Eco-Tankship Opposes Enron Auction
South Carolina based Eco-Tankship, Inc. is contemplating a bid to oppose the auction of Enron Corp's "enrononline" trading division. The auction, approved last week by Southern District of New York bankruptcy court judge Arthur Gonzales, has been scheduled for January 10, 2002. Alexander Schizas President and CEO of Eco-Tankship has notified counsel for the creditors committee, the debtors in possession and the US trustees of Eco's interest in moving to oppose the sale. The particulars of the opposition surround Schizas' request for full disclosure by Enron regarding the auction. Schizas' group contends that Enron must disclose that they do not have proprietary rights to the Internet based trading of Liquefied Natural Gas in its physical form and as futures and options on futures.
MISC Orders LNG Carriers
Malaysian International Shipping Corp. is fortifying its position in the fast growing market for the carriage of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), today reportedly converting an option for two liquefied natural gas ships into firm orders, bringing total oustanding orders to six. MISC is already one of the world's largest LNG tanker operators, and it also also plans to buy four 6,800-TEU, post-Panamax containerships for delivery in 2002-2003. "We have ordered four new LNG ships...and two more ships are on option...(which) should be exercised by the end of this year," a company official reported. MISC has a fleet of 13 carriers with total lifting capacity of 1.35 million cu. m. They are part of MISC's total fleet of 124 ships.
Petrotin Moves Ahead With Offshore Exploration Joint Venture
Venezuela has given the state-owned Petroleum Company of Trinidad and Tobago, also known as Petrotrin, approval to enter a joint venture to explore an offshore oil field near the maritime border of the South American nation with Trinidad. Petrotrin reportedly would take a 50 percent interest in the Gulf of Paria East block, a stake that was previously held by Enron Corp., the Number one U.S. natural gas and electricity marketer. No financial details of the deal were immediately available. A test well at the block produced 3,000 barrels a day of oil in February. Its Venezuelan operator Inelectra had said it would seek a partner with the financial muscle to help develop the field.
