Bulk Carrier Newbuilding News

Fuel choice is the essential decision as shipping charts a generational path to decarbonization, says DNV GL in its latest maritime forecast report.The industry is at the beginning of a transition phase, with many potential options emerging alongside conventional fuels. This increasingly diverse fuel environment means that engine and fuel choice now represent potential risks that could lead to a stranded asset. Factoring in the impacts of availability, prices and policy, on different fuels…

Belships ASA, a bulk carrier operator and ship management company, has confirmed that it  entered into an agreement with Marti Shipping & Ship Management of Turkey for a bareboat charter and subsequent sale of BELEAST.The 50 000 dwt bulk carrier was built in 2006 and was the oldest ship in Belships fleet. BELEAST was delivered in December as planned and Belships realized a gain of USD 4.4m.The Charterer has an obligation to purchase the vessel within 24 months and the net cash flow during the period will be approximately USD 3.5m after repayment of outstanding loans.In October, Belships agreed a 7-year bareboat charter for a 61 000 dwt Ultramax bulk carrier newbuilding from Shin Kurushima, Japan.

Panama-based Stiringaster Line has taken delivery of FJM Glory, a 61,000 dwt bulk carrier newbuilding.The delivery ceremony took place in China at the Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (DACKS) shipyard, jointly operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) and China COSCO Shipping.The 77,539 cbm vessel features a length of 199.9 meters, a width of 32.24 meters and can accommodate 25 people.The ship has a flush deck with a forecastle and five holds that are designed for optimum transport of grains, coal, ores and steel products. Four 30-ton deck cranes are installed along the center in between the hatch covers to enable cargo loading and unloading in ports that lack cargo handling facilities.The vessel employs various technologies to achieve maximum fuel economy…

Dry bulk shipping firm Oldendorff Carriers said that the bulk carrier newbuilding MV “Christiane Oldendorff” (charter name “Midland Trader”) of 36,000 tdw will be delivered around the turn of the year. The ship is built at Samjin Shipbuilding Industries Co Ltd at Weihai, Shandong.The German company which ships and tranships over to 300 million tons of bulk cargo every year said in a note that  a sister ship, MV “Christopher Oldendorff” (charter name “Hansa Baltic”) is expected to start trading in April 2019."We originally ordered them in June 2012 at the then Korean controlled yard. In 2015, the Korean mother company got into trouble.

In trying to make sense of the global, mobile maritime industry, there is no better ‘go to’ than Shashi N. Kumar, Ph.D., Master Mariner, Fulbright Senior Specialist Fellow, Emeritus Professor of International Business & Logistics, Academic Dean, United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). Last month we met with Dr. Kumar in his office to put emerging global maritime trends in perspective. “The views expressed in this article are Dr. Kumar’s own and not those of the U.S. The World: When you look at the global shipping market, what do you see and why?

Knightsbridge reports net income of $6.3 million and earnings per share of $0.14 for the second quarter of 2014. Knightsbridge reports EBITDA of $10.5 million and EBITDA per share of $0.24 for the second quarter of 2014. Knightsbridge receives $3.2 million as partial settlement for a claim for damages and unpaid charter hire. Knightsbridge announces a cash distribution of $0.20 per share for the second quarter of 2014. Knightsbridge completes the purchase of five Capesize newbuilding contracts and one 2013-built Capesize drybulk carrier from Frontline 2012 Ltd and Hemen Holdings Ltd, respectively. Knightsbridge announces the combination of Frontline 2012's remaining fleet of 25 fuel efficient Capesize newbuildings with Knightsbridge's fleet.

Dry bulk carrier newbuilding orders predominate among the contracts reported in the latest issue of the Clarkson Hellas S&P Weekly Bulletin. One order is reported by Clarkson Hellas in the larger dry sizes this week, with Foremost Maritime contracting two firm 180,000 DWT Capesize at Beihai Shipyard. Delivery of the first vessel is due in the later part of 2015, with the second due in the final quarter of 2016. In Japan, First Steamship are reported to have contracted a single 85,000 DWT post-panamax bulk carrier at Sasebo Heavy, due to deliver in 2016.

Starting with the large sizes in dry, Oldendorff Carriers are reported to have declared the sixth in a series of 207,000 DWT Newcastlemax at HHI, with delivery in the second quarter of 2015. Clarkson Hellas report that at Hanjin Subic, STX Pan Ocean have contracted two firm 150,000 DWT Capesize, planned for delivery in the second half of 2016 and for charter to KEPCO. One order to report in the Kamsarmax sector, with Klaveness declaring the third and fourth in a series of 82,000 DWT bulk carriers at Jiangsu New Yangzijiang.