We take a look at what was said in the market in the past week.
“I say it like it is: the way to solve the problem is to sink the pirates and their vessels, with man and mouse. This is war, and it costs lives waging war.”
Norwegian shipowning stalwart Jacob Stolt-Nielsen is on a mission to root out pests in the Indian Ocean.
“Stolt-Nielsen Limited would like to emphasise that the comments contained within the article are Mr Jacob Stolt-Nielsen's own personal opinion”.
The company which he founded reacts swiftly to distance itself from Stolt-Nielsen’s comments...but agrees that some traps have to be set.
“If we had armed guards onboard I wouldn’t tell you because the pirates are probably watching this interview.”
Herbjorn Hansson, boss of tanker owner NATS, is concerned about CNBC’s penetration in the Horn of Africa airwaves.
“If the 700 hostages would have been Americans or Norwegians, then there would have been a lot more activities.”
Hansson has his own unique view on how to draw a better response to piracy from the international community...and some crew are not going to like it!
“But you see, we are just like the fox. We have two exits in the back of the cage. If the market is up, we make money. If the market is down, we buy cheap ships.”
The ever-colourful Hansson’s fur is up after the CNBC show host queries the company’s next course of action after profit wound up down the hole.
(Hansson keeps it going despite losses.)
“It was pretty positive. It looks like there will be a fundamental change in strategy. It was clear a new approach is being considered in particular with regard to the use of motherships.”
A source as naval forces and government bodies knock heads in London in an attempt to solve the piracy crisis in the Indian Ocean.
(New rules of engagement a must-have.)
"The stiff sentence handed down today sends a clear message to others who would interfere with American vessels or do harm to Americans on the high seas: Whatever seas you ply, you are not beyond the reach of American justice."
FBI director Janice Fedarcyk as Somali pirate Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse gets a nice, warm place to live for the next 34 years for attacking the Maersk Alabama.
“Rizhao and Rio know that if we can grab one of their ships, while it might only be worth $15m or $20m, it could cause some grief, and they are acutely aware that is one of the angles we are working on.”
Alan Rule, CFO of Australian mining company Mount Gibson, which is threatening to seize ore owned by Chinese mill giant Rizhao Steel over a contractual dispute.
(Aussie miner threatens to seize Rizhao steel cargoes at ports in contract row.)
“Our chairman is in Korea at the moment arranging the deal and once he returns we will be able to provide more details.”
We reckon this GNMTC spokesperson was talking about a capesize purchase and not any plans to inject a Korean-style democracy in North Africa.
(Libyan tanker player GNMTC in dry debut with new capesize.)
“KLC can repay their claims any time if it wants to.”
One shipping insider reckons owners with ships on charter to the beleaguered Korean operator may not be in such a bad position after all.
(Bareboat charterers could come off better.)
“We cannot exclude that we could have opportunities along the way as we move towards 2015 but as far as the present is concerned, the roadmap is very clear - deliver!”
Groupe Bourbon CEO Christian Lefevre knows he is under pressure to get the French owner’s offshore plans on target and on time.
“Ordering a vessel is easy but it is challenging to operate it. We have succeeded so far.”
Lefevre says anything is easy with money...once there’s money coming in the other end.
(Managing orderbook integration is key.)
“We aren’t like one of the big players with 15 or 20 people - we don’t compete in that pond.”
Clarkson Securities CEO Alex Gray as the broking giant scales back its FFA activities.
(Clarksons to persist with tanker FFAs.)
“Super-containerships can really help your sex life...But at least the investors suffering from a dose of supership angst have something to console themselves with. Thanks to their courageous efforts sexy women’s knickers are cheaper than ever before.”
Martin Stopford, head of Clarksons Research, gives a hint as to how the Valentine’s Day conversation went at home this year.
“There is so much data you could beat somebody to death with it.”
Stopford reckons Clarksons’ new improvised paperback anti-piracy solution is a novel idea as the broker launches its Offshore Intelligence Monthly.
“Don’t hold your breath. It doesn’t matter who owns what exchange or where the control is based. The fact is that shipping is a US dollar-denominated business at the moment. Revenues are in dollars, expenses are in dollars, profits are in dollars.”
Hamish Norton of US bank Jefferies thinks New York is once, twice, three times a bourse lady.
(New York tipped to remain at heart of shipping action.)
“What’s also become clear is that nobody in London cares. The AIM shipping stocks just didn’t trade, there were no analysts covering them, no investors interested. It disappointed everybody.”
But Norton reckons London is about as attractive as Borat fancy dress rig-out.
(New York tipped to remain at heart of shipping action.)
“There is no extraordinary activity in the country other than a normal decent season coming back.”
Yntze Buitenwerf, executive of reefer owner Seatrade, as the market looks to be on the up.
