Irian News

Greek shipowner John Angel-icoussis' acquisition of four ICB tankers last week was the highlight of a busier market, Allied Shipbroking Inc. said in its latest ship sales report. Angelicoussis paid $189 million in total for the Mindoro (1995-built, 300,294-deadweight tons), the Irian (1992, 286,006-dwt), the Ambon (1992, 285,771-dwt) and the Flores (1995, 284,410-dwt). Aegean Marine Petroleum, also of Greece, paid $2.5 million to buy the 1976 Norwegian-built tanker Maersk Ascension (60,810-dwt). Italian buyers also picked up two tankers last week. Gemarfin paid $8.75 million for the 1982 Japanese-built Meandros (40,632-dwt) while unknown Italian buyers paid $480,000 at an auction in the U.S. for the 1977 Italian-constructed Campo Duran (30,572-dwt).

A two-year battle for Swedish tanker company ICB Shipping ended Sept. 23 in victory for Norway's Frontline - but only after four of 12 ICB tankers are sold to a new group set up by key ICB players. An agreement between Frontline, ICB and ICB's main shareholder, Greek shipowner John Angelicoussis, values ICB at about $600 million and ends a stalemate over ownership involving several legal wrangles. Bermuda-registered Frontline launched a hostile takeover bid for ICB in September 1997 with the aim of creating one of the world's largest quoted tanker companies, part of the consolidation emerging in the highly fragmented tanker industry. "We feel that what we have agreed to is a creative solution although it does mean that Frontline has achieved its aim," ICB chairman Clarence Dybeck said.

Rescuers have recovered 15 bodies from a ship that sank off the southern coast of Indonesian New Guinea last week with the feared loss of more than 100 lives. About 40 survivors were rescued and treated at a local hospital. The Bimas Raya-II ship sank near Irian Jaya's southern town of Merauke, some 2,340 miles (3,800 km) east of Jakarta, on Oct. 18. The ship had a loading capacity of 125 passengers but reportedly was carrying 159 passengers when it sank.