Clyde Co News

When Cambodian officials commemorated the start of the country's first oil project in June by preserving the first drops of production at a high-profile ceremony, they heralded the country's emergence as a budding oil exporter at the heart of Asia.But instead of reaping royalties, Cambodia's government has filed a theft complaint against the crew of the tanker that stored the crude, after they sailed away with the oil amid a payment dispute with the oil field's developer.Singapore-based KrisEnergy…

In 2016, market conditions in most shipping sectors have been highly challenging, says a report by Clyde & Co, global law firm. The ClarkSea Index, an average of earnings for the main commercial vessel types, reached a record monthly low in August. In the first ten months of 2016, the index dropped 37% y-o-y to average $9,129/day. Tanker market conditions weakened considerably in the first ten months of 2016 from very firm levels at the start of the year and in 2015. Average tanker spot earnings fell from $28,483/day in January 2016 to $9,922/day in August, but have risen since. Meanwhile, conditions in the dry bulk market have remained depressed throughout much of 2016 as existing vessel oversupply has been coupled with muted trade growth.

As a consequence of Hanjin Shipping's financial collapse one can anticipate that there will be displaced containers worldwide with Hanjin vessels being arrested short of or at destination, being moored up or remaining outside port limits to avoid arrest or being stuck at a port short of destination with the port authority unwilling to provide port services absent payment in advance, says Clyde & Co. One press report we have seen suggests that in excess of 500,000 TEUs already loaded on Hanjin vessels may be subject to delay. To name but a few consequences - there may be a greater theft and port accumulation risk if cargo has to be offloaded and stored. Temperature sensitive cargoes e.g. pharmaceuticals and/or cargoes with a short shelf life e.g.

Companies are becoming increasingly alive to the importance of cyber-security and the need to protect themselves against the risk of cyber-attacks; the marine sector is no exception, says Clyde & Co’s Shipping Newsletter. Earlier this year, BIMCO published guidelines to assist the shipping industry identify, prevent and mitigate the risk of such attacks on board ships. The guidelines, which are the first to address this issue specifically, were jointly produced by BIMCO, Cruise Lines International Association, the International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO with support from the International Union of Maritime Insurance, ship managers, security and cyber-security companies, and ship owners and operators.

Three of the world’s largest bunker suppliers, including World Fuel Supplies and Dan Bunkering, have joined a team of industry experts to review BIMCO’s standard bunker contract – BIMCO Terms 2015. Shipowners will be represented by Denmark-based J Lauritzen and Norden. Legal and P&I input comes from Clyde & Co and the North of England P&I Club. The initiative is supported by the International Bunker Industry Association (IBIA) who will have a representative on the team. BIMCO Terms 2015 are increasingly accepted by suppliers and traders around the world as a fair and balanced set of terms and conditions for purchasing and delivering marine fuels.

The surge of piracy in South-East Asia waters continues as ships passing the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are falling victim to acts of piracy, says Clyde & Co. Whilst Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia operate anti-piracy patrols in the area, it has limited resources. The sheltered coast and islands also makes it easier for robbers to operate. As piracy rampages on, Indonesia and Malaysia has taken efforts to jointly increase security. By far, the most significant incident suggests activities going beyond the usual act of armed robbery or theft on board ship. On 11 June 2015, eight men armed with pistols and machetes boarded the Orkim Harmony a Malaysian registered tanker whilst it was nearing the end of her voyage.

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) is on a major expansion drive, investing more than $2 billion in bigger ships and forming alliances with peers to boost efficiencies and ride out tough markets. The shipping industry has been battling overcapacity, linked to a glut of new vessels ordered during a boom period before the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, forcing operators to look for ways to overcome one of the worst slumps on record. Despite the oversupply, companies are…

After a legal show-down in Texas this week, the outlook for a handful of tankers holding some $300 million worth of Kurdish oil is not looking good. Seemingly unable to find enough buyers willing to take a risk on million-barrel cargoes of disputed crude, the Kurdish authorities are paying over $75,000 a day to keep all three far-flung vessels afloat. A fourth ship began filling up at a terminal on the Turkish coast on Thursday, potentially adding to the tally, Reuters reported. Unless they can seal last-minute discreet sales or reach some kind of deal with Baghdad over how to share oil revenues, experts say, chances are slim of unloading ships now dotted around the globe, from Texas to Malaysia. In total, they have already been at sea for nearly half a year.

Maritime London will be leading a delegation of British maritime professionals to Athens, Greece, next month. The high level group will present to an audience of shipowners at the British Ambassador’s Residence on 17 June, 2013. The delegation will be accompanied by UK Shipping Minister, Stephen Hammond, and Sir Alan Massey, Chief Executive of the UK Ship Register. Maritime London chief executive Doug Barrow said: “The Greek British maritime relationship has always been strong and I’m delighted that we have government recognition of the importance that Greek shipowners play in the UK economy.

On December 23, 2012, the restrictive measures against Iran contained in Council Regulation (EU) No 1263/2012 came into force. The measures supplement those already contained in Regulation 267/2012 of March 23, 2012. While extending the restrictive measures in areas already legislated for, such as over the transfer of funds and financial services, it introduces new prohibitions which affect the shipping industry in a number of important ways. In particular, ship builders and repairers…

Insurance accountant and consultant Moore Stephens has joined with international law firm Clyde & Co to provide specialist advice to intermediaries on all aspects of the authorization process and on continuing compliance with FSA requirements. The rigorous FSA regime comes into effect on January 15, 2005. Intermediaries have until July 14 this year to submit their completed registration packs to the FSA. The new rules are not voluntary. licensed by the FSA. John Harbor, head of the Moore Stephens Insurance Industry Group, says, "Most intermediaries will need to begin the registration process two-to-four months before the July 14 submission date in order to prepare the information needed to secure successful authorization.

"An excellent start to 2005 and the new policy year" is how Joe Hughes, chief executive of managers Shipowners Claims Bureau Inc., describes the American Club's double achievement of the past week. On February 24, at London's Banqueting House in Whitehall, the club was voted the winner among four finalists for the P&I/Insurance Services Award at Lloyd's List's 2005 Awards covering 12 categories of the maritime industry. The P&I Award, sponsored by Clyde & Co., was presented to Paul Sa, the club's chairman, by Derek Hodgson, partner and head of the maritime transportation department at Clyde. Earlier the same week, the American Club had reported a successful outcome of the annual P&I renewal, which saw the club post a further increase in entered tonnage, to approximately 21.7 gross tons.

With a weakening dollar, predictions oil could hit $100 a barrel, and a boom in multi-billion dollar refinery construction, finance and shipping leaders will be meeting in Dubai this November to assess the impact on the regional and global maritime industries. The Middle East shipping industry is dominated by the tanker trade. Bookings for supertankers sailing from the Middle East to Asia account for 47% of global demand for the carriers, compared with shipments to the US and Caribbean, the second-biggest market, which accounts for 14% of demand. The balance of supply and demand, in the tanker sector in the Middle East, will be part of a special Charterers Forum that will take place during the Middle East Money & Ships 2007 conference, from 4-5 November, at Mina a'Salam, Madinat Jumeirah.