shipping has landed six contracts worth more than USD 34 million for heavy marine transport services. Following th... Steffes leaving Mitsui Rail Capital Europe Dirk Steffes, managing director and chief operating officer of Mitsui Rail Capital Europe (MRCE), a leading locomotive lessor, is leaving the company on 31 July to take up new prof... Spliethoff Group: PWL new agent for Latin America The Latin America sector of the Spliethoff Group appointed Peter W. Lampke GmbH & Co KG (PWL) as its commercial representative and port agent with effect from 1 May. The appoin... GLS Netherlands receives ISO environment certificate The parcel service provider GLS Netherlands was recently certified as compliant with the ISO 14001 environmental standard. The Dutch entity is the first national subsidiary of the ... DB Schenker Logistics opens location in Kaluga ZAO Schenker, the Russian subsidiary of DB Schenker Logistics, opened a new business location in Kaluga a few days ago. Kaluga is a rapidly growing industrial region, particularly ... DSV boosts Q1/2011 turnover The global transport and logistics service provider DSV A/S, headquartered in Br'ndby, near Copenhagen (Denmark), has published its figures for the first three months of business y...

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MAY 3, 2011
Statoil invites tenders for new category D offshore rigs Cosco Dalian goes to Inocean AS for drillship design OSD designs compact but powerful OSV's and tugs Wärtsilä wins design and diesel electric contracts for Sartor newbuild OSG reports more red ink, but sees signs of market turnaround

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MAY 3, 2011
Port of Grays Harbor plans bond sale for expansion Trade between NAFTA partners rises during month of February NYK delivers relief supplies to quake affected areas in Japan Disney vessel begins cruises from Port of Vancouver, BC Port of Coos Bay re-opens overhauled Charleston Ice Dock

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MAY 3, 2011
Electricity cuts in China to hit steel and iron ore production Fears raised that power supply restrictions will put pressure on key Chinese sectors Panamax charter rates bounce back Average time charter rates make largest one-day gain since March 2010 to $12,490 per day Handymax bulker sells for top price of $22m Taiwan's Galaxy Shipping is understood to have bought the handymax bulk carrier Paradise Island for $21.7m, paying the top price that the sellers were hoping for Ace Tankers builds presence with $25m tanker buy Ace Tankers has bought the chemical tanker Golden Venus from Japan's Yamato Kisen Co, moving the relatively young Dutch tanker company a step closer to making good on its mission to become a major player in the chemical shipping market Bangladesh yards plunged into fresh legal uncertainty Court order for breakers to restart business is now said to be only temporary Spain threatens merchant ships in Gibraltar Warship tells vessels to leave Spanish waters Croatia Shipping Registry joins IACS Class body looks forward to 'active participation and contribution' ESPL in talks over transport of finished steel Direct calls from Hazira to Middle East and Europe likely 'within six months' Diverse group that likes to keep a very low profile Owners look to manage risk German owner Hartmann has turned to ship financing giant HSH Nordbank to understand and manage its risk professionally Training is key to improving service levels Public policy and the payment of ransoms Court reaffirms that ransom payments to pirates are not against English public policy and are therefore legal South Korean regulator to monitor overseas performance Direct taxation is the best way to Curb CO2 emissions Putting a price on carbon emissions is the simple answer to reducing ships' CO2 emissions Sovereign funds eye Glencore listing The chance of a major Chinese sovereign investment in the Glencore IPO may signal a new zeal for the commodities trades CSAV wins support from Zodiac Maritime Fixes series of 9,000 teu vessels to troubled line as falling freight rates and high fuel costs return Latin American shipping company to the red LNG carrier rates head towards $100,000 per day Market turns 'red-hot' as demand grows Odfjell terminals keep company in the black Chemical tanker business records break even as it ends run of losses Globus to pay $31m for Gleamray panamax Six year-old bulker comes with two-year charter back and expands Nasdaq-listed owner's fleet to seven units NCL first-quarter earnings up 37% Norwegian Epic pushes revenues up CSAV posts first quarter loss of $186m Falling freight rates and high fuel costs return Latin American shipping company to the red Let's get real over radiation Allowing irrational fears to cloud commercial decision making cannot be classed as sound judgement Outside the box The container shipping market is sending confusing signals but over time, supply and demand will look more balanced Forth Ports shareholders vote to accept $1.25bn takeover bid Victory for Arcus European Infrastructure Fund means UK's last listed ports company will exit London Stock Exchange DVB Bank pre-tax profits soar in first quarter Increase in lending activity boosts results SCI chairman calls for tougher response to piracy Supports Indian navy's 'no nonsense' approach Rotterdam to extend radiation checks on Japan arrivals Ship monitoring to continue to May 15 OSG reveals 'disappointing' first quarter Reports $35m loss as revenues slump

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MAY 3, 2011
Vehicle trades buoy BLG GROWING volumes in handling of finished vehicles and containerised car parts could produce record turnover this year, BLG Logistics said today Barcelona reports box boost BARCELONA'S box throughput jumped by 23% to 538,000teu in the first quarter, largely because of a rise in exports, the Barcelona Port Authority reported toda Four held in Barcelona cruise search SPANISH police said today officers have arrested four passengers in the seizure of about 30 kilos of cocaine at a Barcelona cruise terminal Drybulk scrapping rise seen in 2011 THE GLUT of newbuildings will lead to greater scrapping of bulkers this year, with almost 30M tonnes expected to be sent for demolition, according to Arctic Securities CGG-Eidesvik JV formed SEISMIC operator CGGVeritas has formed a venture with Norway's Eidesvik Offshore to manage 10 of its high-capacity 3D survey vessels EDF green-lights Dunkirk LNG terminal FRENCH energy group EDF has ended uncertainty about its plans to build an LNG terminal at Dunkirk by revealing that the facility is to begin service in 2015 DVB has bumper quarter GERMAN shipping and transport bank DVB more than tripled its pre-tax profits to €52.8M ($78.3M) in Q1 Costs keep NCL in red NORWEGIAN Cruise Line, which is prepping for an IPO, suffered continued losses in its latest quarter as expenses soared India/Sri Lanka cruises planned AMET SHIPPING India plans to route its cruise ship acquisition MV Amet Majesty to Sri Lanka Indian breakers exploit Bangladesh limbo INDIAN breakers are bullishly snapping up tonnage while rival Bangladeshi scrappers reeled from learning that they need to return to court to stay in business China plans Yangtze dredging CHINA is reportedly planning to spend 18Bn yuan ($2.8Bn) in 2011-15 to deepen part of the lower Yangtze River's navigation channel Schiffsbank misses reversal DEUTSCHE Schiffsbank has seen its profits wiped out by loan loss provisions for the third year in a row Iron import squeeze seen for China DRYBULK analyst Jeffrey Landsberg today told Fairplay electricity shortages might soon cause China to slash imports of iron ore Courage's shares dive SINGAPORE-listed drybulk carrier Courage Marine's shares dived when trading opened today, after it said it would announce losses for 1Q2011 Tanker hits Fremantle bridge A BUNKER tanker hit a bridge at the West Australia's Fremantle today, halting the port's rail services

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MAY 3, 2011
Mitsubishi Builds US Factory for Giant Transformers A Japanese manufacturer of large-scale power transformers will build a new factory at a Memphis, Tenn., site that will use... Idle Box Fleet Declines to Pre-Recession Levels The number of idle container ships is at a 30-month low, with only 71 ships recorded as unemployed, according to... NAFTA Trade Jumped 11.8 Percent in February Surface transportation trade between the U.S. and Canada and Mexico was 11.8 percent higher in value in February than a... Factory Orders Climb Fifth Straight Month U.S. factory orders rose for the fifth consecutive month in March, driven by a broad-based increase in orders and rising... Atlas Air Profit Tumbles 69 Percent Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings saw its net profit fall more than two-thirds in the first quarter amid rising costs and... Amazon to Build Eighth Distribution Center in China Amazon.com plans to build its eighth logistics center in China this year, Chinese officials said Tuesday. The company's newest... US Container Imports Drop 2.5 Percent in March U.S. containerized imports fell 2.5 percent in March, the first year-to-year decline in 16 months, as a weak housing market... Japanese Steel Exports Grew in March Japan's steel exports increased for the second consecutive month in March, topping February's total by 10.1 percent. The 4.09 million... APL Revenue per Container Slips; Volume Grows APL's container shipping volume gained 12 percent year-over-year in the four weeks that ended April 8, but average revenue per... Pirates Release Breakbulk Ship with Crew Somali pirates released the Sinar Kudus, an Indonesian-flag multipurpose vessel, and its 20 crew members on Sunday after 46 days... Global Air Freight Grew 3.7 Percent in March International air freight traffic grew 3.7 percent in March over the same month a year ago despite a decline in...

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MAY 3, 2011
TCC to sue shippers Pirates back on the attack CSCL falls into the red for Q1 Horizon sees Q1 USD33 million loss, but CSX helps out Del Monte strengthens its relationship with GT Nexus

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MAY 3, 2011
CECO trims EEC stake Oslo-listed owner left with 20% slice of Eitzen Ethylene Carriers following $15m deal with Jacques de Chateauvieux investment firm. CIS endorses tanker titans Equity analyst at US-based banking wing of UK shipbroker says tanker stocks are poised to pop. Athenian mulls scrap sale Brokers say Greek bulker owner could walk away with $6.5m if panamax lands on the scrap heap. Essar ports lift gloom Indian shipping and port firm blames falling charter rates for poor end to the year. Transatlantic tumbles Swedish ro-ro and offshore vessel owner sees first quarter loss grow despite revenue rise. GLBS pounces on panamax George Karageorgiou in the driver's seat as Greek owner jumps on acquisition trail with $31.4m bulker buy. Mundra in Ozzie port raid Indian port operator shells out $2bn to secure Queensland coal terminal. Odfjell falls short Oslo-listed shipowner lags consensus in the first quarter despite returning to profit. Crewman crushed Seafarer taken to hospital in Norway after accident on Allseas Marine's Solitaire. OSG stretches losing run Morten Arntzen-led owner spends an eighth successive quarter in the red. CSAV drops deeper South American container line blames higher costs and lower rates for decline in first quarter performance. Radiation on car carrier Chilean port workers protest after low level of radioactivity found on vehicles within Hyundai No 106. Asian owners stretch lead Asia Pacific fleet growth outstripped that of the EU in 2010 despite lower level of newbuilding deliveries, Clarksons says. Awilco readies LNG listing Anders Wilhelmsen-led owner plots $150m Oslo Axess float for its LNG unit only a couple of months after entering the sector. Fairstar to move Ensco rig Dutch heavy-left outfit wins deal to carry jack-up from Malta to Singapore.

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MAY 3, 2011
Tompkins names Meyer VP fast moving goods Supply chain consulting firm Tompkins Associates has appointed Bruce Meyer to vice president of fast moving consumer goods. Meyer was director of North American customer demand management at Coty Inc., where he assisted the company for more than a ... ALAN lends logistics hand to U.S. South The American Logistics Aid Network is working with various relief agencies to identify crucial needs and communicate them to supply chain industry members to assist with the recovery in the storm-ravaged U.S. South. "We want to ensure that we resp... U.S. trade groups disappointed by Doha Eight large industry groups expressed disappointment by the failure of the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Agenda to meet its goal to promote global economic growth by expanding trade. "A trade round is about opening markets and settin... U.S. supply chain security strategy nears completion The U.S. government hopes to finalize a strategy for securing international supply chains sometime this spring, Christa Brzozowski, director of cargo and transportation security policy at the Department of Homeland Security, said last month. The d... Begeman sworn in at STB Ann D. Begeman was sworn in Monday to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board. Begeman has served as a senior aide on Capitol Hill for 21 years, playing a role in crafting major transportation legislation, including the ICC Termination Act, which cr... Southern Air appoints Soaper COO Southern Air Holdings has named David Soaper as chief operating officer, effective May 15.Soaper was senior vice president for aircraft operations at Comair, a Delta Connection carrier. He held several other senior operations management positions d... AirBridge Cargo expands network to U.S. AirBridge Cargo Airlines has begun service to its first location in North America with three flights per week to Chicago. Russia's largest scheduled cargo airline said it will operate the new route with a Boeing 747-400 from Moscow to Chicago's O'... Southwest completes AirTran takeover Southwest Airlines said Monday it has finalized the acquisition of AirTran Holdings, the parent company of AirTran Airways.Both airlines will operate separately until Southwest receives a single operating certificate from the Federal Aviation Admi... TCC pursues container shortfall penalties The magnitude of the container "fall down" issue for liner companies, where shippers do not live up to minimum quantity commitments, is being thrown into high relief in the wake of decision by The Containership Co. (TCC) to end its transpacific se... $23 million from 83 shippers

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MAY 3, 2011
Australian Navy to showcase hull treatment technology HST will provide the Navy with an initial fuel saving of up to 6% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Disney Wonder arrives at Port Metro Vancouver The Disney Wonder will make 18 round trips to Alaska from Vancouver and will call at the ports of Tracy Arm, Juneau and Ketchikan. Tight supply in major NWE ports Prices holding firm on some grades amid tight supplies in Rotterdam and Hamburg, but fall in southern Europe. Fujairah flat while Suez, Durban rise Erratic prices and no clear trend across markets on Tuesday. Flow of Middle East fuel oil cargoes to tighten Refinery turnarounds and regional demand from power plants will limit arbitrage volumes. Maersk Line 'sharing the risk' as bunker prices rise CEO says group is recovering 80% of the cost of fuel price increases. Cruise line 'absorbs' climb in bunker costs NCL points to 'pricing discipline' and economies of scale. Bunker tanker cuts rail links after hitting a bridge Fully laden tanker pulled clear by tugs after striking Fremantle Railway Bridge. Asian bunker prices mostly falling Prices for 380 cSt material slump in Busan. The Credit Insurance Paradox We will almost certainly see more collapses, as a result of the industry's Darwinistic tendency to self-regulate. IBME promotes bunker trader Promotion to senior bunker and lubricant trader effective May 1, 2011. New trader joins Dan-Bunkering New trader to join the sales team in Copenhagen. Paint manufacturer offers refund 'guarantee' on efficiency gains Jotun Marine to reimburse shipowner if product falls below 'guaranteed performance'.