Diana Shipping Dispute Early Charter Termination
Diana Shipping subsidiary Gala Properties Inc. has received a notice from the charterers of the 'M/V Houston' claiming that they are entitled to terminate the vessel's charter effective November 26, 2013 for purported breaches by the owners. The Company believes that the owners have fully performed under the terms of the charter since its inception and that the charterers have no basis for the purported termination of the charter. The charterers have not previously alleged breaches by the owners. In contrast, payments by charterers under the charter have been late on numerous occasions.
MOL Contract with Jiangsu Shagang Group
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that MOL became the first overseas shipowner to sign a long-term iron ore transport contract with Jiangsu Shagang Group Co., Ltd. of China on October 19. MOL will transport iron ore from Australia and Brazil to Jiangsu Shagang. A 207,000-tonne iron ore carrier, to be constructed at the Universal Shipbuilding Corporation for the contract, is scheduled for completion in late 2011. The company signed a 10-year voyage contract to transport iron ore between West Australia/Brazil and Ningbo starting late 2011.
