Iron Ore
JFE’s Ship Unit Targets Orders for Five Vessels
JFE Holdings Inc.’s shipbuilding unit is reportedly aiming to win orders for as many as five iron ore carriers, according to a report on www.businessweek.com. Iron-ore carriers including Nippon Yusen K.K. and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. are expanding dry-bulk fleets to tap demand for the steelmaking material. Exports of the ore from Australia, the world’s largest shipper, are forecast to rise at an average annual rate of 7 percent to 2015, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics said March 2. (Source: www.businessweek.com)
Iron-Ore Ship Rates Rise as China Spends
Iron-Ore carrier daily rates rebound as China spends US$158-billion. Iron-ore ships are poised to earn more than operating costs for the first time this year as rates rally on speculation Chinese steel mills will accelerate imports because of a 1 trillion-yuan ($158 billion) building program, reports Bloomberg Business News. Capesizes, each carrying 160,000 metric tons of ore, will earn $12,500 a day in the fourth quarter
China's Demand Slows, BDI Index Unlikely to Jump
According to a London report issued Aug. 14, dry bulk freight rate index climbed by 2.5% on Friday at Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange, a moderate rise for two consecutive days. Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) indicated in its report that China's bulk commodity import will slow down, and that China's bulk material import is predicted to drop from record high and slacken afterwards, according to Financial Times, Aug. 17.
Largest New Shipping Order
China's largest private shipbuilder has signed this year’s biggest deal in terms of dead weight tons, according to the company. Jiangsu Rongsheng Heavy Industries Group signed a contract Friday with Oman Shipping to build four iron ore carriers, each with a dead weight of 400,000 tons. The deal is the second largest for the company after a contract for 12 iron ore carriers was inked with Brazilian mining giant Vale last August
SKorean Shipbuilders Lower on Steel Price Concerns
Shares of shipbuilders and automakers were lower in late morning trading as investors react belatedly to the possible increase in steel prices, reports indicated Hyundai Heavy Industries was down 4,500 won or 1.2 percent at 380,000 won, Samsung Heavy Industries was off 600 won or 1.9 percent to 30,400 won and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering fell 300 won or 0.8 percent to 39,300 won. Hyundai Motor was down 1,300 won or 1.9 percent at 67,600 won and Kia Motors down 50 won or 0
China & Brazil Sign $1.6B Shipbuilding Pact
Brazilian mining giant Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (Vale) reportedly signed a $1.6 billion agreement with Chinese Rongsheng Shipbuilding and Heavy Industries to build 12 large ore carriers, according to a report on Xinhua. The ships, each with a 400,000 dwt capacity, are the largest ore carriers to be built in the world. The fleet will have an estimated capacity to carry 30.2 million metric tons of iron ore per year, which represents 31 percent of Vale's shipments to China in 2007
Iron Ore Carrier Ore Sao Luis Completed
Tokyo—Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. announced the completion of the 297,000-ton iron ore carrier Ore Sao Luis at the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation, Ariake Shipyard. The Ore Sao Luis will transport iron ore from Brazil mainly to China, under a long-term contract with Vale. Among those on hand for the naming and delivery ceremonies were Vale International General Manager, Shipping, Pietro Allevato, who named the vessel
Great Lakes Iron Ore Dips in Oct
Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 5.7 million net tons in October, a slight decrease from both a year ago and the month’s 5-year average. Shipments from Canadian Seaway ports reacted much quicker to the downturn in steel production, falling some 32 percent from a year ago. U.S. ports actually outperformed a year ago, but shipments did start to fall off in the final week of October. For the year, the Great Lakes iron ore trade stands at 51
Large Dry Bulker Shipbuilding Prices Up in April
During April, 2013 new build prices for capesize, kamsarmax and ultramax vessels rose higher than in the previous month. Purchase prices for ships are often good indicators of financial health in the shipping industry. When shipping demand is expected to grow more than the supply of ships, shipping companies will place additional orders, which drives up purchase prices, reports Xun Yao Chen, Industrials Analyst at 'Market Realist'
Slight Increase in U.S.-Flag Carriage In November
U.S.-Flag lakers hauled 11 million tons of various dry-bulk cargos in November, a slight increase (1.8 percent) compared to last year. With now five straight months of increases, U.S.-Flag carriers have moved nearly 91 million tons of cargo and narrowed the gap between this and last year to 2.2 percent. Iron ore shipments in U.S. bottoms totaled 5 million tons in November, an increase of nearly 17 percent. However, as has been stated before
U.S.-Flag Cargo Movement on Lakes Up in May
U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 10.1 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in May, an increase of 3.3% compared to the corresponding period last year. The May float was also largely in line with the month’s long-term average.
Tideland Solar Buoys Mark Wrecks in Norwegian Arctic
Two SB-138P polyethylene buoys with solar-powered ML-140 LED lanterns from Tideland Signal are being used to mark wrecks in the approaches to the port of Narvik in the far north of Norway. The new SB-138P buoys are replacing old battery-operated steel buoys from the 1980s that required
Krill Wins Multi-boat Contract for Hydrovias
Krill Systems Inc., a compny in Vessel Fuel Measurement and Monitoring Systems (VFMMS), announces that it was awarded a contract to supply and install multi-point VFMMS systems onboard inland waterways push-boats being constructed by Uzmar Shipyard in Izmit, Turkey for Hydrovias do Brazil.
Açu Superport: A Modern Port Concept for Brazil
Brazil “Rotterdam of the Tropics” After spending a day exploring the sprawling Açu Superport and Industrial Complex construction site far up the northeast coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro courtesy of LLX and OSX, Claudio Paschoa
Great Lakes Ore Trade Down Nine Percent in April
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.6 million tons in April, a decrease of 9% compared to a year ago. However, loadings were 11% ahead of the month’s five-year average. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 4.9 million tons, a decrease of 9.5% compared to a year ago
Ice Slows Resumption of Great Lakes Stone Trade
Heavy ice cover on the lakes that stretched well into April slowed resumption of the limestone trade. Shipments totaled only 1.8 million tons, a decrease of 28% compared to a year ago. Loadings are 21% off the month’s five-year average.
Chinese Ship Agency Reports Profit Tumble
Non-state company, Sino-Global, announces major decline in third quarter 2013 financial results, raises cash by share issue. Sino-Global is a non-state-owned provider of shipping agency services operating primarily in China. Financial highlights are as folllows:
Robert Allan Designs Tug for Rio Tinto
The Pilbara Apollo, the latest addition to the RAstar 3200 escort tug series was delivered to its owners, Rio Tinto Ltd., earlier this year. The vessel was constructed at Uzmar Shipbuilding Industry Co. in Turkey and will operate at Rio Tinto’s iron ore export facilities at Cape Lambert
Boskalis Wins Huge Offshore Philippines Contract
Royal Boskalis Westminster wins a Shell Philippines Exploration contract to install an offshore Depletion Compression Platform. The contract to be executed for the Malampaya Project off the coast of Palawan Island, in the Republic of the Philippines, includes seabed preparation, rock installation
Greek Opportunists on Iron-ore Carrier Buying Spree
Greek shipowners order construction of iron-ore carriers in the belief that the 5-year charter-rate slump is coming to an end. The companies ordered 12 Capesizes last quarter, the most since the beginning of 2008, according to data from Golden Destiny SA, a shipbroker in Piraeus, Greece
Iron Ore Carriers Head for Port of Long Beach
Iron ore exports start up at Long Beach: Western U.S. mines supply the raw material for shipment to Asia. Officials gathered dockside to celebrate the exporting of iron ore from the Port of Long Beach – a promising new line of business developed by SA Recycling
Vale’s Valemax Ships Regain Admittance to Asian Ports
Vale SA of Brazil said it has increased access of its Valemax iron ore carriers to Asian ports. The company even docked one of its ships in China where a ban on the giant vessels has been in effect for more than a year, Reuters.com reported.
2012 Pacesetter Winners Announced
The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) announced that eight Great Lakes Seaway System ports are receiving the prestigious Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Award for registering increases in international cargo tonnage shipped through their ports during the 2012 navigation season
U.S.-Flag Lakers Down Seven Percent
U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 2.2 million tons of dry-bulk cargo in March, a decrease of 7% compared to 2012. However, the fleet’s March float was marginally ahead of the month’s five-year average.
Great Lakes Ore Trade Down 11.3% in March
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 1.9 million tons in March, a decrease of 11.3% from a year ago. Loadings were 9.3% ahead of the month’s five-year average, however. Shipments from U.S. ports totaled 1.8 million tons, a decrease of 9.7% compared to a year ago