Bulk Division News

Greek shipowner the Angelicoussis Group announced its dry bulk division has taken delivery of its first dual-fuel Capesize bulk carrier.Ubuntu Unity was officially handed over to its Maran Dry Management (MDM) from Chinese shipbuilder Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (SWS) on February 28, 2023.The newbuild is 299.9 meters long with a 47.5-meter beam and cargo capacity of about 190,000 metric tons. It is classed by DNV and flies the Greek flag.A sister vessel, Ubuntu Community, is scheduled to be delivered to MDM from SWS in the coming months.

Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) held its annual Dry Bulk Safety Conference at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo to share safety awareness and review trouble response for dry bulk vessels.A total of 75 participants from 41 Japanese shipowners and ship-management companies attended.The conference has been held every year since 2010 to promote safety through the exchange of ideas and the sharing of information about recent incidents with shipowners and ship-management company personnel in charge of vessel management.The Dry Bulk Division’s goal is to become the world’s leading dry bulk fleet, and to achieve this aim…

Japanese shipping and logistics company Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) said that its bulk Shipping division recorded lower profit than previous year.In the first quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 (April 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019), its revenues from the bulk shipping  amounted to 195.1 billion yen registering -11.3 decrease compared to the same period last year. The profit is down by -1.2 at 9.2 billion yen"Energy and Car transport is robust but lower dry bulk market due to production stoppage in Brazil and Western Australia," it said.However, its container liner profitability improved by ONE’s increasing Liftings/Utilization…

NYK president Tadaaki Naito called for promoting environmental issues and the utilization of IoT. "I hope to advance the group’s activities with a focus particularly on the keywords 'green' and 'digitalization' this year," he said. "We are already making progress in both fields, and pressing forward to promote their use in practical operations that will allow us to realize a wide range of ideas and further differentiate ourselves," Tadaaki added. ONE, the joint venture company for liner integration, will aim to commence services from April this year, and the difficult work of bringing the company to life is continuing. It is most important for the NYK Group to provide full support to these efforts.

Following the naming of its new cement carrier, MV Aotearoa Chief, in New Zealand yesterday, The China Navigation Company (CNCo) christened its last newbuild, MV Tunsin, on 16 November at the Imabari Shipyard in Japan. Tunsin is the 241st CNCo newbuilding and the 86th vessel in this series. CNCo ordered four handysize bulk carriers (Imbari38 loggers) from Imabari Shipbuilding in 2014. Deliveries of the first three vessels, MV Taiyuan, MV Tientsin and MV Tsingtao took place between July and October this year. The names chosen for the vessels reflect CNCo’s long history in the Asia Pacific region since its first ships sailed on the Yangtze River in 1872. MV Tunsin was named by lady sponsor, Sara Cutler, wife of Robert Cutler, Staff Director of John Swire & Sons Ltd.

The China Navigation Company (CNCo) christened its last newbuild bulk carriers, MV Tunsin, on 16 November at the Imabari Shipyard in Japan. Tunsin is the 241st CNCo newbuilding and the 86th vessel in this series. CNCo ordered four handysize bulk carriers (Imbari38 loggers) from Imabari Shipbuilding in 2014. Deliveries of the first three vessels, MV Taiyuan, MV Tientsin and MV Tsingtao took place between July and October this year. The names chosen for the vessels reflect CNCo’s long history in the Asia Pacific region since its first ships sailed on the Yangtze River in 1872. MV Tunsin was named by lady sponsor, Sara Cutler, wife of Robert Cutler, Staff Director of John Swire & Sons Ltd.

Japan's Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has posted a $277.5mln extraordinary loss in the third quarter of year ended 31 March 2016 as it reduced the book value of its fleet inline with current market prices and expectations. The extraordinary loss came after it re-assessed the recoverable value of its dry bulk vessels. In the global shipping industry, an oversupply in the container shipping market continued due to ongoing steady production of new ultra-large vessels, and freight rates in the shipping market fell to very low levels as a result of a widening gap between supply and demand. Conditions in the dry bulk carrier market were extremely harsh, with market demand remaining stagnant as the slowdown in China led to a decline in shipping traffic.

NORDANA Project and Chartering (NPC) and Rickmers (Japan) Inc. announced jointly that Rickmers (Japan) Inc. was nominated as sole General Agent of NORDANA Project and Chartering in Japan effective from June 15, 2015. NORDANA’s name is taken from its NORwegian and DANish background. The company started business in 1957 and its Asian Head Office is located in Thailand. Nordana is part of the Weco Group which consists of amongst others tankers (StenaWeco), RoRos, a bulk division and multipurpose tweendeckers. Weco Group operates more than 90 vessels and is a privately owned company. NORDANA owns and operates a fleet of more than 25 Breakbulk and Heavy Lift Multipurpose tweendeck vessels with an average age of four years…

The company cited overcapacity in the market and difficult economic operating conditions as the main drivers behind the decision. While, shipping remains the main activity of the group, the focus would shift towards break bulk shipping, as it a viable and sustainable division with good prospects of further growth. “The global liner industry is struggling with the depressed freight rates to meet operating costs,” the firm said in a filing to the Kuala Lumpar Stock exchange. “The container liner industry has long been suffering since the economic crisis and overcapacity in the market is still evident. The exit process would involve withdrawal from various trade routes, termination of related service and operational contracts, as well as the disposal of container shipping related assets.

Thome Ship Management has been awarded a Green Environmental Achievement Award by the Port of Long Beach, California, for high standards in performance during 2013. Yatin Gangla, Chief Operating Officer Bulk Division said, “This award is presented to operators whose vessels call at the Port of Long Beach and who have demonstrated that 90% or more of the vessels have complied with the Voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction Program. In recognition of this achievement, Thome has received…

In its interim financial report TransAtlantic states that the Group's liquidity situation is strained and it has been in breach with certain covenants during the third quarter, but it has received waivers from relevant banks. The Group presented a positive quarterly result which relates to Viking Supply Ships operational profit of SEK 100 M. Rederi AB TransAtlantic (STO:RABTB)(OSE:VSS01) entered into an agreement with AtoB@C Shipping AB where TransAtlantic effectively outsources all commercial activities of its Short Sea Bulk division, starting September 1, 2013.

Sweden's Rederi AB TransAtlantic has entered into an agreement with AtoB@C Shipping AB where TransAtlantic effectively outsources all the commercial activities of its Short Sea Bulk division, starting September 1, 2013. Additionally, the agreement sets the terms for the chartering out all of TransAtlantic’s short sea bulk vessels to AtoB@C. TransAtlantic’s strategy is to become a more dominant player in key markets by focusing on the Baltic RoRo and Container segments. Entering into the agreement with AtoB@C fits very well with this strategy and is part of TransAtlantic’s restructuring and repositioning program. TransAtlantic will continue to have ownership of its current short sea bulk fleet and also continue the current charters of short sea bulk vessels.

Wärtsilä, the marine industry's leading solutions and services provider, has been contracted to supply propulsion packages for 24 new vessels being built for the Singapore based China Navigation Co. Pte. Ltd (CNCo). The ships are being built at the Chengxi and Zhejiang Ouhua shipyards in China, and the contracts were signed with Wärtsilä licensee Hudong Heavy Machinery (HHM) in 2012 and during the first half of this year. All vessels will be fitted with electronically controlled Wärtsilä two-stroke common-rail main engine systems…

Thome Ship Management Announces Series of Senior Key Appointments. Thome Ship Management, one of the world’s leading independent third party ship managers, has appointed Steffen Tunge as Director and new Chief Operating Officer for its Tanker Fleet. His appointment is effective immediately. Steffen Tunge’s arrival at Thome brings onboard a vast amount of experience from the tanker industry and he will add valuable hands-on experience from his many years in leadership positions at Stolt Nielsen, B+H Equimar and MSI in Singapore.

Bourbon has signed a letter of intent to sell its freight operator activity to a company which is 100% controlled by Jean-Louis Bottaro and his family. Bottaro founded and managed Setaf from 1968 to 2008. In this sale the cement carrier Endeavor remains the property of Bourbon, who continues to operate it within the framework of a service contract with the buyer. "The development of our Freight Operator activity requires investments that Bourbon would not be able to make for several years, due to the decisions announced in the Bourbon 2015 Leadership Strategy. This is why the sale to a professional in the Bulk field is the best solution for the development of this activity", said Jacques de Chateauvieux, CEO of Bourbon.

Bourbon announced that its subsidiary Setaf SA has signed a $545m sale agreement for 16 bulk carriers with U.S. group Genco Shipping and Trading Ltd. The closing is expected by end of July 2010. “As a shipowner, we are a pragmatic company, and we seized an opportunity. Following the Group strategy for its Bulk Division, Setaf is actively managing its shipping activity as a freight operator as well as a ship owner, to offer customized services and dedicated advanced ships to its customers” said Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Bourbon. “The contemplated sales will contribute significantly to the financing of the new “Bourbon 2015’ Leadership Strategy“.

For 2009, Bourbon reported robust earnings driven by the growth of the Offshore Division. EBITDA excluding capital gains was up 9.4%. “The 2009 results illustrate the good increase of the offshore activity due to the growth of the fleet and to its utilization rate, which remains high despite the market downturn during the year,” said Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Bourbon. rates. - The sharp decline in Bulk Division revenues, due to the change in charter rates. Excluding capital gains, gross operating income (EBITDA) reached €346.3 million for the year, i.e. an increase of 9.4% for the group. The EBITDA of the Offshore Division alone grew by €70.8 million i.e. plus 29.4%.

For 2009, Bourbon reported robust earnings driven by the growth of the Offshore Division. EBITDA excluding capital gains was up 9.4%. “The 2009 results illustrate the good increase of the offshore activity due to the growth of the fleet and to its utilization rate, which remains high despite the market downturn during the year,” said Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Bourbon. rates. - The sharp decline in Bulk Division revenues, due to the change in charter rates. Excluding capital gains, gross operating income (EBITDA) reached €346.3 million for the year, i.e. an increase of 9.4% for the group. The EBITDA of the Offshore Division alone grew by €70.8 million i.e. plus 29.4%.

Commenting on Bourbon’s 2009 annual revenue results, Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Bourbon said: “With 71 new units coming into the fleet in 2009, annual revenues from Bourbon owned Offshore vessels alone saw growth of 27%, while the need for chartering was substantially reduced in a context of cost-cutting by the oil and gas companies. This trend, which was particularly marked at the end of last year, is likely to continue to influence activity in the early part of this year. Revenues for 2009 amounted to 960.5 million euros, up 3.1% compared with the previous year (down 1.6% at constant exchange rates).

Bourbon's third-quarter revenues came to 246.8 million euros, up 3.1% compared with the same period in 2008 (-2.8% at constant exchange rates), due to satisfactory growth in the Offshore Division which offset a sharp decline in the Bulk Division. In the first nine months of the year, Bourbon posted revenue growth of 8.3%, the increase being stronger in the early months of the year, while revenues were virtually stable at constant exchange rates. The value of the dollar strengthened by 11% during the period, at 1.37 dollar/euro compared with 1.52 for the same period in 2008. The Offshore Division recorded satisfactory third-quarter growth of 16.6% (9.6% at constant exchange rates), with revenues totaling 207.6 million euros versus 178 million euros for the same period in 2008.

Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman and Chief Executive of BOURBON, said, "the oil industry is looking to control capital expenditure and operating costs and this has led to an oil services market that is temporarily dominated by short term contracts and a reduction in usage and pricing. First half revenues amounted to EUR482.1 million, up 11.2% over first half 2008. The dollar strengthened 15% against the euro with the dollar/euro exchange rate at 1.33 during the first half year compared with 1.53 for the first half of 2008. At constant exchange rates, revenues were practically stable year on year with strong growth in the Offshore Division compensating for a fall in the Bulk Division.

Bourbon’s revenues for the first quarter of 2009 were up 12.8% compared with the same period in 2008, totaling $320.8m. The Offshore Division posted strong growth, benefiting from the full effect of vessels commissioned in 2008 and a favorable base effect. The Bulk Division felt the dual effect of an activity slowdown and a collapse in freight rates. Finally, the taking into account of the rate of the dollar makes the comparison favorable for Bourbon. "In a market environment now affected by the economic slowdown and falling oil prices, the Offshore Division still has strong potential for growth owing to its investment strategy in innovative and high performance vessels at lower costs for clients,” said Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bourbon.

Bourbon has announced its 2009 annual results. “The strength of our strategy is to invest in order to reduce clients’ costs,” stated Jacques de Chateauvieux, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Bourbon, “and putting into service new-generation innovative and high performance vessels, constructed in series at extremely competitive costs, sustains the growth in the Offshore Division operating income and provides a positive outlook for 2009. Revenue growth was essentially attributable to the strong increase in the Offshore Division revenues, which rose by 38.7%, and a resilient performance by the Bulk Division, which reported stable revenue growth of +2.9% at a constant exchange rate (12% year-on-year fall in the average annual BSI index).