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Rabobank News

21 Nov 2023

Havfram Secures Loan for Offshore Wind Vessel Construction

Credit: Havfram

Offshore wind installation company Havfram has signed a Senior Secured Green ECA Term Loan Facility to fund its two wind turbine installation vessels ("WTIVs"), currently under construction at CIMC Raffles in China. The Facility was entered into with a syndicate led by DNB Bank ASA (Coordinator, Bookrunner, Green Loan Advisor and Agent) with SpareBank 1 SR-Bank ASA, Credit Agricole, Sparebanken Vest and Rabobank as Mandated Lead Arrangers and with Export Finance Norway as ECA lender.

25 Jul 2023

Russia's Danube Attacks Tighten Noose on Ukraine's Grain Sector

Š Ivanoff / Adobe Stock

Russian air strikes on Ukrainian grain facilities on the Danube this week threaten a vital river route for Kyiv's exports, as Moscow seeks to tighten the noose around a key sector of the economy days after abandoning the Black Sea shipping deal.Last week, air strikes caused tens of millions of dollars of damage to the grain sector in Odesa region, and Monday's strikes on infrastructure along the Danube brought back memories of the export gridlock that followed Russia's February 2022 invasion."Without the Danube, the export (situation) becomes critical.

25 May 2023

Hydrogen-powered Inland Containership Launched

(Photo: Future Proof Shipping)

Dutch shipping company Future Proof Shipping (FPS) on Thursday officially launched the first hydrogen-powered zero-emissions inland container ship, H2 Barge 1, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.Earlier in the week, Nike introduced the H2 Barge 1 at its European Logistics Campus in Laakdal, Belgium. As part of its journey toward a zero carbon and zero waste future, Nike is partnering with Future Proof Shipping (FPS) and BCTN Network of Inland Terminals, to accelerate zero-emission shipping.Future Proof Shipping’s zero-emissions 110m x 11.45m inland containership…

08 Apr 2022

HAL Making 'Good Progress' With Boskalis Takeover Offer

Boskalis heavy transportation vessel carrying an FPSO - Image Credit; Boskalis

HAL Holding, which on March 10 announced plans to launch a takeover offer for the Dutch marine services and dredging giant Boskalis' all remaining shares, said Thursday it was making good progress with the offer preparation.The company had said in March it planned to launch an all-cash voluntary public offer of €32.50 per share for all issued and outstandingordinary shares of Boskalis. HAL had 46.2% shares at the time of the announcement."HAL confirms that it is making good progress on the preparation of the Offer.

20 Jul 2021

Thunderbird II Sports Innovative Hull Cleaning Systems

On July 16, 2021, Thunderbird 2 (TB2) was christened in Rotterdam by Mirelle Pennings, Director of Commercial Banking at Rabobank. The TB2 is the second working vessel of Fleet Cleaner, a green scale-up from Delft that uses self-developed robots to clean ships hulls. It is the world's first ship, too, according to Fleet Cleaner, that can clean tankers explosion-safe during loading and unloading.After seven months of construction, Friday was finally the day: the second Fleet Cleaner working vessel was christened.

27 Nov 2019

Jan De Nul orders Offshore Installation Vessel

Photo: Jan De Nul Group

Six months after the offshore installation vessel Voltaire, Jan De Nul Group orders Les Alizés, a floating installation crane vessel from the CMHI Haimen shipyard in China.Together with the Voltaire, this new vessel will be in a super-size class of its own, capable of building the newest generation of offshore wind farms. Les Alizés, that will be ready in 2022, is equipped with a crane having a lifting capacity of 5,000 tons and equally impressive lifting heights. Les Alizés will be able to load out, transport and install multiple units of the largest and heaviest wind turbine foundations.

14 Jun 2018

Rotterdam Joins Start-ups for Port of the Future

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed partnership agreements with four recent participants in the annual PortXL innovation programme. The products developed by these promising start-ups range from compact tulip-shaped wind turbines to blockchain applications for freight tracking. Together with 10 other start-ups and scale-ups, these companies took part in this year’s PortXL innovation accelerator programme, which brings innovators from all over the world to Rotterdam to further develop their technologies. The participants presented their results today during a ‘Shakedown’ event in the former submarine wharf at RDM Rotterdam. Port Authority CEO Allard Castelein: “Rotterdam is a pioneering port.

19 Feb 2018

Waste-to-Chemistry Project Comes up in Rotterdam Port

A consortium of companies comprising Air Liquide, AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam Authority has signed a development agreement for the initial investments in an advanced waste-to-chemistry plant in Rotterdam. The aim is that this will be the first plant of this type in Europe to offer a sustainable alternative for waste incineration, by converting plastic and mixed waste into new raw materials for industry. These investments – for detailed engineering, the establishment of a special joint-venture and the conclusion of the licensing procedure – amount to some € 9 million. The consortium is aiming for the project’s final investment decision…

04 Oct 2017

Vitol Returns for $8 Bln Loan Refinancing

Geneva-headquartered energy and commodities trader Vitol has signed an US$8bn loan refinancing of credit facilities agreed in October 2016, the company announced on Wednesday. The revolving credit facility, which is used for working capital and general corporate purposes, comprises a three-year tranche and a 364-day tranche. The three-year tranche totals over US$7bn. ABN AMRO Bank, Commerzbank, Credit Agricole CIB, HSBC Bank and ING Bank were active bookrunners on the transaction. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, MUFG, BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, DBS Bank, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, Lloyds Bank, Mizuho Bank, Natixis, Rabobank, Societe Generale, Standard Chartered Bank, SMBC and UniCredit Bank were mandated lead arrangers and bookrunners.

30 Aug 2017

Autonomous Shipping: Don’t Miss the Boat

Yara Birkeland container feeder ship design (Image: Kongsberg)

The Norwegian company Yara is currently building a full-electrical containership fitted with an autonomous control system: the Yara Birkeland. During a recent visit to a major maritime conference, imagine my surprise when most attendees – some 200 executives from the maritime sector – discussed autonomous shipping in terms of its risks. The room seemed full of objections and doubts. What if the computer malfunctions? Somewhat understandable in view of the pressure put on the sector by strong international competition and slim margins. Existing companies are used to a certain turnover.

26 Jun 2017

Rotterdam Port Contracts Four PortXL Start-ups

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is entering into a partnership with four start-ups for the development of as many innovative projects. Along with six other starters, these companies took part in the port-related accelerator programme PortXL and presented their results during yesterday’s ‘Shakedown’. The ten selected start-ups made amazing progress in the three month long PortXL programme. In fact, nine of them saw their efforts rewarded with a contract with organisations such as Van Oord, Vopak, Boskalis, Alliander and Stena Line. The Port of Rotterdam Authority backed four further developments. Pilot contracts were signed with virtual-reality training programme Parable and maritime-augmented-reality provider FEO AR.

18 Jan 2017

Oil and Trump: Russians Full of Optimism in Davos

What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, the mood of the Russian delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos was distinctly gloomy, with oil prices near 12-year lows below $30 per barrel and Western sanctions depressing their economy and financial markets. Since then, however, Russian stock and bond markets have risen about 50 percent, boosted by rebounding oil and - more recently - expectations the new U.S. presidency of Donald Trump will ease the sanctions imposed over Moscow's actions in Ukraine. Russian officials and company executives at the forum attended by the world's political and business elites in the Swiss Alps this week were far more bullish, with many predicting the markets rally would continue this year.

26 May 2016

DONG Energy Listing to Value Group at up to $16 Bln

Photo: DONG Energy

DONG Energy's has set a potential $16 billion price tag on its stock market debut, giving investors a chance to buy into the growth in offshore wind power, but also into a business heavily reliant on government subsidies. State-controlled DONG Energy on Thursday set a price range for its initial public offering at 200 Danish crowns to 255 crowns per share. This would give the group a market value of 83.5 billion to 106.5 billion Danish crowns ($12.6-16.0 billion), potentially making it the Europe's biggest IPO this year.

12 May 2016

DONG Energy Set for Europe's Biggest Share Float This Year

Photo: DONG Energy

Danish wind farm developer DONG Energy, which analysts value as high as $13 billion, said on Thursday it plans to list its shares on the Copenhagen stock exchange this summer. Having built more than a quarter of the world's offshore wind farms, the company is a major player in Britain and Germany and has recently opened offices in the United States and Taiwan to cater for new growth markets. With a potential valuation as high as 85 billion Danish crowns (11.4 billion euros), Dong…

18 Apr 2016

Damen Secures Ferry Orders in Canada

Image: Damen

In 2015 Collectivité de Saint Pierre et Miquelon launched a tender for two new Mixt Ferries to operate between the two Islands and Fortune, Canada. The same year the contract was awarded to the Damen Shipyards Group and, in January 2016, the Loan agreement with Rabobank was signed. The project was launched on 11 March at an event in Paris and the vessels will be delivered at the end of 2017. In close cooperation with the client, Damen designed the Fast RoPax 5510, 55 meters long, 11 meters wide, with a capacity for 192 passengers and crew, three trucks or 18 cars, motorcycles and cargo.

21 Oct 2015

EIB Antes €165 Mln for Amsterdam Sea Lock

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has agreed to provide EUR 165 million (187.5m) to support the construction of a new sea lock at IJmuiden, the principal access to the Dutch Port of Amsterdam. The current Noordersluis lock was built in 1929 and the new larger lock will ensure that the next generation of bulk carriers, container ships and cruise ships can continue to access the Port of Amsterdam and the North Sea Canal, and is expected to reduce waiting time for ships. The new sea lock will be 500 meters long, 70 meters wide and 18 meters deep, and able to operate in all tides. The IJmuiden sea lock is expected to support economic activity both along the North Sea canal and for companies using the Port of Amsterdam, Europe’s fourth busiest port.

12 May 2015

Containership Sold in Aruba after Bank Arrest

Haco van der Houven van Oordt (Photo: AKD)

Rotterdam-based law firm AKD has completed the sale at auction of the container vessel Caribbean Sea in the courts of Aruba following its arrest by Rabobank for outstanding mortgage debts in excess of $28 million. The entire arrest and auction process was completed in just 20 days. The 2007-built vessel arrived and was arrested in Aruban waters on March 25, 2015 as security against an outstanding debt of $28,398,786, and was sold at auction on April 14. AKD partner Haco van der Houven van Oordt…

29 Nov 2014

Lagersmit, Back to Its Old Name

Starting in December 2014, IHC Sealing Solutions will operate under the new – but also old and trusted – name of Lagersmit. The new pay-off line ‘The Origin of Sealing Solutions’ pays tribute to the company’s rich history and its desire to supply the best sealing solutions, now and in the future. On 28 November 2014, the new name was unveiled at a party for the employees of the ‘new Lagersmit’. Why this new name and pay-off line? In the summer of 2014, the company became independent and consequently separated from Royal IHC. With this new independence, Lagersmit aims to focus more on its core business, which is to supply sealing solutions for ships, pumps and tidal turbines.

06 Oct 2014

U.S. Corn Harvest Competes With Oil Transport

The giant corn harvest about to hit full stride in America's Midwest looks set to overwhelm storage and pile up outdoors, grain industry sources said, raising quality issues and making it hard to keep supplies moving. This year's record corn crop of 14.4 billion bushels alone would fill up 60 percent of the country's grain storage of 24 billion bushels. In total, with a record soybean crop too and hefty harvests of other grains including spring wheat, there will be about 20 billion bushels of new crops looking for storage. That would be on top of the 3.5 billion bushels reported in storage as of Sept. 1 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

01 Jul 2014

Royal IHC sells Subsidiary IHC Sealing Solutions

The SUPREME Standard. (Photo: IHC Sealing Solutions)

Royal IHC (IHC) has reached an agreement to sell 100% of its shares in its subsidiary IHC Sealing Solutions to new owners Willem Steenge, who as CEO is partly responsible for the strong growth of IHC Sealing Solutions in recent years, and Rabo Participaties (RaPar). The sale enables IHC to strengthen its focus on its core business: offering integrated innovative vessels, advanced equipment and life-cycle support to the dredging, wet mining and offshore construction industries.

26 Jun 2014

US Dredging Needs Growth as Army Corps’ Budget Shrinks

USACE photo: NY/NJ Harbor dredging action.

Spend dollars up on dredging, cubic yards moved down. Combined with a reduction in the USACE federal budget, the situation threatens a perfect storm for domestic requirements. U.S. dredging this decade, measured in cubic yards, is only half as active as it was in the early 1960s, with maintenance down slightly since then and new work off considerably, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or USACE. The nation’s spending on dredging in unadjusted dollars has swelled tenfold since the 1960’s, however.

09 Jan 2014

OW Bunker Signs $700M Revolving Credit Facility

OW Bunker, a reseller and physical distributor of marine fuel, has signed a $700 million revolving credit facility, refinancing its current $450 million facility. The new facility consisting of two tranches, a 364-day and a three-year multicurrency revolving credit facility, was more than 100% oversubscribed by the in total 13 international banks and financial institutions in a syndicate led by ING Bank N.V. OW Bunker sees the over-subscription and the up to three-year commitment as a strong sign of confidence in its business model, including a strong balance sheet consisting primarily of relatively liquid current assets, with 70-75% of accounts receivables typically insured, and a liquid inventory of fuel and gas oil.

12 Dec 2013

Panama Canal Expansion Should Slice US Grain Freight Rate

Image credit PCA

Upon completion of the expansion of the Panama Canal, the cost to transport grain from the U.S. corn belt to Asia will drop by an estimated 12%, thus increasing the cost competitiveness of the U.S. as a grain exporter to Asia, Rabobank forecasts. In a new report, “Panama Canal: Expanding the Gateway for U.S. Grain to the East,” Rabobank says the expansion of the Canal will accommodate grain-laden ships from the U.S. of 25% more capacity than before, resulting in a shift in U.S. grain shipping routes that doubles the draw area west of the Mississippi River for exports through the Panama Canal.