Ad Astra News

Brazilian superyacht builder MCP Yachts credited Seatorque Control Systems for contributing to the outstanding performance of its latest launch – the Hemisphere 140 Raffaella II. Incorporating Seatorque’s enclosed drive shaft system, the 43m aluminum vessel, powered by twin Caterpillar C32 1825 HP engines, achieved a top cruising speed of 22 knots during sea trials with an 85% load and 167 metric tons displacement, said MCP president Manoel Chaves. The vessel features a pair M3-400 single-piece Seatorque shaft systems, each 22 ft. long, accommodating the vessel’s four-inch diameter shafts.

Brazilian superyacht builder MCP Yachts has credited Seatorque Control Systems for contributing to the outstanding performance of its latest launch – the Hemisphere 140 Raffaella II. Incorporating Seatorque’s unique enclosed drive shaft system, the 43-meter aluminum vessel, powered by twin Caterpillar C32 1825 HP engines, achieved a top cruising speed of 22 knots during sea trials with an 85 percent load and 167 metric tons displacement, reported MCP president Manoel Chaves. The vessel features a pair M3-400 single-piece Seatorque shaft systems…

Shuttleworth Design's 'Adastra' wins  a 'Judges’ Commendation for Most Innovative Design' at the 2013 World Superyacht Awards. Shuttleworth Design was responsible for her exterior design, naval architecture and interior layout. Structural design was by Shuttleworth Design and ASTA, Jepsen Designs styled her interior, and she was built by McConaghy Boats. The imposing  42.5m Trimaran Adastra was launched in 2012 in China for Hong Kong clients Anto and Elaine Marden. According to the judges (as reported by Boat International Media) Adastra was very different.

Panamax freight rates have eased this week, in line with dwindling grain orders, brokers said on Tuesday. Rates dropped under the standard $12,000 a day and shipbrokers said they expected activity in the next week to remain subdued as major grain traders had announced there were no fresh bookings for the first half of April in sight. Nevertheless, the panamax sector is deemed stable, brokers said, as fixture reports for Egypt are on the rise and likely to counter-balance a slowdown of business from South America. Brokers cited as prime example the charter of the 1999-built 72,891 dwt Ad Astra, for delivery in the U.S Gulf by end-March, followed by a trip via Egypt and redelivery set for passing Passero. The daily rate was fixed at $11,300 plus a $235,000 ballast bonus. - (Reuters)

Panamax freight rates in the Atlantic have eased with little business to report and a similar situation in the Pacific has led to losses on the Baltic Panamax Indec, brokers said on Monday. The Index fell 21 points on Monday to 1,504 and brokers said they expected further panamax freight rate reductions to be reflected in the Index on Tuesday. But they said the Atlantic market was volatile and may reverse its fortunes. "It would react to anything. If one or two fresh orders emerge, then panamax freight rates could rally," one broker said. "Potential freight rate movement in the Atlantic panamax market is difficult to forecast. Brokers said the 1999-built 72…

The Pacific panamax sector was set to weaken further after the Baltic Panamax Index fell under 1,000 due to a lack of orders, brokers said on Thursday. "There are no orders. The Baltic Panamax Index is now under 1,000 and the Pacific panamax market looks ugly," one said. The Baltic Panamax Index was at 987, down 33 points on Thursday, and both the trans-Pacific round voyage and backhaul timecharters saw $400 cuts from the index. Brokers said Pacific round voyage charters were being reported around $5,000, with the Atlantic equivalent seen just under $7,000 daily. In the Atlantic, brokers said fresh orders from South America, among others, were giving some support to the market.