Chemical Tanker Sector News

Market drivers have created a significant opportunity for Wallem to grow a specialised area of business, according to Capt. Anurag Mathur, Managing Director, Commercial Services, Wallem Group.Wallem’s portfolio of commercial services is ideally placed for expansion across a full range of vessel types, according to the executive appointed to drive for growth in January 2023. And Capt. Anurag Mathur, whose previous roles include senior managing directorships at leading ship owning and ship management companies…

Chembulk Tankers named Steve Laino its Chief Commercial Officer, based out of the Southport office and responsible for all facets of our commercial strategy worldwide, including chartering, projects and client relations. Laino comes to Chembulk with more than two decades of diverse experience in the maritime transportation industry, with experience in the chemical tanker sector. Laino has held roles in operations both at sea and ashore, in commercial capacities as a tanker broker, projects broker and shipowner. Most recently, Laino held the role of Chief Operating Officer of Chemical Transportation Group (CTG), which he founded together with two partners and a group of investors in 2014.

In the last month, we have seen the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) recover to the same level it was 12 months ago (see circles in fig.1). Vessel values have started to firm, but not at the same rate and are still at historically low levels. In the last 12 months, contrarian owners have taken advantage of the low values and have been buying cheap tonnage. With hindsight, this looks to have paid off with many values having increased above the purchase price. This article takes a look at which dry bulk owners have been buying the most in the last year.

Maritime and logistics service provider Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) has expanded its agreement with Chembulk Tankers into South America and Asia, the company announced today. The new agreement will see ISS handle some 150 additional port calls for Chembulk Tankers per year, in addition to its existing services on the east and west coasts of America. Chembulk is one of the largest deep-sea chemical shipping companies in the world. ISS’ work with Chembulk now encompasses Brazil in South America and Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand in Asia. Further services will include managing dry dockings in the Bahamas and handling selected port calls in the U.A.E.

Odfjell reported third quarter 2014 chemical tankers EBITDA of $26 million, compared with $24 million in second quarter, as activity in the chemical tanker markets in third quarter was quite similar that of the previous period. Reduced spot trading to Asia from Europe and the U.S. caused downward pressure on freight rates as fewer cargoes where available. Time-charter results were down by 3%. Towards the end of the quarter the CPP market improved, which the company expects will positively affect also the chemical tanker sector.

Those MarineNews readers who are not familiar with Bob Kunkel probably should be. That’s because Kunkel, President of Alternative Marine Technologies, previously served as the Federal Chairman of the Short Sea Shipping Cooperative Program under the Maritime Administration and Department of Transportation from 2003 until 2008. He is a past Vice President of the Connecticut Maritime Association, a contributing writer for many maritime and technical trades publications, including Maritime Professional Magazine and MarineNews.

"The industry witnessed another dismal year as weakness in freight rates and asset values persisted in 2012. This resulted in a spate of defaults, restructurings and bankruptcies as shipping companies struggled with the poor market conditions. Unfortunately, FSL Trust was not spared from the unprecedented downturn. FSL Trust reported full year 2012 revenue of US$106.1 million, which was 4.2 per cent lower compared to the previous year. Net cash generated from operations declined by 25.4 per cent to US$47.6 million. During the year, we conserved capital and strengthened our balance sheet, increasing our cash reserves by US$5.2 million to US$37.5 million.

Thomson Financial reported that Hargreaves Services has bought Imperial Tankers Ltd, adding the merged business will be among the top 5 players in the U.K. chemical tanker sector. Source: Thomson Financial