Europe Intelligence Wire articles from September 2006

Europe Intelligence Wire archives from September 2006

New project may see tankers carrying gas.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) A UNIQUE solution for carrying liquefied gas has been developed by independent start-up SeaOne Maritime, which will convert three 150,000 dwt suezmax oil tankers into 'compressed gas liquid carriers', writes Hugh...

Pullmantur deal fuels RCCL's drive into Europe.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: € 700m Spanish acquisition boosts earnings forecasts and shares, writes Sandra Speares CRUISE lines' drive into the European market continues with Royal Caribbean's move to buy Spain's largest cruise...

US cruise growth hits slow patch in 2005.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) GROWTH in the US cruise industry slowed last year on the back of fewer newbuildings and weather conditions, according to the latest economic impact study by the International Council of Cruise Lines, writes Sandra...

NCL stays tight-lipped over takeover speculation.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Potential sale to MSC would create operation with fleet of about 23 ships and newbuildings, writes Rajesh Joshi in New York NORWEGIAN Cruise Line yesterday refused to comment on market rumours suggesting that...

Saigon Port and SSA Marine venture gets Vietnam approval.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) THE Vietnamese government has approved a third joint venture with Saigon Port to develop deepwater berths at Cai Mep, this time with SSA Marine, writes Marcus Hand in Singapore . Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan...

SCOR hits expansion goal with 42% net income jump.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) STRONG growth in property and casualty and liability reinsurance helped the French SCOR group to a 42% increase in net income to €102m ($120m) in the first half, writes Andrew Spurrier in Paris. It singled out...

Aon Global Marine gives its cargo broking division special status.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Expertise to be pooled in worldwide network in an 'often undervalued' field, writes James Brewer AON Global Marine has put its cargo broking division on a pedestal to distinguish it from common-or-garden...

Singapore shipping fund yields 'to fall'.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Marcus Hand in Singapore YIELD rates from Singapore shipping funds are expected to fall from the present high 9% rate set by the first such fund, the Pacific Shipping Trust, according to bankers. ...

Le Havre towage row heads back to court.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Andrew Spurrier in Paris WOULD-be port of Le Havre towage newcomer SNRH is to return to court in an attempt to reverse the port authority's latest decision to withdraw its operating permit. A hearing is...

In Brief.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Tianjin profit slump SHANGHAI-listed bulker operator, Tianjin Marine Shipping, saw net profit slump to Yuan11.75m ($147m) in the first half of this year, down from Yuan45.67m a year earlier, writes Keith Wallis in...

Wellington raises stamp and dividend.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) WELLINGTON, one of the strongest supporters of the Lloyd's market, plans to increase its stamp to GBP850m ($1.5bn) next year from GBP800m in the light of a strong turnaround in its energy book and confidence in a...

Bunker 60 expands into low sulphur fuel coverage.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) LLOYD'S List Bunker 60 has expanded its coverage to include low sulphur fuel prices at ports across Europe and the Mediterranean as well as extending its British ports coverage and adding a further member to its broker...

Lloyd's Ship Manager sheds new light on safety and impact of emission rules.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Exclusive interviews and sharp insights by our columnists keep you abreast of developments in shipmanagement SAFETY, human resource management, the impact of tighter emission regulations and questions over...

Don't panic on EU tramp plans says Penn.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Commission starts work on rules covering pools and other forms of alliance between shipowners operating non-liner services, writes Janet Porter A DETAILED analysis of global shipping markets has been...

Former Odfjell boss who went to prison takes over at Frontline.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: David Osler FRONTLINE has appointed Bjorn Sjaastad, the former Odfjell boss who went to prison in connection with the chemical tanker cartel scandal, as its chief executive. Mr Sjaastad replaces Oscar...

Stranded Edco crew faces longer ordeal.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) THE Egyptian crew of a bulk carrier stranded in Charleston for more than two months face three further weeks on board following a court ruling that the vessel must be sold, writes David Osler. District judge David...

Kursiu Linija in service shake-up.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) SHORTSEA operator Kursiu Linija is concentrating British calls at Immingham and adding an extra weekly Rotterdam call, writes Janet Porter. From this month the Lithuanian line controlled by Eimskip will stop going...

Caution is urged over China yard ascendance.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Nation to become shipbuilding world leader within 10 years but 'investment risks will be high', writes Hugh O'Mahony CHINESE shipbuilders remain on track to emerge as world leaders within a decade but...

Suezmax honeymoon comes to abrupt halt.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Mike Grinter in Hong Kong Tankers AFTER a bumper week for suezmax owners last week, the wind has dropped out of their sails and the balance is turning in the cargo owners' favour. 'The nice balance...

Strong revival of capesize rates continues.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Keith Wallis in Hong Kong DryTrade CAPESIZE rates have continued to firm this week after the market began one of its periodic recoveries last Thursday. Shipowners saw improvements in all areas,...

Dry Bulk Fixtures.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) TIME CHARTERS Cape Venus (172,612 dwt, 14'52L 15.5'52B, 1996-built) delivery Fancheng 4-6 Sep, redelivery China, $51,500 daily. (Glory Wealth Qingdao) Hebei Forest (149,211 dwt, 13'49L 14'47B, 1989-built)...

MOL unveils extension to its crew training centre.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) MITSUI OSK Lines (MOL) once again managed to command the presence of the Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This time she attended the latest extension of its crew training facilities, which were officially...

Cosco Shipyard Group to join rig newbuild market.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) CHINESE shiprepairer Cosco Shipyard Group expects to enter the oil rig newbuilding market in the next six months, writes Marcus Hand in Singapore . A report by Kim Eng Securities on Singapore-listed Cosco Corp, 51%...

Daewoo in $1.3bn Angola offshore deal.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Mike Grinter in Hong Kong DAEWOO Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, the world's third largest shipbuilder, said yesterday it had signed a contract for a drilling and production platform for Cabinda Gulf...

The long road that promises a new world of energy riches.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Politics is slowing the progress of opening up the Barents Sea to drilling rigs and keeping oil company investments waiting in the wings, writes Martyn Wingrove OIL companies cannot wait to get their hands...

Taking the green road.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) GREEN credentials are increasingly essential in modern business, with every respectable company having to 'show willing' and at least demonstrate that its directors are thinking seriously about lessening their impact on...

A memorial to the past and a beacon of hope for the future.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: A visit to the Longhope Lifeboat Museum on the Orkney island of Hoy is also a personal odyssey for Sandra Speares VISITORS to Orkney extol the virtues of its whisky or condemn the turbulence of its weather....

How to get off Scot free and enjoy the luck of the Irish.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Extreme aspects of health fascism are meeting with resistance, writes Pieter Tesch THE vanguard of the anti-smoking lobby has lately resorted to the Stalinist approach, air brushing history in an attempt to...

Cockett Weekly Bunker Report.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) BUNKER MARKET REPORT Compiled for Lloyd's List by Cockett Marine Oil Ltd Aug 30, 2006 PRICES are current and based on live, average sized, bunker deals. The Cockett Bunker Price Index is based on 1000 as of...

Women reach for high notes in male world.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: As Wista's Singapore conference takes a practical theme, writes James Brewer GINGER Rogers always matched the punishing pace of her dance partner Fred Astaire. He was the choreographer in the perfect...

Jenssen champions safer shipbreaking.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Ingvild Jenssen is co-ordinator for the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking. She became involved with the organisation in September 2005 after it was realised by some of the few non-governmental organisations working on...

Master of her own career who always had sights set on the sea.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: How as a determined teenager Malin Andersson shrugged off a horrible first voyage to become one of only four female shipmasters in Sweden MALIN Andersson has never sailed with a worse crew or shipmaster...

BW's Koh pleased to welcome delegates to Singapore.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Belinda Koh, a senior member of the insurance and legal department at BW Shipping Managers, is delighted to be one of the Wista Singapore committee members who will welcome delegates and visitors from around the world....

Gas Market Report.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) NORTH WEST EUROPE: The market is still in a state of flux over where the prices are going for large propane cargoes with numbers oscillating in the $560-$580 range over the last week. Falls in crude and lack of ullage in...

Blue MBA helps to bridge the gender gap.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Copenhagen Business School has what is described as the world's only part-time executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics. Programme director Irene Rosberg explains why the course is attracting so many women ...

Cadets take rough seas and Easter bunny in their stride.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) TWO officer cadets from the Philippines fell about laughing when the master donned a bunny suit and the bosun wore an Easter egg. Such were the lighter moments for Sherrain Dominguez and Michelle Tam on one of the...

Wiedemann takes pride in her varied responsibilities.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: James Brewer PERSONAL assistant: pah! Secretary is the sensible word, insists Maud Wiedemann. She should know, for she has been one for 42 years, all with the same group, Gothenburg based Stena AB....

Mitropoulos hails memorial to the strength of women.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) HAIL the womenfolk of mariners throughout the ages. Their sacrifices and struggle to survive as the men set out to sea are ever in the thoughts of Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary-general of the International...

Challenging tradition in the London marine sector.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) TRADITION is a great asset to the marine insurance industry but it can be challenging too. Sonja Scantlebury, a consultant with Accredited Services, a London-based organisation which recruits for the Lloyd's and...

Why Indian women seafarers will fight for professional recognition.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) IN India, the need of the hour is for the maritime industry to change its mindset over accepting women as professionals, says Neera Malhotra, who as deputy director general of shipping is in charge of all crew related...

Making opportunities to beat the home-based culture.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: A trade union official explains how women are held back from maritime studies in Indonesia and even when they qualify it is hard to land a job as a seafaring officer MOTHER and father would far rather their...

Key issues of performance and profile.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: How to bring more women into leadership in the maritime world, choosing a personality of the year and the launch of a new website will be highlights of this year's gathering, writes Marita Scott, president of...

Meet a 'first lady' of Stena Line ferries.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Charlotte Ljunggren's career path has led her from stockbroking to a job in the ferry business Educated in the fields of finance and personnel, Ms Ljunggren began her career at a bank, selling stocks and...

Life ashore with all the excitement of a seagoing career.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Worldwide experience has helped Julia Salton win respect in her job as senior personnel officer at Northern Marine Management I BEGAN my seagoing career in 1996, aged 25. I had graduated from the University...

Tanker Fixtures.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) CLEAN Middle East Gulf to South Korea Ocean Korian, 50,000t, W287.5, Sep 20. (Hanwha) South Korea to Hong Kong Seto Eagle, 30,000t, $490000 lumpsum Sep 7. (Charterer not reported) Sikka to UK Continent...

Female take on a unique way of life.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Seafaring life is extraordinary and even more so sometimes for the lone woman on board, writes Jennefer Tobin ALL at sea those were the terms for my research contract; the entire data gathering had to done in...

A rapidly changing scene puts maritime law ahead of the field.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) 'BEING a woman in shipping is not difficult,' explains Carlijn Kortmann (top right). 'The 'woman' part is not the issue. The shipping part is.' Ms Kortmann obtained her master of laws degree at Erasmus...

Singapore is ideal showcase for Wista.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Mei Lin Goh, president of Wista Singapore, and a partner with law firm Watson, Farley ' Williams, says: 'The significance of Asia in the global shipping and offshore industries is clear from the shipbuilding industries...

Eurosal ups its European rates.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Shippers are told that rates will increase by $150 per teu starting from today, writes Rainbow Nelson in Santiago AFTER the success in pushing up rates from the west coast of South America to Asia trade, the...

World Briefing.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Iran defiant IRAN vowed never to shelve its nuclear programme, defying the threat of sanctions as a United Nations deadline fell due for Tehran to stop work that the West fears could lead to atomic bombs. ...

LastWord.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Feeling good FACE time with two influential personalities and the 'feelgood factor' await those attending a September 27 gala dinner organised by the US Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Foundation. With the...

ICTSI still very much in Buenos Aires terminal picture.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: Letters To The Editor From Marcelo J Suarez SIR, Regarding the story 'ICTSI ruled out of Buenos Aires box project' (Lloyd's List, August 29), I would like to draw to your attention that the base...

DNVPS BUNKER QUALITY REPORT.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) BUNKER QUALITY REPORT U'F = unfilterable This Bunker Quality Report is based on samples analysed by DNV Petroleum Services and is an abstract from their more detailed fuel quality statistics publication which...

Piracy hotspots are mapped out online.
September 1, 2006... (From Lloyds List) Byline: David Osler AN ONLINE map of piracy hotspots is now available to masters and owners whose vessels sail in such waters. The International Maritime Bureau, behind the project, said the aim is to offer...

Beslan Tries to Cope, 2 Years On.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) BESLAN, North Ossetia -- School No. 1 stands in ruins. People still come from around the world to place fresh flowers and bottles and jars full of water on the school grounds. Two years ago Friday, terrorists...

Chukotka Wonders What's Next.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) Editor's Note: This is the first of three reports about Chukotka. LAVRENTIA, Chukotka Region -- Unbeknown to most of the world, the residents of Chukotka are deeply worried. They wonder what will happen when...

Ivanov to Oversee Air Safety.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov has been put in charge of improving civil and military flight safety in the country following three deadly plane crashes in the past four months, Interfax reported Thursday. "We...

On City Day, Jazz and Laser Shows.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) More than 2 million Muscovites are expected to attend an unprecedented 2,000 jazz, rock and classical music concerts commemorating the city's 859th birthday this weekend. Other high-profile events celebrating...

Beslan Anniversary Stirs Fears.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) With the second anniversary of the Beslan tragedy stoking fears about school safety, authorities are promising better security at the nation's education facilities. "In every region, work is being done to...

Kommersant Editors Fear Changes.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) Senior Kommersant editors Thursday cast doubt on Alisher Usmanov's claim that he would not tamper with the newspaper's editorial policy after he acquired it. "It would be too early to say now whether I believe...

2 Alfa Firms Put Under One Roof.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) Following this week's resignation of Alfa Capital chairman Bernard Sucher, the asset management firm on Thursday announced its consolidation with private equity group Alfa Capital Partners. Alfa Capital denied...

S&P Sees More LNG in Europe.
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) Western Europe will increasingly look toward liquefied natural gas shipments to reduce its dependence on pipeline deliveries from Gazprom and other suppliers, Standard & Poor's said Thursday in a report. ...

When the Cats Are at the Dacha ...
September 1, 2006... (From The Moscow Times) To Our ReadersThe Moscow Times welcomes letters to the editor. Letters for publication should be signed and bear the signatory's address and telephone number. Letters to the editor should be sent by fax to...

File your Self Assessment Return now... and let the Taxman do the sums.
September 1, 2006... (From Government News Network (Was Hermes-Government Press Releases)) ] HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS Ref:NAT 51/06 30 August 2006 File your Self Assessment Return now... and let the Taxman do the sums If you're one of the nine million people...

Children consulted on making family courts more child friendly.
September 1, 2006... (From Government News Network (Was Hermes-Government Press Releases)) ] DEPARTMENT FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS 220/06 31 August 2006 Children consulted on making family courts more child friendly Young people are going to be asked their...

File your self assessment return now... and let the taxman do the sums.
September 1, 2006... (From Government News Network (Was Hermes-Government Press Releases)) ] HM REVENUE AND CUSTOMS HMRC NI 28/06 31 August 2006 File your self assessment return now... and let the taxman do the sums If you're one of the estimated 212,000...

Microsoft awards execs stock grants.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SEATTLE (AFX) - Several high-ranking Microsoft Corp. executives Thursday received millions of dollars in stock awards as part of a compensation program that the company rejiggered several years ago. Three...

Lockheed Martin wins NASA contract.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) WASHINGTON (AFX) - NASA's newest lunar spaceship will look like and operate like an old Apollo capsule. But in hiring a new builder of the Apollo-like ship, the nation's space agency passed over the companies that...

Australian shares outlook - Higher led by resources on commodity price gains.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SYDNEY (XFN-ASIA) - Share prices are expected to open modestly higher led by the resources sector with gains likely tempered by a weaker close on Wall Street where investors sold stocks overnight as they shrugged...

Golden West meeting is end of an era.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX UK (Focus)) OAKLAND, Calif. (AFX) - Golden West Financial Corp. shareholders approved the company's sale to Wachovia Corp. Thursday, moving a step closer to ending the 43-year reign of the savings and loan's folksy co-chief...

Japan's Nikon sees record H1 operating profit on SLR camera sales - report.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Nikon Corp is expected to post a record operating profit of nearly 40 bln yen for the first half ending September, 41 pct more than a year before and 10 bln yen more than previously forecast,...

RPT - Tokyo shares outlook - Weaker on caution ahead of US jobs data.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX UK (Focus)) - (Repeating to clarify reference to weaker yen in 3rd para) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Share prices are expected to open lower following modest losses on Wall Street overnight and as market players exercise caution ahead...

Workers vote to end strike at Chile mine.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SANTIAGO, Chile (AFX) - Workers at Chile's La Escondida mine -- responsible for about 8 percent of world copper output -- on Thursday voted to end their 25-day strike, a labor union official reported. ...

Nippon Steel, Nippon Oil to develop Australian coal mine - report.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - Nippon Steel Corp and Nippon Oil Corp will develop a new mining area at an existing coal mine in Australia jointly with major Swiss mining firm Xstrata PLC and others, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun...

Strike ends at Chilean copper mine.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SANTIAGO, Chile (AFX) - Workers at Chile's La Escondida mine -- responsible for about 8 percent of world copper output -- on Thursday voted to end their 25-day strike, a labor union official reported. ...

Microsoft awards executives millions.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SEATTLE (AFX) - Several high-ranking Microsoft Corp. executives Thursday received millions of dollars in stock awards as part of a compensation program that the company rejiggered several years ago. Three...

Workers vote to end strike at Chile mine.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SANTIAGO, Chile (AFX) - Workers at Chile's La Escondida mine -- responsible for about 8 percent of world copper output -- on Thursday voted to end their 25-day strike, a labor union official reported. ...

Iran says IAEA report 'not negative', vows more enrichment.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TEHRAN (XFN-ASIA) - The UN nuclear watchdog's report on Iran's atomic program was "not negative", the deputy chief of Iran's nuclear agency said, vowing to continue uranium enrichment for research purposes. ...

CBS unit launches Web sports channels.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) NEW YORK (AFX) - Football and other sporting events from dozens of colleges and universities will be available live over the Internet through a service launching Friday. Notre Dame games will be free,...

Czech press survey.
September 1, 2006... (From Czech News Agency) Prague, Sept 1 (CTK) - President Vaclav Klaus has been surprisingly passive, although the nation has no government for three months, Jan Machacek writes in Mlada fronta Dnes (MfD) about Klaus's role in the...

New government should be temporary - Havel.
September 1, 2006... (From Czech News Agency) Adds paras 8-12. -------------------- Prague, Aug 31 (CTK) - Former president Vaclav Havel is of the view that the new government should be temporary and it should not include top party officials, Havel told Czech...

Pentagon moves toward monitoring media.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) WASHINGTON (AFX) - The U.S. command in Baghdad is seeking bidders for a two-year, $20 million public relations contract that calls for monitoring the tone of Iraq news stories filed by U.S. and foreign media....

Strike ends at Chilean copper mine.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) SANTIAGO, Chile (AFX) - Workers at Chile's La Escondida mine -- responsible for about 8 percent of world copper output -- on Thursday voted to end their 25-day strike, a labor union official reported. ...

All Nippon Airways raises fuel surcharge.
September 1, 2006... (From AFX Europe (Focus)) TOKYO (XFN-ASIA) - All Nippon Airways Co Ltd (ANA), Japan's second largest carrier, said it will raise a fuel surcharge on tickets for the second time this year due to high oil costs. The increased surcharge,...