Plunging crude prices may be bad news for the oil companies and Russia but Nikolas Tsakos of Tsakos Energy Navigation, and the chairman of Intertanko, sees an upside for some.
“The orderbook for suezmax tankers is acceptable, unlike other ship types. The newbuilding price is also reasonable and we believe freight rates will be stable for the next few years.”
And another shipowner who likes the look of the tanker market. Rakesh Tulshyan drops more than a hint about the sector he is eyeing for investment.
(Tulshyan Group ready to scale up fleet if the market dictates)
“There’s no question that dry bulk was an unmitigated disaster in the industry this year. Day after day, week after week, month after month, you saw rate disappointment.
A clear as it gets message about another market from Evercore ISI analyst, Jonathan Chappell.
(Shipping stocks take beating as 2014 recovery fails to kick in)
“This is a dicey old game.”
A demolition broker admits what many had suspected. Maybe just as well his identity was veiled.
(Cheap Chinese billets crash demo markets)
"The history of maritime regulation has taught us that most new legislation, irrespective of the goal, comes at a cost to the shipowner or operator. But it has also taught us that new regulation that is not grounded in practicality encourages non-compliance."
A warning of how it is in the real world from Tom Kirk of American Bureau of Shipping.
(Shipowners need to get ahead of the curve on emissions compliance)
A be good or be careful warning from Eugene O’Connor of the Montgomery McCracken law firm as US emission regulations are tightened.
(US may shift to stricter ECA sulphur enforcement)
“I felt that they were small and too decentralised. My thought is that shipbuilding will derive much efficiency through economies of scale. By grouping some shipyards together, we can achieve a better production output.”
Growth through consolidation is the strategy of China State Shipbuilding Corp according to chairman and chief executive, Hu Wenming.
(CSSC chairman Hu presses on with restructuring programme)
“As our market environment changes, we have to follow that change. One way to do that is to create bigger companies which can survive the volatile market we operate in. We have had five years of not quite crisis but a poor market. To survive in such an environment, you have to increase scale and consolidate.”
And another line of business where Claes Devantier of Maersk Broker believes bigger is better.
(Maersk Broker and Lightship look to expand after new tie-up)
“There are always internal discussions on how to proceed.”
Transworld’s Ritesh Ramakrishnan believes it is good to talk, especially about expansion.
(Transworld’s next generation drives group beyond box niche)
“There is so much more life in them.”
Oldies can be goodies according to Awilco’s Jon Skule Storheill - at least when it comes to LNG carriers afloat into their third decade.
(Second Awilco LNG ship goes to layup)
A bit of bad luck befell Skuld through the third quarter but Douglas Jacobsohn, soon to step down as chief executive, is undaunted.
(Skuld runs up loss in third quarter as Jacobsohn prepares to bow out)
