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28 Feb 2024

Swedbank Adopts Poseidon Principles

Source: Swedbank

Swedbank has signed the Poseidon Principles, a global framework for integrating climate considerations into lending decisions within ship financeThe Poseidon Principles provide a standardised methodology for data collection and reporting of emissions from banks’ shipping portfolios, with the overall ambition of supporting and facilitating the decarbonization of the shipping industry.The Poseidon Principles are consistent with the policies and ambitions of the IMO, including its…

02 Jan 2024

Germany Builds up LNG Import Terminals

© JET-PIX / Adobe Stock

German utility RWE on Jan. 1 handed over floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure at Brunsbuettel on the North Sea to state-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) as agreed when first imports arrived 10 months ago, it said.DET is now the sole operational manager and markets the capacity of the Brunsbuettel Elbehafen LNG project.Germany's quest to increase LNG capacity for regasification on its shores has intensified as it seeks to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas…

16 May 2023

Germany's LNG Import Terminals Tackle Challenges

A German government-backed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Mukran on Ruegen island in the Baltic Sea, near existing LNG reception facilities delivering into the mainland port of Lubmin, will be downsized.The quest for alternative imports intensified as the country sought to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.Apart from gas, industry and the government are anticipating increased use of hydrogen, which when produced using renewable energy can help the transition to a lower carbon economy.Germany would need to import much of its hydrogen needs and the low density of the gas makes transportation over long distances complicated unless a carrier…

02 May 2023

Germany's LNG Import Terminals Tackle Challenges

Germany's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Stade said it would in the coming weeks begin testing market appetite for ammonia as a way to transport hydrogen, as the country's efforts to end reliance on Russian pipeline gas gather pace.The quest for alternatives has included focusing on hydrogen, which when produced using renewable energy can help the transition to a lower carbon economy.Germany, however, would need to import much of its hydrogen needs and the low density of the gas makes transportation over long distances complicated unless a carrier…

11 Feb 2022

European Group Lifts Funding to $4.6B to Prevent Plastic Pollution in Seas

© Romolo Tavani/AdobeStock

A group of European development banks plan to double its funding for global efforts to stop plastic waste from polluting the world's oceans to 4 billion euros ($4.6 billion).The Clean Oceans Initiative, led by the French and German development banks and the European Investment Bank is the largest such grouping targeting plastic pollution of the sea.Around 8 million tonnes of plastic waste enters the oceans every year, most of it discarded on land or washed into rivers, the group said on Friday…

01 Jun 2021

Stoltenberg Joins VIKAND as Non-executive Director

Klaus Stoltenberg (Photo: VIKAND Solutions)

Maritime medical operations and public health provider VIKAND Solutions announced it has appointed Klaus Stoltenberg as non-executive director for commercial shipping.Stoltenberg brings a wealth of experience to VIKAND. He is currently the co-owner of Constellation ApS, and was formerly the Chairman of Global Shipping, Deutsche Bank where he managed a team of corporate finance and shipping experts. He has also served as Global Head of Ship and Aircraft Finance for NORD/LB; Head of Transport…

09 Feb 2021

Hapag-Lloyd Secures 'Green Financing' for LNG-powered Newbuilds

(Photo: Hapag-Lloyd)

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd has joined the shift to green financing, securing funds for six liquefied natural gas (LNG) powered, 23,500 TEU containerships it ordered in December 2020.The firm said it concluded two transactions according to the Green Loan Principles of the Loan Market Association (LMA), as verified by independent secondary party DNV GL, as the shipping industry increasingly turns toward financing linked to measurable sustainability targets."Our first green financings are a major milestone for us…

15 Jan 2021

New LNG Carrier Delivered to Sovcomflot

On January 15, 2021, PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) took delivery of SCF Timmerman, a new 174,000-cbm LNG carrier built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries. Photo credit Sovcomflot

Russian shipping company PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) on Friday took delivery of SCF Timmerman, a new 174,000-cubic-meter-capacity liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier. The ship embarked on its maiden commercial voyage the same day, and is operated under a long-term time charter agreement with Shell, which will provide SCF with an additional $165 million of contract backlog.The ship is named after Frans Timmerman, a 17th-century Dutch merchant who served as a shipbuilding mentor to the Russian emperor Peter the Great and played an important role in creating the Russian seaborne fleet.

15 Sep 2020

Sovcomflot Takes Delivery of New LNG Carrier

SCF Barents -  Credit: Sovcomflot

Sovcomflot, a Russian oil and gas shipping company,  has taken delivery of SCF Barents, a new 174,000-cbm LNG carrier.The vessel was delivered Monday and has already started its maiden voyage under a long-term time charter agreement with Shell.According to Sovcomflot, the LNG carrier was named after Willem Barents, a prominent Dutch navigator and explorer. The naming ceremony, held on September 10, was attended by Igor Tonkovidov, President and CEO of SCF Group; Cederic Cremers…

14 Jul 2020

SMM 2021: Plotting a Course Forward for the Global Maritime Community

Photo: ©Hasenpusch

As the maritime world collectively feels its way forward in a time now defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers of the SMM in Hamburg, traditionally the world's largest and most influential maritime and shipbuilding trade event, share market overview insights on the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic throughout the the shipping industry.The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world economy on its head. “The recession this year will likely be more severe, and recovery in 2021 will be slower than we anticipated two months ago…

29 Aug 2019

Revenues Soar at Russia’s PAO Sovcomflot

Sergey Frank, President and CEO, PAO Sovcomflot. Photo: Sovcomflot.

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group), which serves the energy shipping and offshore services to the oil and gas industries, reported in the first half of 2019 revenues rose 16.6% ($828m vs. $710.1m), TCE revenue rose 19.1% ($609m vs. $511.3m) and EBITDA rose 42.4% ($381.2m vs. $267.7m) as compared to the first half of 2018.Highlights from the first half included:• Korolev Prospect, Vernadsky Prospect and Samuel Prospect LNG-fuelled 114,000 DWT Aframax tankers added to the fleet.•In March 2019, the Group celebrated the 10th anniversary of the start of LNG shipments from the Sakhalin-2 project.

21 Aug 2019

Vista Shipping to Finance Product Tankers

Hafnia Tankers, a member of BW Group, and shipyard-affiliated leasing company CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping have formed a joint venture named Vista Shipping to finance and operate product tankers.A term loan facility of USD 111 million is intended to be used to finance four LR1 newbuildings. A banking consortium consisting of KfW IPEX-Bank, Societe Generale Hong Kong Branch and OCBC Singapore participate with 33% each as lenders at the term loan facility and have reached financial close.KfW IPEX-Bank acts as Facility Agent, Sinosure Agent and Security Agent. The 12-year post-delivery financing profits from Sinosure cover and is secured by…

20 Aug 2019

Dream Cruises Wins $2.9Bln from KfW IPEX-Bank

KfW IPEX-Bank, leading a consortium consisting of six international banks, is structuring the financing of two cruise ships for Genting Hong Kong Ltd. and its brand Dream Cruises.The Global Class I and II ships are currently being built in the three shipyards of MV Werften located on the Baltic Coast in the German federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.The financing package comprises around EUR 2.6 billion with a total investment volume of just under EUR 3.1 billion.The structure will be backed by export credit guarantees of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Finnish export credit agency Finnvera, as well as by a guarantee from the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

05 Jul 2019

Tallink Gets Finance for LNG Ferry

Estonian shipping company Tallink Tallink Grupp has borrowed  EUR 197.6 million to finance the new EUR 247 million LNG powered fast ferry currently under construction in Rauma Marine Constructions Oy.The loan agreement was concluded between AS Tallink Grupp subsidiary Tallink Superfast Ltd. and KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, the shipper said.The loan is arranged and long term financing is provided by KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH. Finnish Export Credit Agency “Finnvera” guarantees 95 per cent of this post-delivery buyer credit.The loan is secured by the mortgage on the new vessel and the corporate guarantee of AS Tallink Grupp.This OECD-term export credit loan will be drawn on the delivery of the vessel…

09 May 2019

Sovcomflot Gets Funds for LNG Carrier Duo

Russian maritime shipping company specializing in petroleum and LNG shipping, (SCF Group) has signed a new $297 million limited recourse credit facility to finance its two next-generation LNG carriers.The financing deal, with a duration of up to ten years, was concluded with three international banks – ING Bank, KfW IPEX-Bank, and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank.The funds will be used towards pre- and post-delivery financing of two new-generation 174,000-cubic metres Atlanticmax LNG carriers, which will operate under long-term charters to Shell.The vessels feature a slow-speed dual-fuel X-DF diesel engine and gas boil-off partial liquefaction system.

15 Nov 2018

Sovcomflot Gets $149m Credit Facility for LNG Carrier

Russian maritime shipping company Sovcomflot has signed a new USD 149 million credit facility, for up to 10 years, with a consortium of three leading international banks, comprising: ING Bank, KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank.Russian shipowner specializing in petroleum and LNG shipping said that the funds will be used towards financing the construction of a new generation 174,000-cubic metres Atlanticmax LNG carrier.The vessel will feature a slow-speed tri-fuel X-DF diesel engine and gas boil-off partial liquefaction system.

14 Nov 2018

SCF Inks Deal to Finance LNG Carrier

Nikolai Kolesnikov Senior EVP & CFO PAO Sovcomflot

Sovcomflot concludes USD 149 million project credit facility for up to 10 years with three leading European banks.Sovcomflot (SCF Group) is pleased to announce that it has signed a new USD 149 million credit facility, for up to 10 years, with a consortium of three leading international banks, comprising: ING Bank N.V.; KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH, and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank.The funds will be used towards financing the construction of a new generation 174,000-cubic metres Atlanticmax LNG carrier.

24 Oct 2018

Ship Financiers Toughen Stance on CO2 Emissions

File Image / Adobstock © 14ktgold

Leading shipping finance banks have joined industry players in support of faster action to cut carbon emissions by the sector.In April, the United Nations shipping agency reached an agreement to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050 compared with 2008 levels, which fell short of more ambitious targets.The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) is meeting in London this week to work on an initial strategy on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.In the meantime…

19 Apr 2018

$252m Finance for LNG-Powered Tankers

Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised ING Bank (“ING”), as agent, security trustee and the syndicate of lenders on the US$252m financing of the world’s first ever LNG-powered aframax tankers for leading Russian shipowner Sovcomflot Group (“SCF”). The six 114,000dwt, ice-class vessels are being built by Hyundai Samho, with two of the vessels to operate under time charter to Shell for up to ten years. Shell will also provide LNG fuel for all six tankers across north-west Europe and the Baltic. In addition to ING, international lenders ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, Citibank, KfW IPEX-Bank and Société Générale were part of the financing syndicate for the facility.

06 Apr 2018

SCF Secures Funds for Six Aframax Tankers

PAO Sovcomflot (SCF Group) informed that it has signed a new $252 million 7-year credit facility with a consortium of six leading international banks, which includes: ABN AMRO Bank; BNP Paribas; Citibank; ING Bank; KfW IPEX-Bank, and Société Générale. The funds will be used towards financing a series of six Aframax tankers, the first-ever such vessels purpose-designed to be powered by LNG, currently under construction and due for delivery from Q3 2018 to Q2 2019. These innovative vessels set new environmental standards for the global tanker industry through adopting cleaner-burning LNG as a primary fuel for Aframax tankers. Each 114…

03 Apr 2018

TORM Orders MR Tanker Trio at GSI

(File photo: Torm)

Danish ship owner TORM exercised options for the construction of three MR newbuildings at Chinese shipyard Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) for expected delivery in 2019 through first quarter of 2020. The three newbuilds will cost $93 million. TORM said it has secured commitment for vessel financing of up to $63 million from KfW and ABN AMRO, subject to loan documentation. “The vessels are attractively priced when comparing to the current market, and we believe that now…

01 May 2017

Eimskip Gets Finance Deal for New Container Vessels

Eimskip has secured 80% financing of the contract price of the vessels with a 15 year tenor in Euros taken upon delivery. The lender is the German bank KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH. The loan is secured by China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure). On 25 January, Eimskip signed a contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company Limited and Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard Co. Ltd. to build two 2,150 TEU container vessels. The contract price of each vessel is approximately USD 32 million and the vessels are expected to be delivered in 2019. The payment profile of the vessels is that 40% of the contract price is paid during the building period and 60% upon delivery. The contract was subject to financing and that has now been lifted.

31 Aug 2016

KfW IPEX-Bank Boosts its Presence at SMM

Holger Apel and Carsten Wiebers (copyright: KfW Bank / Gaby Gerster)

In an interview the departing head of the KfW IPEX-Bank Maritime Industries department, Dr. Carsten Wiebers offers insight into the facets of international ship finance as well as the challenges it currently faces. His successor Holger Apel casts a glance into the future. Carsten, KfW IPEX-Bank is once more stepping up its presence at SMM. Why? SMM is increasingly becoming a platform for topics beyond technology, such as environmental regulation or market intelligence. We meet with experts of the shipbuilding and manufacturing industry to discuss how to support their sales efforts.