Seatramp News

Alexander Papachristidis-Bove has been appointed Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of Hellespont Steamship Corp, the Piraeus-based ship management and marine services company, with effect from October 1, 2009. He replaces Dr. Mike Kennedy, who assumes the role of Managing Director of Hellespont Consultants Corp and remains responsible for the company’s newbuilding programme. As part of a plan to streamline the organization, the Hellespont Group’s entire Piraeus-based staff will be consolidated under Hellespont Steamship Corp…

Hamburg-based Hellespont Tankers has taken delivery of the Hellespont Centurion, the first of a serious of eight 17,000 dwt IMO-2 chemical tankers. Hellespont Tankers will commercially manage the vessel, which has been entered into the Hamburg-based Seatramp Intermediate Tanker Pool. Technical management will be carried out by Hellespont Hammonia. Built at Korea's Sekwang Shipbuilding yard the vessel can load fifteen different grades in epoxy coated tanks. Hellespont Centurion is now on her maiden voyage to load her first cargo in Southeast Asia for Europe.

Hamburg-based Hellespont has launched a pool for modern IMO 2 chemical/product tankers. The Seatramp Intermediate Tanker Pool will initially consist of three KG-financed and Hellespont-operated 13,000 dwt vessels, and Hellespont has committed a further eight 17,000 dwt newbuildings due between now and 2011 to the pool. Talks with other owners are at an advanced stage and the aim is to bring the pool to around thirty vessels by the end of 2010. Christian van Oldershausen, managing director of Hellespont AG, said, “In the current market consolidation of fleets into pools makes a lot of sense. It smoothes earnings, allows the pool to develop long term relationships with large charterers and balance tonnage against cargo commitments and overall increases returns as tonnage utilization rises.

Hellespont has officially named the last two of six panamax tankers constructed for the company at the New Century Shipbuilding Co Ltd in Jingjiang, China. The product carrier Hellespont Providence was named by Mrs. Daphne Papachristidis-Bove, wife of Alexander Papachristidis-Bove, President of Seatramp Tankers Inc. The Hellespont Protector, meanwhile, was named by Mrs. Andrea Meyer, wife of Kai-Kristian Meyer, Managing Director of HCI Capital, organizers of the financing of the vessels. Both vessels will begin long-term charters with The Sanko Steamship Co. Ltd. of Japan on delivery later this year. Hellespont operates four further panamax product carriers, one aframax tanker and four suezmax tankers. There will be a fifth suezmax tanker under operation shortly.

Hellespont Hammonia completed the naming of the Hellespont Pride, one of six tankers under construction for the company at New Century Shipbuilding Co Ltd in Jingjiang, China. The panamax product carrier, the first in the series originally ordered by Seatramp Tankers Inc. in 2004, was named by Nathalie Baroness von Oldershausen, wife of the managing director of the Hamburg-based KG house, Hanseatische Capital Invest (HCI), which is financing this series of vessels for the owners. The mortgagee is HSH Nordbank. Charterers of the Hellespont Pride are The Sanko Steamship Co Ltd. of Tokyo, Japan. The vessel will be managed by Hellespont Hammonia GmbH & Co KG. The 38,000 grt Hellespont Pride has an LOA of 228.60 m and a deadweight of 73,400 tonnes at a scantling draft of 14.3 m.

Middle East Gulf to Europe via the Suez Canal. know that we provide a unique service that is appreciated. quality of the hand-picked crew allow us to do these voyages. February 3, giving a voyage average speed of 16.5 knots. the Suez transit. been in constant employment since they were delivered in early 2002. voyage. cargo of fuel oil in Rotterdam for delivery to Singapore. also lifted a number of cargoes from the AG for discharge in the US Gulf. delivered this March. vessels set new standards for large tanker strength and speed.

Hellespont Alhambra is the first of the series of four new ultra-high spec double hull ULCCs delivered to Piraeus, Greece-based Hellespont Group. At the beginning of February, the 442,000-dwt ship immediately demonstrated its flexibility and economy of scale, delivering a full cargo of Middle East crude to Rotterdam, following a swift voyage from the Middle East Gulf to Europe via the Suez Canal. Alex Papachristidis-Bove, president and co-chartering manager of Seatramp Tankers, Hellespont's commercial management, said "It's exciting to come up with innovative solutions, successfully execute them for our clients, and know that we provide a unique service that is appreciated.

Basil Papachristidis, Chairman of Seatramp (UK) Ltd. has announced the resignation of senior chartering specialist Gordon Pentecost, who joined Seatramp in 1995 after a 33-year career at Texaco. Pentecost was instrumental in developing the company's business in the North Sea, and he also participated in the chartering of the ULCC fleet represented by Seatramp and contributed to business in the Atlantic Ocean. Pentecost's resignation is effective Sept. 3. "Gordon's professionalism, experience, tenacity and commercial acumen will be very much missed, as will his enthusiasm and upbeat, can-do attitude, said Papachristidis. "My colleagues and I wish Gordon every success in his future professional pursuits and every happiness in his recently-found role of grandfather."