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Shipping News

China Shipping expands Los Angeles terminal
China Shipping on Monday announced the completion of a major phase of its terminal expansion project at the Port of Los Angeles.
Jakarta says Somalia will help free hostages
Somali Foreign Minister Abdullahi Omar Arsharq said that his government was committed to helping the Indonesian government release its citizens taken hostage by Somali pirates, according to a statement yesterday.
Ships trickle back to Japan's quake-hit ports
Ships are starting to flow back to Japan's quake-damaged ports, the country's transport ministry said yesterday, despite the lingering nuclear crisis.
Chinese soya buyers cancel cargoes, defer shipment

Strait Talk

Going clean and green
LAST week, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) launched a comprehensive package to promote environment-friendly shipping.

Motoring

Sales double for Japanese bicycle retailer Asahi
Tokyo residents haunted by the memory of how the March 11 earthquake shut the world's busiest subway system are returning to bicycle travel, doubling the sales of retailer Asahi Co in the area last month.
AIG to sell rail-car leasing unit valued at US$600m
American International Group Inc, the insurer rescued by the U.S. government, agreed to sell a rail-car leasing unit to Perella Weinberg Partners LP, the two companies said on Monday in a joint statement.

web site

Shipping News

China Shipping expands Los Angeles terminal
China Shipping on Monday announced the completion of a major phase of its terminal expansion project at the Port of Los Angeles.
Jakarta says Somalia will help free hostages
Somali Foreign Minister Abdullahi Omar Arsharq said that his government was committed to helping the Indonesian government release its citizens taken hostage by Somali pirates, according to a statement yesterday.
Ships trickle back to Japan's quake-hit ports
Ships are starting to flow back to Japan's quake-damaged ports, the country's transport ministry said yesterday, despite the lingering nuclear crisis.
Chinese soya buyers cancel cargoes, defer shipment

Strait Talk

Going clean and green
LAST week, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) launched a comprehensive package to promote environment-friendly shipping.

Motoring

Sales double for Japanese bicycle retailer Asahi
Tokyo residents haunted by the memory of how the March 11 earthquake shut the world's busiest subway system are returning to bicycle travel, doubling the sales of retailer Asahi Co in the area last month.
AIG to sell rail-car leasing unit valued at US$600m
American International Group Inc, the insurer rescued by the U.S. government, agreed to sell a rail-car leasing unit to Perella Weinberg Partners LP, the two companies said on Monday in a joint statement.

web site

Shipping News

China Shipping expands Los Angeles terminal
China Shipping on Monday announced the completion of a major phase of its terminal expansion project at the Port of Los Angeles.
Jakarta says Somalia will help free hostages
Somali Foreign Minister Abdullahi Omar Arsharq said that his government was committed to helping the Indonesian government release its citizens taken hostage by Somali pirates, according to a statement yesterday.
Ships trickle back to Japan's quake-hit ports
Ships are starting to flow back to Japan's quake-damaged ports, the country's transport ministry said yesterday, despite the lingering nuclear crisis.
Chinese soya buyers cancel cargoes, defer shipment

Strait Talk

Going clean and green
LAST week, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) launched a comprehensive package to promote environment-friendly shipping.

Motoring

Sales double for Japanese bicycle retailer Asahi
Tokyo residents haunted by the memory of how the March 11 earthquake shut the world's busiest subway system are returning to bicycle travel, doubling the sales of retailer Asahi Co in the area last month.
AIG to sell rail-car leasing unit valued at US$600m
American International Group Inc, the insurer rescued by the U.S. government, agreed to sell a rail-car leasing unit to Perella Weinberg Partners LP, the two companies said on Monday in a joint statement.

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CMA CGM levies round-the-world many rate hikes in US$600/FEU range Wan Hai joins Cosco-KTMC intra-Asia Shanghai-Port Klang CSE Service Antwerp shakes off recession as volumes top 2008 record levels BIMCO suggests layups to stem rate slide, but doubts it will happen Kuehne + Nagel's first quarter profit up 17.6pc to US$171.4 million Agility moves Asia Pacific headquarters from Hong Kong to Singapore Pirates take ransom cash, but renege on deal to let all crew go Singapore's Applied Materials, Institute of Microelectronic to set up packaging centre Volga-Dnepr flies outsize medical van into Sendai as relief aid Mumbai airport cargo volume grows 13pc over fiscal year DHL recovers after quitting US domestic delivery, thanks to Dell and Amazon

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Seabird CFS-Mundra handles first LCL consolidation of export cargo Coffee exports could tumble 20-30 pc in 2011-12 Exports grow 37.1 per cent to $ 245.9 bn in 2010-11 Fieo taking part in Hong Kong's India Sourcing Fair from April 20-23 Mundra Port consolidating its position as alternative box gateway Test freight train travels 10,300 km from China to Germany in just 16 days 12th Five-Year Plan growth targets may overlook ground reality DGFT initiates strict measures for cotton yarn export registration India gains entry into OECD pact on chemical safety data Fresh bid to end stalemate in WTO trade talks this week Globally networked Customs mooted to stop illicit fund movement through export invoicing route

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APRIL 19, 2011
Air France launching two new African destinations Starting today and tomorrow, Air France will fly twice weekly to Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone and Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. These two new destinations will bring t... FAA downgrades Barbados The US Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that Barbados does not comply with the international safety standards set by the International... CN improves service for grocery and consumer goods market with acquisition of 1,000-plus domestic containers The Canadian National Railway Company (CN) has acquired more than 1,000 new domestic containers to better serve manufacturers and distributors of grocery and consumer goods in dome... Brazil: sale of light transporters booming According to the Brazilian Automobile Manufacturers Association Anfea more light transport vehicles were sold again in the country in March. Sales rose by 14.1%, compared to t... Transinfo Expeditie buys six Talson trailers from Tirsan The Dutch company Transinfo Expeditie, which provides a comprehensive range of logistics services, has purchased six Talson mega garment trailers from the Turkish trailer manu... IRU says EC energy tax plan will increase unemployment The European Commission's new proposal to revise the EU Directive on the taxation of energy products aims to ensure that the taxation of energy maintains the proper functioning of ... AAR urges US Congress to continue safety programmes The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has called on the US Congress to continue supporting grade crossing safety programmes, tax credits that help short line railroads remain... USA: freight shipments fell in February The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry declined by 1.5 % in February, compared to the previous month, after two consecutive monthly increases, accord... First Tiaca course success in East Africa with support of senior freight forwarders Twenty-four senior freight forwarding executives in East Africa added their support to the roll-out of the International Air Cargo Association's (Tiaca)'s new training programme in... K Line receives Port of Long Beach Green Flag Award for sixth consecutive year The Long Beach CA (USA) port authority presented its prestigious Green Flag award to the Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd (K Line) on 7 April. Ocean carrier... HPH end negotiations on leasing Port of Galveston The world's largest terminal operator, Hong Kong'based Hutchison Port Holding (HPH), has pulled out of negotiations for leasing the Port of Galveston (USA), ending a proposal that ... Dublin Port Company to prepare masterplan 2011 -2040 Dublin Port Company recently announced the commencement of a wide-ranging, public consultation process to devise a masterplan for the long-term development of Dublin Port, Ireland'... Panasonic selects DHL as logistics partner in Turkey Panasonic has chosen DHL as its logistics partner in Turkey. DHL Supply Chain, a DHL subsidiary, will manage all the activities from the Gebze technology logistics campus, a u... Boeing signs new ten year extension contract with DB Schenker Logistics The US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has signed a new ten-year contract extension with DB Schenker to manage its 3PL parts distribution centre at London Heathrow airport. The contra... Kuehne + Nagel boosts turnover and profit in Q1/2011 Kuehne + Nagel (K + N), the Schindellegi (Switzerland)-based global logistics corporation, boosted its Q1/2011 turnover to CHF 4.82 billion, a handsome 16.4% more than the CHF 4.60... OWL promotes three managers to key business development positions Ocean World Lines (OWL), the globally active NVOCC and a subsidiary of US-based Pacer International, has promoted three people with immediate effect. Lynn Ocasio has become the

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APRIL 19, 2011
Horizon Lines names Bill Hamlin as Senior VP Operations Power barges installed in Venezuela Dockwise T-0 to have W'rtsil' propulsion package

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APRIL 19, 2011
Congressman secures funding for Coos Bay Rail Line upgrades United Arab Emirates joins IMO antipiracy program Horizon Lines taps Hamlin as operations senior VP Container volumes rising at Port of Tacoma terminals Evergreen joining Wan Hai Line for Taiwan/Madras Trunk Service

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APRIL 19, 2011
Falling US oil demand hits VLCC shipments VLCC fixtures to US Gulf halved in 2011, partly due to rise in production of LNG and LPG in Qatar Panamax rates braced for operating cost levels Pacific round voyage route could fall as low as $6,000 per day by end of April on lack of cargoes Aframax spot charters boosted as Easter break looms A short working week ahead of Easter weekend across many European countries has seen a rush of charterers in the aframax tanker spot market, which has allowed owners to boost rates LNG output rise to blame The boost in liquefied natural gas production from the Middle East has reduced demand for very large crude carriers Youth and size do not always pay in the chartering market Large modern kamsarmax vessels are earning less money in the panamax bulk carrier spot market than older, smaller ships Owners warned of 'new normal' for survival Owners in the dry bulk market must adjust to the "new normal" to survive, according to BIMCO's chief shipping analyst Peter Sand On course for a showdown The plea by MSC boss Gianluigi Aponte for urgent action on piracy must be taken seriously Margins to the fore Shareholders would probably much prefer box lines focus on the bottom line than market share Belfast Harbour readies $132m investment Belfast Harbour will invest '92m ($131.7m) in capital projects over the next three years DNV latest business to admit to snub by China Class society was not allowed to carry out certification services in China for three months Beluga fails in bid to free detained vessel Beluga Houston still detained at French port of Lorient Voltri Terminal strike ends Normal working resumes after after extensive disruption at the Genoa port facility Poti to get $100m APM Terminals boost To operate Black Sea port in joint venture with Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority Greek ship finance sees off national economic malaise Shipowners still have access to funds and will be able to borrow even in the event of sovereign debt Green tech raises the bar on sea trials Advent of IMO's energy efficiency design index likely to lead to more rigorous testing procedures before vessels enter service GL gets up to speed on implementation of index GL already putting EEDI verification into practice Class societies' dual role in spotlight Should class, with its conflict of interest, be repsonsible for EEDI verification? Seafarer's late night call that revealed human cost of piracy Groundbreaking study explores the psychological damage done to kidnapped crew Post-piracy care for seafarers The clinical study has already produced some interim documents to guide companies about what to do to help crew OOCL and Wan Hai top box line profit margin league Mid-size outfits outshine industry heavyweights in terms of cost and capacity discipline New tanker pool targets spot market MOL and Hafnia to operatenew pool in global LR1 panamax clean products trades UAE joins IMO action plan on piracy Signs up to the International Maritime Organization's Djibouti framework Nato anti-piracy chief cautions over use of greater force More robust response will lead to higher casualties among hostages OOCL revenue up 17.2% but Asia-Europe still a concern Volumes on Asia-Europe grew 8.3% yet revenue nudged up by only 0.2% RCCL inks 29 cruiseship maintenance deal Largest ever single after-sales deal for Wärtsilä China Shipping completes LA terminal expansion Unveils completion of $48m expansion of its West Basin Container Terminal Dunkirk in push to build LNG terminal EdF epected to shortly confirm delayed plans MSC boss calls for urgent action against piracy Warns of widescale rerouting of ships and damage to global supply chains if immediate steps not taken Pacific Basin gears up for handymax buys Dry bulk operator eyes secondhand tonnage, newbuildings and long-term charter options

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APRIL 19, 2011
Wärtsilä, RCCL close deal RCCL AND Wärtsilä have signed a five-year maintenance support agreement Novorossiysk defended A TROIKA Bank analyst said today that rating agency Standard & Poor's was wrong to grade down Novorossiysk Commercial Seaport Box imports mixed at LA, Long Beach IMPORTS into Los Angeles increased 10% year on year in March, while nearby Long Beach posted a 8% fall in imports over the same period Greeks find 54 migrants GREEK port security officers at the Igoumenitsa ferry terminal have uncovered 34 migrants hiding in the cargo of an Italy-bound truck Marseilles blames strikes for box drop FRANCE'S port of Marseilles has blamed traffic diversions by customers for a 17% fall in its container traffic during the first quarter Tanker bull holds firm JEFFERIES analyst Doug Mavrinac has rebuffed market negativity by sticking to his prediction for a crude tanker rebound in a new research note today Fuel spills as tankers collide ZHUHAI maritime authorities said two oil tankers have collided off the Macau Special Administrative Region, spilling about 2,000 litres of light diesel fuel, IHS Global Insight reported today MOL, Hafnia to run pool JAPAN'S MOL and Danish products tanker operator Hafnia Management said today they will be jointly running Straits Tankers, a LR1 pool Capesize owners struggle BROKERS in Singapore today told Fairplay Capesize owners in West Australia and Brazil are struggling with mixed fortunes this week Seadrill buys back shares SEADRILL has announced that it has bought back 400,000 of its common stocks through market purchases at an average price of 181.15 kroner ($31.7) per share Hansen warns of box price war RICKMERS Maritime Trust's CEO today told Fairplay box liners need to learn from the 2009 shipping crisis and reject price wars Barge robbed off Singapore THE MASTER and crew of a tug were not aware that robbers had boarded a barge it was towing until Singapore's coastguards alerted them, ReCAAP ISC reported today Crash causes new PT Berlian Laju delay INDONESIAN chemical tanker player PT Berlian Laju has again been forced to delay issuing its 2010 results OOCL unveils gains HONG Kong's OOCL said today it had up 12.6% higher liftings year-on-year for 1Q2011

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APRIL 19, 2011
Hub 1Q Profit Rises 21 Percent to $10.5 Million Intermodal service provider Hub Group reported a $10.5 million profit for the first quarter, up 21 percent from a year... Panama Free Trade Pact Ready for Congress U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said the free-trade agreement between the U.S. and Panama is ready to be considered by... NY-NJ Terminals to Close on Friday All marine terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey will be closed Friday, April 22 because of... Obama Won't Sacrifice Infrastructure for Deficit President Obama drew a line against slashing transportation upgrade programs to cut the federal budget deficit, less than two weeks... Three Carriers to Start Taiwan-India Loop Evergreen Line, Wan Hai Line and Interasia Lines will launch a new weekly Taiwan-Madras Trunk service starting April 29 from... India's Exports Surge 37.5 Percent to All-Time High India's exports reached an all-time high in fiscal 2010-11 ending March 31, surging about 37.5 percent year-over-year, the Commerce Ministry... ILWU Canada Reaches Tentative Deal with BC Employers Negotiators for the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada reached a tentative collective... Shipments of GPS-equipped Phones Nearly Double Advances in communication and navigation technologies are spurring a rapid increase in global shipments of GPS-enabled phones, Berg Insight reports. ... Truckload Capacity Index Drops 10.7 Percent A key measure of truck capacity and demand dropped 10.7 percent last week, indicating some easing of over-the-road capacity constraints... Flooding Closes Tracks in Northern Plains Spring floods across the northern Great Plains are closing some tracks for major railroads and short lines, delaying some shipments... Horizon Lines Appoints Hamlin SVP Operations Horizon Lines, trying to rebuild after taking a major hit to its finances and management, named William A. Hamlin to... OOCL First-Quarter Revenue Jumps 17.2 percent OOCL's total revenue increased 17.2 percent to $1.329 billion in the first quarter from $1.134 billion in the same quarter... Canadian Freight Market Heats Up Rising freight demand is spilling across borders, sending spot market truck freight volume in Canada up 35 percent year-over-year in... Container Carriers Earned Record Profits in 2010 Ocean container carriers earned an estimated $14 billion in 2010, the most profitable year in the industry's history, almost cancelling... Cargolux Talking With Potential Investors Cargolux is in talks about the sale of a stake to a strategic investor amid reports Qatar Airways wants to... Japan Bullet Train to Reopen Fully The East Japan Railway plans to fully resume services on the Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train line by April 30. ... Japanese Automakers to Monitor Radiation Japanese automakers will measure the radiation levels of their vehicles in a bid to dispel concerns about safety. The Japan... China Shipping Expands LA Terminal China Shipping Container Line on Monday completed the first phase of an expansion project at its Los Angeles terminal, demonstrating... Perella Weinberg Buys AIG Railcar Lease Unit Perella Weinberg Partners is buying the railcar leasing unit of insurance giant American International Group. The two companies did not... Piracy Costs Shipping Industry Billions Maritime piracy costs the global shipping industry anywhere from $3.5 billion to upwards of $8 billion a year, according to... Senate Bill Would Defer 100 Percent Scanning The battle over 100 percent scanning of U.S.-bound ocean containers is taking another sharp turn in a partisan skirmish over...

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APRIL 19, 2011
Piracy has to be tackled on land DP World gets out of POTA APM T takes control of Poti DP World sees 'community care' as answer to piracy OOCL's Q1 revenue up on back of volume climb

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APRIL 19, 2011
Crew plucked from rig Windfarm survey proves troublesome as high tide threatens Belgian drilling rig and crew in the North Sea. NSCSA flatlines in the first Middle Eastern tanker owner watches profit plummet 54% while Saudi Arabia slashes crude output on weak demand. Euronav sets the stage Listed tanker owner opens 2011 earnings season with grim outlook despite first-quarter win. Iino offloads tanker Brokers finger MT Maritime Management in $21m chemical tanker transaction with Japanese giant. Wells cuts Crude Carriers Shares of Evangelos Marinakis-led tanker owner stung by downgrade as analyst issues warning about cash and credit facility. Concordia sites newbuilds Hans Noren says Stena-controlled owner has projects ongoing which may lead to fresh products tanker orders. Neptune offloads Trident Australian offshore company sells OSV for $14m but books a $7.5m loss. Freeseas sells oldie? Ion Varouxakis-led owner thought to have cashed in on 1984-built vessel. Wartsila inks two deals Finnish marine solutions provider signs contracts with Royal Caribbean and Dockwise. Samsung in Pipavav punt? Seoul-listed shipbuilding giant tipped to take a slice of quoted Indian yard. DESSC in technical switch John Fredriksen-controlled Deep Sea Supply will stop using third-party technical managers this year. Seadrill's $13m buy-back Fredriksen-owned company completes the purchase of 400,000 units. Genco shares on the rack Downgrade from Citi sparks sell-off of New York-listed bulker owner's stock. MOL and Hafnia take a dip Japanese giant teams up with Danish outfit led by former Torm execs to form a new tanker pool. SHI boosts drillship tally South Korean yard reveals newbuilding contract worth $607m from a company in Oceania. Long Beach suffers dip US west coast port reports its first year-on-year decline in volumes after 15 consecutive months of growth. Aegean in Panama move Nikolas Tavlarios-led bunker player wins exclusive concession to operate onshore facilities.

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APRIL 19, 2011
White House advances U.S.-Panama FTA The White House on Monday sent a letter to the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committee leaders that the administration is ready for the next step of the U.S.-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement. "Panama has now fulfilled its commitments" to... Senate bill would supersede scan-all mandate A bill introduced last week in the Senate to reauthorize the SAFE Port of 2006 would reverse a congressional mandate to scan all ocean containers by July 2012 if certain conditions are met. Lawmakers included the scan-all provision in the 9/11 Imp... U.S. extends funding to China aviation cooperation The U.S. Trade and Development Agency said it will continue to support the U.S.-China Aviation Program and has committed an additional $875,871 to the seventh phase of the initiative. The program is operated between USTDA, Federal Aviation Administ... Obsolete containership departs Beaumont site The combination container vesselOhiowill depart the U.S. Maritime Administration's Beaumont, Texas, reserve fleet on Tuesday.The vessel was recently sold for recycling to ESCO Marine, and its departure will reduce the number of "non-retention" vess... Crowley adds containers Crowley Maritime Corp.'s liner services group will add 500 new containers to its equipment fleet to better serve the growing needs of shippers in Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Central America. Once received, the company's equipment fleet will i... New cargo ship to join Military Sealift Command TheUSNS William McLean,the newest ship in the U.S. Navy's Lewis and Clark-class of dry cargo/ammunition ships, was launched at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego during a naming ceremony on Saturday.McLeanis the 12th of a projected ... Hapag-Lloyd, OOCL transatlantic peak-loader German container line Hapag-Lloyd said last week it will offer what it calls "an extra loader voyage" in May on its SLCS2 service between Northern Europe and Montreal. The service is run in conjunction with OOCL, one of Hapag-Lloyd's partners in t... CMA CGM to raise transpacific rates CMA CGM said Monday it will seek to raise rates on a host of trades, including the eastbound transpacific, beginning May 1. The rate increases are: ' From Asia and the Indian Subcontinent to the west coast of North America, $400 per dry 40-foot co... 2010 liner profits nearly wipe out 2009 losses The world's top 25 container lines pocketed nearly $14 billion in profits in 2010, according to estimates from the maritime consultancyAlphaliner.The estimates include earnings from the six lines among the top 25 that don't publicly report their pr... Negotiated rate agreement ruling

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APRIL 19, 2011
Key Mediterranean conference ready to focus on opportunities Upcoming Athens conference explores how the bunker market is responding to regulatory and other challenges, and debates whether the Mediterranean should be an ECA. Bunker markets down in the Middle East In Cape Town, deliveries available for supply up to and including May 3. Rotterdam and Hamburg bunker prices fall Hamburg quiet with only a couple of enquiries. New tanker will 'expand' bunker supplier's logistics chain 5,000 dwt vessel to supply bunkers in St. Petersburg and regional ports. New TWI figures available Viswa Lab's latest fuel quality benchmarking suggests over $200 pmt difference in value. US naval vessels to be given 'Bunkers Easy Acquisition Card' Defense Department wants to make bunker buying simpler. Maintenance agreement to focus on 'fuel economy' W'rtsil' says agreement with Royal Caribbean is the largest such deal it has with a marine customer. Bunker prices dip in key ports Demand generally 'average', say traders. Bunkerworld hosts reception during SMW Over 120 leading marine fuel industry players attended the reception. MRPL sells second 380 cSt parcel at lower premiums Lower premiums attributed to higher Western arbitrage inflows, traders say. WTSA lists guidelines on shipping contract negotiations Checklist recommends clearly defining bunker fuel surcharges throughout contract period. Cargo delays squeezing Hong Kong bunker supplies ExxonMobil, Chevron and Sinopec cargoes now expected next week, traders say.