Bank Finance News

Alafouzos family backed Greek tanker company Okeanis Eco Tankers has secured firm commitments for two secured loan facilities for an aggregate amount of $116.3 million from Credit Suisse AG and BNP Paribas in respect of the financing of two of its VLCC newbuildings, under construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries.According to a press release from Piraeus-based shipping group, the Facilities each carry an interest rate over Libor of less than 2.5%, a 6-year tenor, a blended average repayment profile of 17.5-years, and allow for drawdowns to finance pre-delivery yard instalments.These commitments mark the successful conclusion of the first step in the Company’s efforts to secure competitive financing for its last four VLCC newbuildings…

A recent survey found that shipping confidence reached its highest rating in the past three years in the three months to end-August 2017. According to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens, the average confidence level expressed by respondents to the survey was up slightly from the 6.1 out of 10 recorded in the previous survey in May 2017 to a three-year high of 6.2. The improved rating was attributable mainly to increased confidence on the part of owners, up from 6.1 to 6.5.

Shipping confidence improved for the third successive quarter in the three months to end-November 2016, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. In November 2016, the average confidence level expressed by respondents was 5.6 out of 10, equaling the highest rating since August 2015. All main categories of respondent were more confident than in August 2016, when the overall rating was 5.4. Charterers’ confidence this time increased by 2 points, to 6.8, the highest figure in the life of the survey for such respondents.

BIMCO has published the next in its series of reports looking at the “road to recovery” for dry bulk shipping beyond the current market difficulties. The foundation for the new report follows the conclusion of BIMCO’s previous analysis – that due to the severity of the current crisis the sector can only return to profitability in 2019 if shipowners deliver “zero supply side growth”, year on year. BIMCO’s latest report models the wider impact of the crisis – the effect of which reaches beyond dry bulk to other major sectors of shipping such as tankers and containers. It concludes that major changes are on the horizon. -the new, larger…

BIMCO has today published the next in its series of reports looking at the “road to recovery” for dry bulk shipping beyond the current market difficulties. The foundation for the new report follows the conclusion of BIMCO’s previous analysis – that due to the severity of the current crisis the sector can only return to profitability in 2019 if shipowners deliver “zero supply side growth”, year on year. BIMCO’s latest report models the wider impact of the crisis – the effect of which reaches beyond dry bulk to other major sectors of shipping such as tankers and containers. It concludes that major changes are on the horizon. o Basel III – and the proposed Basel IV – regulations will increase the cost of bank finance for shipping.

Australian-owned Bass Strait shipping operator SeaRoad Holdings has warned the Federal Government that its proposed Shipping Legislation Amendment Bill could jeopardise its $100-million investment on a second cargo vessel. A report in ABC quoted SeaRoad CEO Michael Easy, saying that the proposed legislation "is likely to severely impact our current ship replacement plans". The company said proposed changes to the legislation would only benefit foreign shipping interests. He said the removal of cabotage — the restrictions on foreign operators working coastal port-to-port business — would not bring benefits. Michael said his company was in danger of losing its bank finance for two cargo ships…

Ship Registries are an excellent bellwether of industry health and trends, and when Maritime Reporter & Engineering News sought answers to some topical questions, it went to two of the top organizations in the world, speicifically Theo Xenakoudis, Worldwide Business Operations Officer, International Registries, Inc. & Christian Mollitor, Vice-President, Liberian Registry/LISCR, LLC. Give a brief description of the market you serve. TX Greek shipowners have historically been very supportive of the RMI flag. Today Greek shipowners represent nearly 25 million gross tons of the RMI fleet.

With a loan of EUR 600 million, KfW IPEX-Bank is financing the construction of a second cruise ship for Star Cruises, the leading cruise line in Asia, at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg. The signing ceremony of the relevant contracts took place today in Hong Kong. The second new ship is expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2017. In April this year, KfW IPEX-Bank had already completed the financing for a sister ship. Investment Bank and DNB Bank ASA, Singapore Branch the total loan amount available. Financing is provided with an export credit agency of the federal government (Euler Hermes cover) and binds the set by the OECD Ship CIRR (Commercial Interest Reference Rate) a.

The Liberian Registry says the entry of private equity funding into the ship finance market is helping to sustain its continued growth. Scott Bergeron, CEO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the U.S.-based manager of the Liberian registry, said, “Owners are ordering ships again, and there is a great deal of private equity funding entering the market, in the U.S. and elsewhere, which is filling the shortfall created by a reduction in traditional bank finance for shipping.

Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry rose to their highest level for almost six years in the three-month period to February 2014, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. Freight rates look set to improve or maintain existing levels over the next twelve months, while an increase in private equity funding is expected to have a major impact on the industry. In February 2014, the average confidence…

Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry rose to their highest level for more than three years over the three-month period to November 2013, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. There was encouraging news on freight rates and evidence of an increased willingness to invest. But concern persists on overtonnaging, operating costs and the cost of regulation. In November 2013, the average confidence level expressed by respondents in the markets in which they operate was 6.1 on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high)…

Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry rose to their highest level for two and a half years in the three months ended May 2013, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. The survey produced evidence of increased enthusiasm for new investment, although doubts persisted about the availability of bank finance. Fuelled by ongoing concern about a surfeit of tonnage on the market, freight rates in the dry bulk sector in particular were expected to come under more pressure over the next twelve months…

Overall confidence levels in the shipping industry fell in the three months ended August 2012 to their lowest level for a year, according to the latest Shipping Confidence Survey from international accountant and shipping adviser Moore Stephens. The fall, to the lowest figure recorded since the survey was launched in May 2008, comes after three successive quarters of improved confidence. Chief among the concerns raised by respondents to the survey were the glut of newbuildings coming onto the market and continuing uncertainty about the global economy.

Topaz Energy and Marine announced that it had raised $42m from Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai in support of its fleet expansion plans, taking its total financing raised in 2009 to $150m. Topaz has contracted over $150m in bank finance in 2009 and the lion’s share of the funds have been deployed to support its fleet expansion and modernization program. Although finance available for the shipping sector as a whole is scarce, the OSV space that Topaz occupies is a relative bright spot for banks.