We take a look at what was said in the market in the last week.
“Rates have dropped off over the past two years consistently and the average is less than 50% of what it was.....Although it’s certainly not a declining market, it’s not going to be a Brazilianesque sort of boom. I’m hoping we’re looking at a steady increase over time and as Swire looks specifically at bigger vessels I think we can expect to see a steady increase in the fleet.”
Swire Pacific Offshore’s Duncan Telfer cautions that the tough Aussie market is not like carnival time in Rio.
At the end of the day, you’re coming into a regulated environment that has a stable government, a stable workforce, stable laws and we’re not firing guns down the main street of St Georges Terrace..... to operate in Australia, in our sector, you have to be savvy. It is not easy for people to come here and think that they can just sail over the horizon and operate just as they do in West Africa. It won’t happen here and shouldn’t be allowed to happen here.”
So no modern day Ned Kelly’s in Perth according to Peter Richards of Offshore Marine Services.
(Offshore Marine takes long view)
“Look, I don’t care what anyone says, Australia is a tiny market. And it’s a lot about industrial relations — if you want to make it work here then you have to be here, it’s as simple as that. And I think one key to our success is all about service. It’s very deliberate and nothing is too hard for us. If we get a call, we’ll make it happen.”
Go Marine Group managing director, Garrick Stanley, on making it happen down under.
“Whether the Baltex is going to be profitable or not is something the board is obviously going to be watching. It is not going to want to carry on with something that is a loss-making scenario forever. It is going to have to review the position as we go.”
Good to know Baltic Exchange chairman, Mark Jackson, is one of those who subscribes to the view that never ending loss is a less preferable option than profitability.
(Baltex battles to make its mark)
“When you fire at people you encourage them to fire back.”
An insight into pirate thinking from new Singapore Shipping Association president, Patrick Phoon of Evergreen.
Wallenius safety chief, Peter Jodin, on the armed protection it has engaged. But you would have to be an intrepid pirate with no fear of vertigo to scale the side of a car carrier.
“We find that most attacks are carried out in the hours of darkness, that pirates have no problems in carrying strikes up to 50 to 60 nautical miles from shore - but the vast majority of incidents are much closer to land - and that they have a very low threshold for using violence. Many crew members have been severely beaten and even shot during attacks.”
Bergen Risk Solutions' view. But if the prospect of a severe beating in the dark doesn’t keep crew in a high state of alert in pirate infested waters what will?
(Nigeria pirate attacks mimic Gulf of Aden)
"We take the view that the UK government shouldn't encourage this, but should not discourage it, so it would be a decision for the shipping industry on a case by case basis."
Decisive government from UK foreign office minister, Henry Bellingham, on the question of armed protection of ships.
“We have to fish for food and use our savings to survive.”
The master of the Vietnamese cargoship Home Shine, Tin Maung Maung, shines a light on life at the cutting edge of the shipping industry.
Clipper boss, Per Gullestrup, insists there was no company involvement in tax evasion that landed four employees in a Danish jail.
“Everyone saw it as a very nice move toward ‘green’ shipping and we had a lot of very positive reactions. We had a lot of phone calls and congratulations about this step. And of course, it is also recognition to be selected by Cargill for this project because we have been collaborating for many years.....Of course, this will be a pilot stage and we will be looking at the performance in detail."
George Angelakis of Anbros Maritime plans on flying a kite but what's all this about a pilot stage....
(‘Green’ sail could save $3,700 daily)
“If an allegation of fraud or fabrication is to be made, it must be put to the relevant witness fairly and completely before a judge can be asked to infer that the relevant fraud or fabrication has occurred. If, moreover, insurers leave it to the first day of the trial to obtain permission to make a serious allegation of fraud or fabrication, they run the obvious risk that the allegation may become halfbaked.”
Lord justices Mummery, Longmore and Aikens lay down the law after throwing out a Vietnamese insurance company claim that the loss of a floating dock was down to something nefarious rather than a peril of the seas.
