CSD, Cosco JV to Buy Vale's Bulk Carriers
China Shipping Development (CSD) and Cosco have established a joint venture (JV), China Ore Shipping Pte., in Singapore to purchase four 400,000 dwt ore carriers from Vale and operate them. CSD and Cosco’s bulk shipping division Cosco Bulk Shipping holds 49% and 51% equity shares in the JV respectively. China Ore Shipping will buy four second-hand valemax vessels from Vale Shipping Singapore Pte., a unit of the world's major iron-ore producer, for 445 million U.S. dollars, says a joint statement from the companies. It has signed a 20-year pact with Vale, under which Vale will charter ships owned by China Ore Shipping to transport the steel-making raw material to the world's second-largest economy.
China Shipping Devt To Buy Eight Oil Tankers
Hong Kong-listed China Shipping Development Co. agreed to buy eight oil tankers for $556m from two Chinese shipbuilders. According to Yahoo! News, China Shipping Development, a unit of state-owned China Shipping (Group) Co., said it would buy four oil tankers for $408m from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Ltd. It said the four vessels would enter operations between June and December 2009. China Shipping Development also said it would buy four oil tankers for $148m from Guangzhou Shipyard International Ltd. The first of these vessels will enter operations October 2007, while the last would be delivered in November 2009.The company said it would finance the purchases through bank borrowing and internal resources. (Source: Yahoo! News)
Sea Containers to Quit Ferry Business
Sea Containers Ltd. said it would withdraw from the ferry business, and it now expects to take $500 million in charges for the fourth quarter, sending its shares down 9 percent. The company, which runs the SeaStreak commuter service linking New Jersey with New York City, said the charges would reduce its net worth by $475 million, making it unable to comply with certain bank borrowing agreements. The passenger transport and marine container leasing company said in a statement that its board had decided to exit the ferry business, resulting in a noncash impairment charge of $415 million on a pretax basis for the fourth quarter. The company had previously estimated that it would take a fourth-quarter charge of $112 million.
