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16 Mar 2023

TORM Buys Three MR Tankers

(File photo: TORM)

Danish tanker shipping company TORM on Thursday announced it has entered into an agreement to buy three secondhand MR tankers from an undisclosed seller.The MR eco product tankers were built in South Korea in 2013, now purchased by TORM for a total cash consideration of $48.5 million and the issuance of 1.42 million shares, the company said.Slated for delivery before May 31, the ships will increase TORM’s total fleet to 88 vessels on a fully delivered basis.TORM said it expects to finance the cash element of the transaction through traditional bank financing…

19 Dec 2022

Shipbuilding: Can I Have A Refund?

© Dmitry / Adobe Stock

In Havila Kystruten AS v Abarca Compania de Seguros AS,¹ in which Watson Farley & Williams LLP represented the successful Norwegian shipowner, an English court has provided helpful and very detailed guidance on a number of issues relating to the parties’ rights to terminate shipbuilding contracts as well as the nature and scope of refund guarantees.BackgroundRefund guarantees are the lifeblood of shipbuilding, providing invaluable security to owners/buyers who must usually cash fund a significant proportion of the price of newbuildings during the construction phase (usually at least 40%)…

05 Dec 2022

Ship Recycling: No Impetus

© knovakov / Adobe Stock

Recycling markets are ambling towards the end of the year without any real impetus, ability, aggression, or even an apparent willingness to engage in discussions to buy, so volatile has the situation been over the last two quarters.Prices have of course come off by about $200/LDT in the sub-continent markets since the stunning peaks witnessed over $700/LDT just earlier this year – for reference, on a standard Capesize Bulker, that is over $4 million lost on the residual value…

04 Mar 2022

China Taps Alternative Payments to Keep Russian Oil Flowing

© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

Chinese refiners are paying for Russian crude oil using cash transfers to maintain imports from Russia’s Fast East, as banks shy away from financing the oil because of sanctions, sources with knowledge of the matter said.Global oil prices have soared to their highest in a decade as banks halted financing Russian oil after the United States and other countries ramped up sanctions on Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine.Spot crude premiums and freight rates also spiked, piling on buyers’ costs.Several European and U.S.

27 Dec 2021

Italian Sea Group Buys Bankrupt Yacht Builder for $91 Million

(Image: Perini Navi)

The Italian Sea Group said on Wednesday it had bought bankrupt luxury yacht maker Perini Navi for 80 million euros ($91 million) in an auction held by a court in Lucca, Tuscany.Italian yacht makers Ferretti Group and SanLorenzo had also offered to buy the luxury sailing brand Perini Navi, which was declared bankrupt in January.The Italian Sea Group said in a statement that the deal, funded with most of the proceeds of its IPO and through bank financing, will double its order intake for refits and lead to new contracts for the construction of 90-130 metre motor yachts.($1 = 0.8835 euros)(Report

21 Nov 2019

Performance Shipping Buys a Tanker

Greece-based global provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of vessels has agreed to acquire a 2007-built aframax tanker for US$26.0 million.The company specializing in the ownership of containerships and tanker vessels said that it will acquire the entity from its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Symeon Palios, for an aggregate purchase price of US$11.0 million, which will be paid in common shares of the company at a per share price of US$0.9027. It is equal to the undiscounted closing price of the common stock on the NASDAQ stock exchange on November 18, 2019.The US$11.0 million purchase price of the…

10 Sep 2019

SFI Acquires Three VLCCs From Hunter Group

Bermuda-based ship-owning and ship chartering firm Ship Finance International Limited (SFL) has agreed to purchase three very large crude carriers (VLCCs) from Norwegian investment company Hunter Group. The 300,000 dwt oil tankers are currently being constructed by South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME). Hunter Group placed the order for the VLCCs last year. SFI will pay almost $60 million for each tanker and a total of $180 million for all three. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered within the next two months.The tankers will be fitted with exhaust gas cleaning systems to reduce the emissions of sulfur oxides (SOx) and other pollutants, and to meet IMO regulations.

06 Sep 2019

SFL Acquires Three VLCC Newbuildings

The international ship owning and chartering company Ship Finance International (SFL) announced that it has agreed to acquire three 300,000 dwt crude oil carriers, or VLCCs, currently under construction at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in Korea.The Bermuda-headquartered company said that the net purchase price will be $180 million, or $60 million per vessel and they are expected to be delivered to SFL within the next two months.The vessels were ordered in 2018 by affiliates of the Norwegian listed company Hunter Group, and have all the latest eco-design features, including exhaust gas cleaning systems. After delivery…

11 Jun 2019

Performance Shipping Buys Aframax Tankers

The provider of shipping transportation services through its ownership of containerships, Performance Shipping Inc.(PSI) announced that it has agreed to acquire two entities, which have signed contracts to purchase two 2011-built Aframax tanker vessels from an unaffiliated third party seller for a total purchase price of US$60.0 million.The transaction was unanimously approved by the disinterested members of the board of directors, said a press release from the Greece-based company.PSI will acquire the two entities affiliated with its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Symeon Palios, for an aggregate purchase price of US$10.0 million…

28 May 2019

Kirby’s Secret Sauce

Image Credit: Kirby Corporation

Another year; another major fleet takeover by Kirby Corporation. But the leader of the inland tank-barge sector is not growing for growth’s sake: a deeper look at the numbers shows a disciplined strategy at work.“Kirby is definitely the big gorilla in the inland barge market,” affirmed Jefferies analyst Randy Giveans. Indeed, Houston-headquartered Kirby Corp has been extremely active buying fleets over the past few years, most recently acquiring the 63 tank barges of Cenac Marine in March for $244 million.

04 Feb 2019

Global Ports Signs 30 Year Deal in Antigua

Cruise port operator Global Ports Holding (GPH) has signed a 30-year concession agreement with the government of Antigua and Barbuda for cruise port operations in Antigua on an exclusive basis.The concession also includes certain retail outlets in the project area. This concession marks GPH’s second step in its expansion into the Americas, after the signing of Havana in 2018.Under the terms of the concession agreement, the Group will use its global expertise and operating model to manage the cruise port operations in Antigua.In addition, GPH will finance the completion of the ongoing construction of a new pier which will allow the port…

15 Jan 2019

Barclays Rejects Arctic Drilling

U.K.-based international bank Barclays  announced a new energy policy that significantly restricts the bank’s financing for the exploration or extraction of oil and gas in the Arctic.The policy  rules out funding for companies seeking to drill in the Arctic Refuge as well as other climate change threats.According to the British multinational investment bank and financial services company headquartered in London, arctic oil and gas refers to new exploration and extraction of oil and gas in the area within the Arctic Circle which is subject to sea ice, and includes the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Coastal Plains.The ANWR…

22 Aug 2018

Ship Finance International Acquires Three Box Ships

Ship Finance International Limited said it has agreed to acquire three large containerships in combination with long term time charters.The vessels were built in 2015 with approximately 10,600 TEU carrying capacity. The company expects to take delivery of the vessels in the near term, and the purchase price is confidential.The charters will run for a period of minimum six years, with options for the charterer to extend the charters up to 10 years. There is also a purchase option with profit split at the end of the initial period. Ship Finance International’s fixed rate charter backlog will increase by approximately $260 million, increasing to approximately $430 million if the charter extension options are exercised.

21 Apr 2018

Star Bulk Acquires 16 Ships

Star Bulk Carriers Corp. agreed to acquire 16 vessels from entities affiliated with Augustea Atlantica SpA and York Capital Management in an all-share transaction. As consideration for the Vessel Acquisition, Star Bulk has agreed to issue approximately 10.5 million common shares to the sellers of the 16 vessels, equal to approximately 14.1% of Star Bulk’s common shares after the closing of the Vessel Acquisition. Under the terms of the agreement with the sellers, the consideration will be determined based on the average vessel valuations by independent vessel appraisers and is subject to adjustments for cash, debt and capex on the closing date. As part of the transaction, the Company will assume debt of $310.0 million.

20 Apr 2018

Star Bulk Carriers Acquires 16 Vessels

Star Bulk Carriers Corp announced that it has agreed to acquire 16 vessels from entities affiliated with Augustea Atlantica SpA and York Capital Management in an all-share transaction. As consideration for the Vessel Acquisition, Star Bulk has agreed to issue approximately 10.5 million common shares to the sellers of the 16 vessels, equal to approximately 14.1% of Star Bulk’s common shares after the closing of the Vessel Acquisition. Under the terms of the agreement with the sellers, the consideration will be determined based on the average vessel valuations by independent vessel appraisers and is subject to adjustments for cash, debt and capex on the closing date. As part of the transaction, the Company will assume debt of $310.0 million.

23 Oct 2017

TPG Founders Acquire 100% Ownership

(Photo: TPG Marine Enterprises, LLC)

Indiana based maritime logistics company TPG Marine Enterprises, LLC said it has purchased 100 percent ownership of its primary operating company TPG Mt. Vernon Marine, LLC, which provides harbor services on the lower Ohio River under the names of Mt. Vernon Barge Service, Green River Barge Service and MVBS Jeffersonville, LLC. It also owns TPG Chicago Dry Dock, LLC, located on the Calumet River. Prior to the purchase at the end of September, TPG Marine Enterprises held majority ownership of TPG Mt.

25 Sep 2017

GOGL Sells 6 Vessels

Golden Ocean Group has  announced that it has entered into agreements to sell six Ultramax vessels built at Chengxi between 2015 and 2017 en bloc for USD 142.5 million to an unrelated third party. The net cash proceeds from the sale after the repayment of $39.2 million of associated debt will be slightly in excess of $100 million. All vessels are expected to be delivered to their new owner during the fourth quarter of 2017. Separately, the Company has agreed to take early delivery of the Golden Nimbus, a Capesize vessel under construction at New Times Shipbuilding. The Company will make a final payment of $29.4 million for the vessel at delivery and will draw $25 million from the related bank financing in early October 2017, resulting in a net cash outlay of $4.4 million.

31 May 2017

Euroseas Acquires Container Feeder Vessel

Euroseas announced that it signed a memorandum of agreement to purchase the M/V EM Astoria, a feeder size containership vessel of 2,788 teu built in 2004. The vessel is to be acquired at market price from Euromar LLC, the Company's joint venture with two private equity firms. The agreement to acquire the vessel includes 100% bank financing and a profit share agreed with the bank. The vessel is expected to be delivered to the Company in June 2017. Aristides Pittas, Chairman and CEO of Euroseas commented: "We are very pleased to proceed with the acquisition of EM Astoria which increases our fleet in the containership feeder sector and is accretive to our shareholders.

15 Sep 2016

German Banks Count Cost of Global Shipping Crisis

Photo: Hanjin Shipping

German banks are struggling to recoup tens of billions of dollars of loans as a global shipping industry slump hits them hard. The lenders - among the biggest backers of shipowners over the past 20 years - are behind up to a quarter of the world's $400 billion of outstanding shipping loans, three shipping financiers told Reuters. This would make them collectively more exposed than banks from any other single country in terms of outstanding debt to the sector. These institutions…

16 Jul 2016

WFW Advises Teekay on Major Financing Initiatives

International law firm Watson Farley & Williams LLP (“WFW”) advised long-standing client Teekay on the successful completion of financing initiatives for Teekay Corporation and Teekay Offshore Partners LLP (“TOO”). This included assisting TOO on US$400m of secured bank financing and the raising of US$200m in fresh equity capital along with the deferment of certain bond maturity dates, whilst parent company Teekay Corp completed US$350m of bank financing and raised a further US$100m in equity capital. The transatlantic WFW Maritime team advising Teekay was led by London partner Nigel Thomas and senior associate Patrick Smith, assisted by senior associate George Macheras, associate Natalia Golovataya and trainees Cameron Johnstone-Brown and Tanpreet Rooprai.

01 Apr 2016

SHI Delivers Gaslog Greece

GasLog Ltd. an international owner, operator and manager of liquefied natural gas ("LNG") carriers, announces the delivery of the GasLog Greece. The GasLog Greece, which has been constructed at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea, is a 174,000 cubic meter tri-fuel diesel electric ("TFDE") LNG carrier. This delivery marks the first of GasLog's eight "G-Class" vessels, which will deliver over the next 3 years. Following delivery, the GasLog Greece has commenced a 10-year charter with a subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell plc ("Shell"). Seven of the eight G-Class vessels have long-term contracts of between 7 and 10 years. Committed bank financing has been secured for all of the eight newbuild vessels, through the $1.3bn newbuild facility announced in October 2015.

04 Feb 2016

Diana Shipping to Acquire Three Panamax Ships

Diana Shipping Inc. has signed, through three separate wholly-owned subsidiaries, three Memoranda of Agreement to acquire from a related party three Panamax vessels for an aggregate purchase price of $39.8 million. These vessels are the m/v Sunshine, a 2010 built Panamax dry bulk vessel of 75,700 dwt, the m/v Manzoni, a 2013 built Panamax dry bulk vessel of 75,403 dwt and the m/v Infinity 9, a 2013 built Panamax dry bulk vessel of 77,901 dwt, all built by Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co., Ltd. The delivery of the vessels to the buyers is expected by the end of March 2016. The company has agreed to acquire the vessels from entities affiliated with Semiramis Paliou and Aliki Paliou, each of whom is a family member of the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

08 Dec 2015

Moody's changes outlook on CMA CGM's B1 ratings to stable

Moody's Investors Service has today changed to stable from positive the outlook on CMA CGM S.A.'s B1 corporate family rating, B1-PD probability of default rating and B3 senior unsecured rating. Concurrently, Moody's has affirmed the ratings assigned to the company. This follows CMA CGM's announcement of a pre-conditional voluntary general cash offer to acquire Neptune Orient Lines Limited (NOL, unrated), a Singaporean container liner, for a consideration of $2.4 billion. Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited (Aaa stable), NOL's largest shareholder with a 67% stake, has irrevocably undertaken to tender all of its shares into the offer. "While the affirmation reflects that CMA CGM's potential acquisition of NOL would strengthen its business profile…