Ship Charterer

Oil Majors To Supply Tanker Status Reports

A group of 41 oil majors will make their tanker inspection reports available to port examiners in Europe. They also aim to ensure higher standards for their shared reporting system as part of a raft of initiatives to ensure greater tanker safety in the wake of the Erika incident. SIRE (ship inspection reports) do not pass or fail vessels on structural issues but concern operating standards. The Paris MOU is Europe's agreement by which unsafe ships are detained by individual countries' port-based inspectors until repaired. But it is expected that the European Union to increase sanctions on oil companies as ship charterers in the wake of the pollution affecting France's coast from the TotalFina-chartered tanker Erika which broke up in December OCIMF intends to strengthen its report program to overcome criticism by some oil companies that were not convinced their inspection standards were matched by others. The organization will introduce a system of accreditation by examination for its inspectors by the end of the year. The vessel inspection program is also being extended to cover smaller vessels that can operate either as petroleum or chemical carriers. Up to 300 such ships operating in northern Europe and the Mediterranean would be affected.

Advice for Charterers as Legal Liabilities Grow

A surge in the volume of fixed premium business managed by the UK P&I Club and the proportion accounted for by time chartering has highlighted the growth and complexity of insuring these types of shipping operation. The financial results for the year ended February 20th 2007, discussed by the UK Club’s directors earlier this month (May), revealed that $65 million of the Club’s total gross premium income ($358 million) was fixed premium business----and that two-thirds of this came from

Capesize Rates Firm

Capesize rates firmed again worldwide but brokers said charterers were increasingly conducting business under the counter. Panamax rates were also firmer east of Suez with both Chinese and Japanese charterers active in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, while Atlantic handysize conditions remained in the doldrums, they added. The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) rose 10 points to 1,491, the Baltic panamax Index gained one point to 1,419, The Baltic Capesize Index jumped up 27 points to 2

Aries Maritime Provides Update on its Fleet Deployment

Aries Maritime Transport Limited announced an update on its fleet deployment. The Bora, a 2000-built double-hull products tanker, returned to service last week following the completion of works, which included dry-docking repairs and upgrades, as previously announced. The vessel is being deployed in the spot market, while period charter opportunities are explored. The cost of repairs is expected to total approximately $1.4m.

Period Contracts Rise

There has been a marked increase in period contracts since January 2000. Not only has period chartering activity increased, but the length of the periods has also increased and there have again been several contracts above one-year. It is also interesting to see that it is the trader VITOL that has been one of the most active time charterers with 11 contracts, of six months and above, recorded since the beginning of 2000. We have recorded 8 contracts for another trader, Alpine

Is Your Email Putting You at Risk?

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) says that shipbrokers run the risk of exposure to substantial liabilities as a result of inadequate monitoring of their email communications. In the latest issue of its Claims Review, ITIC cites the case of a shipbroker acting for a shipowner which had a demurrage claim against charterers. The charter party included a 60-day notification period and a 90-day time-bar for documented claims

Far East Holidays Cripple Shipbrokers' Forecasts

The panamax market is clouded by the prospect of Far Eastern holidays in less than two weeks, shipbrokers said on Wednesday. Brokers are unwilling to give forecasts beyond April 29 - the start of Golden Week. "We made it through Easter unscathed, but Golden Week is a different matter. Every year we're shocked at the slack trade, it's like we forget how important the Far Eastern market is," a broker said. Inquiry for Pacific basin panamaxes remained slow with modern tonnage hoping for $11

Siba Ships Asia expands Bulk Fleet

SINGAPORE-based Siba Ships Asia is has taken delivery of its first two ships, the sister handymax bulk carriers MV Fomalhaut and MV Eltanin, ex Brave Imperial and Brave SV. The geared 46,700 dwt 1999-built vessels have both been reflagged to Singapore and will go on charter to a major charterer for a two year period. "These two modern ships boost our presence in the bulk market, which is especially strong in Asia for flexible handymaxes like these," explains

Attachment of Maritime Lien for Breach of Charter Party

A lesson in admiralty law was provided by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit when it ruled that a maritime lien for breach of a charter party attaches when the vessel is placed at the charterer's disposal. In the instant case, a vessel owner entered into a time charter and accordingly delivered the vessel. The vessel was then sold to a third party (subject to the time charter) and the new owner obtained a mortgage loan on the vessel

Gulf Harbor Shipping Opens New Office

Gulf Harbor Shipping, L.L.C., a full service tramp, tanker and project cargo shipping agency has opened a new office located in the World Trade Center, suite 2101, No. 2 Canal Street, New Orleans, La., 70130. Founded by a former Executive and Managers of a major shipping agency company, Gulf Harbor will target charterers and ship owners needing customized representation on the lower Mississippi River and the U.S. Gulf Coast.