News 2009 March 4

Container throughput of National Container Company down 34% to 178,665 TEU in Jan-Feb 09

Ports of Azov-and-Don basin increased cargo transshipment by 48% to 972,600 t in Jan-Feb 09

Demand for tanker transportation to fall by 10% in 2009 – expert

Royal Caribbean unit agrees 444 mln euro loan

Dubai posts 31% growth in maritime business transactions in 2008

YICT launches Changping – Yantian Express service

Maersk maintains interest in PTP

Armada Singapore offers to pay some creditors 32.5% of debt

DryShips halves sale price of Panamax vessel

Private firm plans to make a US$150 million investment into Oakland port

Zim appoints new CEO

German navy arrests nine pirates off Somalia

Azerbaijan's SOCAR boosts oil product exports 19% in Jan-Feb 09

Northern Sea Route to charge shipping companies

Sea cargo transport up 31% in Azerbaijan in Jan 09

Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline exports 385,640 t of oil in in Jan-Feb 09

Sakhalin II signs LNG supply deal with Osaka Gas

RF Government establishes customs dues for second-hand specialized mototransport vehicles

Net profit of TransContainer up 75% to RUR 2.68 bln in 2008

FESCO to reduce capital investments US$ 250 mln

Freight volumes on Estonian Railways fell by 11% in February

First phase of Khalifa port to be ready in three years

Japanese shipyard merger postponed

Vinalines signs transport deal with top coal producer

Containerships acquires Contaz Lines

Mitsui O.S.K. halts iron-ore ship orders on demand

Cameroon to double Kribi Sea Port to four terminals

New Chinese VLCC terminal starts operations

Vale starts constructing a US$1.35 billion bulk terminal in Oman

Oil price up to $43.70 in London and to $41.65 in New York

PD Ports commences Felixstowe-Teesport feeder service

Norway detains Russian vessel suspected of ship collision