Shanghai: China Shipping Group arm China Shipping Development Co Ltd says it has signed a 10-year contract with China Petroleum and Chemical Corp (Sinopec) to carry crude imports into China. The long-term contract is intended to limit the impact...

Tokyo: The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) reports that interest is steadily growing in this year's annual conference to be held at the Hotel New Otani complex in central Tokyo September 17-20, hosted by the General Insurance...

Bahrain: Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Co (ASRY) reports it is on target for another record annual result after the first half closed on a 'hectic' note with high demand for all the docks and alongside repair services. In all some 4...

Dubai: An IPO by independent tanker company Gulf Navigation Holding opens today In Dubai, hoped to raise Dh910m ($245m). The money raised will go towards planned new orders worth around $1bn for seven VLCCS and six chemical carriers of around 50...

Hong Kong: Overseas Orient Container Line parent OOIL has said its units will order four 4,500teu boxships worth $264m from Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea. The two groups enjoy a close relationship, OCCL having received its 10th 8,063teu SX...

Hamburg: Heavy-lift and project cargo specialist Rickmer-Linie reports a 40% increase in freight tonnes handled in 2005, much of it attributed to 'the booming trades in the Middle East and India.' The company has four, new-generation...

Muscat:  The Government of the Sultanate of Oman has signed an agreement with MOL for a 50% ownership stake in two joint-venture tanker companies. The state-run Oman Shipping Company (OSC) will lease an 83,000cu mtr LPG carrier and a 110,000dwt...

Shanghai: Hudong-Zhongua has begun construction of what is reported to be a 8,530teu containership, the largest vessel of this type ever to be built in China, for delivery by end 2007. So far nine of the design (previously reported as somewhat...

Hong Kong: CSAV Norasia has launched a new SuperGalex service connecting central and southern China to the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East offering one of the fastest transit times to Northwest India from east Asia (Chiwan to Nhava Sheva...

Tokyo: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has announced an agreement under which M.S. Tanker Shipping Limited, a joint-venture company with China's Sinotrans, will own a newly built double-hulled Malacca-Max type very large crude carrier (VLCC). The 310...