Schulte's PRONAV Acquisition Greenlighted
The Hamburg-based Schulte Group said it has received clearance by the German Federal Cartel Office for the acquisition of the LNG specialist PRONAV. With this strategic move, the family-owned ship owner and manager continues to increase its capabilities and capacity in the growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) market. Through the acquisition of PRONAV, the Schulte Group has increased the number of vessels under full management in its third-party management fleet by six additional LNG carriers (LNGC). At present, the Schulte Group provides full management for three LNGC and crew management for 21 LNGC. Five LNGCs with a capacity of 173âŚ
Container Trade In The 21st Century
While container trade growth has slowed in recent years, box trade has still expanded significantly since the turn of the milliennium, according to Clarkson Research Services Limited. In 2016, box trade is projected to total 181m TEU, almost three times volumes in 2000, having grown by an average 6.4% p.er annum. However, with an increased focus on Asia, this growth has not been evenly spread across the trade lanes. This century has seen significant growth in global container trade driven by increased volumes across a range of trade lanes (see graph), though some have seen faster growth than others. Back in 2000, mainlane container trade totalled 25.3m TEU, accounting for the largest proportion of global box trade of the featured groupings.
European Owners Lead in Buying Up Secondhand Tonnage
With European owners leading the pack in buying up vessels, the sale and purchase market appears to have been notably active in recent years, reveals Clarkson Research Services Limited. While Europe has been the main buyer region, the picture between owner countries in each region remains mixed. Greek owners have been the key European buyers, while Chinese and Japanese owners have taken very different approaches to S&P activity. The sale and purchase market has seen firm activity since the start of 2014, with 3,313 vessels of a combined 117.7m GT reported sold during this time. This compares to a total of 97.8m GT reported sold in the period 2011-2013.
Seaborne Trade: Checking Up On The Trends
The recent shifts in demand trends contributed to slower seaborne trade growth in 2014 (3.2%) and 2015 (2.0%). Clarkson Research Services Limited checks how has this reflected changes in demand for bulk shipments into major importing countries? Following a decline in 2009, seaborne trade grew on average by 4.9% p.a. in 2010-13, reflecting booming import demand in a number of key importing countries and faster than global GDP growth. The ratio between global seaborne trade growth and GDP growth (the âmultiplierâ), when considered over a long time period, can be a useful indicator of the impact of drivers in shipping. Following the economic downturnâŚ
Dry Bulk Carriers Orders "Dryingâ Up?
Dry bulk orders have fallen to the lowest level since the 1990s to 0.4m dwt per month showing a massive 98% reduction from the 23m dwt peak in orders in December 2007, and probably the sharpest decline in recent decades. Not really a surprise in a market where Capesize bulkers are struggling to earn $4,000/day, but a timely relief to investors with ships on the orderbook says a study paper of Clarkson Research Services Limited. This investment collapse marks the end of a remarkable phase of bulkcarrier history. During the last decade, 724m dwt of new bulkers have been ordered, around 70m dwt/year. Just to put that in perspective, during the previous decade ordering averaged about 20m dwt/year. The 5 years from 1996 to 2001 were disappointing to investors, who ordered only 1.2m dwt/month.
ABB Wins Contract from Chinese Shipyard
ABB announced that it will deliver advanced electrical propulsion systems for four LNG carriers under construction by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. The LNG vessels are a joint venture between China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited (CLNG) and Teekay, and will operate under 20-year time-charter contracts with Methane Services Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BG. LNG carriers are highly sophisticated in terms of technology and are specially designed to transport LNG at a low temperature of minus 162 degrees Celsius. They are regarded as the âsuper freezer cars of the seaâ and âthe pearl on the crownâ in the world shipbuilding industry.
