Increased Steel News

Euronav NV announces that it has signed two long-term time charter contracts of seven years each with Valero Energy Inc. for Suezmax vessels with specialised Ice Class 1C capability starting in 2018. In order to fulfil this contract, Euronav has ordered two high specification Ice Class Suezmax vessels from Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard in South Korea. Additional specifications for these vessels include substantially increased steel structure, specific emissions controls and other bespoke operational capabilities. Delivery of these vessels is expected in early 2018 when each of the time charter contracts will begin. Over many months of price discovery…

Increased demand in the Atlantic is likely to keep Panamax trading into positive territory this week, shipbrokers said on Monday. They said Atlantic Capesize freight rates had risen in recent days, especially for Capesizes available for early loading positions and time-charters. Reports in the sector had suggested Belgium charterer Bocimar had time-chartered a number of Capesizes lately and freight rates had risen sharply on the back of anticipated demand in the area, shipbrokers said. A prime example was a Capesize transatlantic voyage trading at around $15,829 a day, or $1,000 over the rate charged last week for a similar trip. Continued interest in the South American market had also prompted a rise in rates for grain shipments out of the U.S Gulf…

Aker Yards and Damen Shipyards Group are planning to establish a joint venture owning the Damen Shipyards Okean yard in Mykolayiv, Ukraine. The plans will contribute to an increased steel- and shipbuilding capacity of Aker Yards. The Okean yard is able to build a variety of vessels, steel sections for all the three business areas of Aker Yards, as well as the existing Damen range of vessels. Rene H. Berkvens, CEO of Damen Shipyards Group emphasizes that the product range of Aker Yards matches very well with the capacities of the Okean yard and for that reason this is a very valuable cooperation. For Aker Yards ownership share it will pay EUR 10 million cash at closing. Further payments will be dependent on financial performance of the yard.