Global Maritime Investments News

Dry bulk shipping companies being hit the hardest on account of the deteriorating business climate are likely to be swept by a new wave of bankruptcies, reports Nikkei. The global commodities bust has rocked the dry-bulk shipping industry, with a wave of bankruptcies washing across the sector and major players forced to restructure, divest or scrap assets. Many in the industry had hoped it would start to recover this year. But there is not much sign of that—and it looks as if more pain is still in store for shipowners. On Jan. 5, the Shanghai International Shipping Institute issued a striking report after polling about 50 of the nation's largest bulk shippers. The survey concluded that 60% of the firms it polled were struggling with long-term losses and about 40% faced liquidity problems.

Daiichi Chuo liabilities total $1.5 bln. Second dry bulker to seek bankruptcy protection this month. Japanese bulk carrier Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha said on Tuesday it had filed for protection from creditors - the second shipper to do so this month - with analysts predicting more failures if the market for dry freight continues to slump. The shipping industry has been hit hard by the global commodities meltdown with the dry freight market near six-year lows and rates for large ships carrying iron ore and coal barely covering operating costs this year. Daiichi Chuo said it had been unable to make ends meet on ships it had chartered or finance ships it had ordered…

Dry-bulk shipper Global Maritime Investments Cyprus Ltd. filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection New York  Tuesday in order to liquidate its business due to a continued industry downturn, reports WSJ. The bankruptcy filing of the international shipping company came in New York, where Global Maritime has faced lawsuits. Most of the estimated $169 million in debt the company carries is unsecured, court papers say. The amount includes losses from 2014 worth $47.8 million and about $67.6 million from 2015 fiscal year. The company attributed the decision to seek bankruptcy protection as it was unable to pay back its debt since market overcapacity pushed down charter rates hampering the carrier’s ability to secure enough profit.

Private equity has pumped $32 bln into shipping in past 2 years. Ships totaling 299 mln dwt to enter global fleet from May. Some private equity-backed shipping IPOs have been put off on weak sentiment. The shipping industry faces a looming capacity glut as billions of dollars pumped into it by private equity have stoked a vessel-buying spree, threatening its prospects just as the sector is emerging from its worst downturn in three decades. Backed by private equity and hedge fund financing, shipping companies have placed orders for thousands of new ships over the past two years, reminiscent of the ship-ordering binge of the mid-2000s that eventually led to overcapacity after the global financial crisis severely hit cargo demand.

According to a Bloomberg report by Rob Sheridan and Isaac Arnsdorf, record coal stocks at power plants in China, the biggest consumer of the fuel, are threatening to reverse the rally in rates for commodity carriers and diminish returns for ship owners to the lowest in more than a decade. The utilities have 91 million metric tons in reserve and stockpiles at the largest ports come to more than 90 percent of capacity, according to the China Coal Transport & Distribution Association and SteelHome, a Shanghai-based research company. Panamax rates will drop 48 percent to an average of $5,000 a day this quarter, said Steve Rodley, managing director at Global Maritime Investments Ltd., which operates 64 ships, who correctly predicted a slump in earnings for larger Capesizes in March.

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) reported its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2010. The following financial review discusses the results for the three months ended March 31, 2010 and March 31, 2009. --  Genco Claudius, a 2010 built Capesize vessel, with Cargill International S.A. --  Genco Augustus, a 2007 built Capesize vessel, with Cargill International S.A. --  Genco Knight, a 1999 built Panamax vessel, with Swissmarine Services S.A. --  Genco Vigour, a 1999 built Panamax vessel, with Global Maritime Investments Ltd. --  Genco Hunter, a 2007 built Supramax vessel, with Pacific Basin Chartering Ltd. --  Genco Predator, a 2005 built Supramax vessel, with Pacific Basin Chartering Ltd.

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) announced that it has reached an agreement to extend the time charter for the Genco Muse, a 2001-built Handymax vessel, with Global Maritime Investments Ltd. for approximately 10.5 to 12.5 months at a rate of $17,750 per day, less a five percent third-party brokerage commission. The time charter is expected to commence on or about January 21, 2010 following the expiration of the vessel's current time charter and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. Currently, Genco has approximately 58% of its fleet's estimated available days secured on contracts for the remainder of 2010.

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited (NYSE:GNK) announced that it has reached an agreement to enter into a time charter for the Genco Vigour, a 1999-built Panamax vessel, with Global Maritime Investments Ltd. for approximately 10.5 to 13.5 months at a rate of $24,000 per day, less a 5% third-party brokerage commission. The time charter is expected to commence on or about January 8, 2010 following the expiration of the vessel's current time charter and is subject to the completion of definitive documentation. Currently, Genco has approximately 54% of its fleet's estimated available days secured on contracts for 2010.

Genco Shipping & Trading Limited announced it has reached an agreement in principle to enter into a time charter for the Genco Acheron, a 1999-built Panamax vessel, with STX Panocean Co. Ltd. The time charter would be for eleven to thirteen months at a rate of $30,000 per day, less a 5% third party brokerage commission. The company also announced it has reached an agreement in principle to commence a time charter for the Genco Leader, a 1999-built Panamax vessel, with AS Klaveness Chartering for twenty-three to twenty-five months at a net rate of $25,650 per day, equivalent to a gross rate of approximately $27,000. Since February of 2006, the vessel traded in the Baumarine Pool, a spot pool of approximately 80 vessels.