We take a look at what was said in the market in the past week.
Hans Ellingsen gives the lowdown on why he is delighted to hold honorary Brazilian citizenship and for Norskan Offshore to be doing business in Brazil.
(Norskan holds to positive feelings)
“Now is the perfect time to join us — it’s now or never. Our boat is setting sail. Anyone missing the boat now must pay a high price on the future trips.”
Transpetro chief, Sergio Machado, urges Norwegian shipping folk to lose no time in swapping the fiords for Copacabana beach.
(Key issues cloud the maritime outlook)
“The big challenge for us is the issue of human resources. With the industry gone for many years, we don’t have the technicians and the engineers. We still need experienced people in these shipyards. That’s why it is so important to have a good foreign partner... Atlantico Sul was the first one but it is important to understand that we’ll have the same problems in all the other yards, wherever one is built. All the postponements, the delays that have happened, I’m quite sure they will happen again. And in fact, they could be worse.”
An assessment of the challenge facing Brazil’s fast expanding shipbuilding industry from Paulo Cesar Chafic Haddad of PJMR Empreendimentos.
(Realist acknowledges hard road ahead)
“In an environment like today, with lots of negative news out there and when most of industry has been downgraded, eliminating refinancing risk before it becomes a challenge is a very smart thing to do.”
OSG chief executive, Morten Arntzen, on a refinancing strategy that covers corporate needs to 2016...but he is not so candid when it comes to pricing.
“He had the unique ability to get people to follow him and believe in him. He never thought his wealth gave him special rights and he never forgot where he came from or what it was to be poor.”
Eyal Ofer eulogises father Sammy at his funeral in Tel Aviv.
(A man ‘who never forgot where he came from’)
“What if we could guarantee that cargo would be on time, every time? What if placing a shipping order was as easy as buying an airline ticket? What if the shipping industry was known for beating environmental expectations - not struggling to meet them?”
Maersk’s Eivind Kolding has a dream. Lets hope he reaches the promised land.
Clarksons dry cargo chief, Guy Campbell, is looking for brokers with big appetites after being hit by a team of four walking from its Sydney office.
(Clarksons loses four top brokers)
“He was shrewd and they were screwed."
A candid assessment on how Thoresen Thai Agencies’ Chandchutha Chandratat successfully fought off a takeover challenge.
(Takeover battle fails in Bangkok)
“If the current management retains control, there will be nothing left of the company."
But Thai financier Bee Taechaubol desnies a hostile takeover of Thoresen was on the agenda.
“I believe in what I do. In the case of TTA, I might have got deeply involved. But it was with good intentions.”
Former Thai financial regulator, Vijay Supinit, explains his stance.
“At the end of the day, hurting the offshore sector hurts all Americans. And if you are not doing everything you can to lower the price of fuel, then you are not going to stay in office. So I am betting that President Obama is telling the truth [about his commitment to the offshore oil] because he wants to get re-elected.”
Harvey Gulf International Marine chief, Shane Guidry, on why he doubts a moratorium on Gulf of Mexico drilling will become a “permitorium”.
(Short term pain but market will be positive long term)
“It is never good to be making calls but we are not alone. I think members understand that mutuality is what keeps costs down and that this means they are insuring other shipowners’ claims.”
Neil Bell of the South of England P&I Club is hopeful shipowners will understand why they are facing cash calls totalling $31m
(South of England in 110% cash call)
“It is impossible for us to run away from these contracts.”
Wang Joo Lim of STX Pan Ocean on why new special purpose financing vehicles will not be used to walk away from newbuilding deals for three capesize bulkers.
“Recent reports show that some Somali pirates are turning to violent methods, including dragging hostages behind boats, beatings, forcing hostages into freezers and clamping plastic ties around hostages' genitals.”
An Oceans Beyond Piracy report stirs controversy over allegations that bad treatment of seafarers is being suppressed.
Owners deny torture claim and (Owners level with crews)
“Although it is clear that a long term sustainable solution to the piracy problem necessitates a much wider and structural approach including international engagement of people and authorities in the relevant areas, the improvement of prosecution and imprisonment of pirates, coordinated attacks on mother vessels and many other measures, a solution for the dangerous problems that ships face this very moment is required in the very short term.”
A machine gun response from Dockwise chief, Andre Goedee, on why ships should be allowed to carry armed guards.
“Normally pirates in the area are opportunistic as they rob a ship and flee but the hijacking of a vessel requires planning so we believe a syndicate is involved.”
Noel Choong of the International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting centre on an upsurge in attacks on vessels in the South China Sea.
Retired dentist, John Randall, on how US immigration officials took their revenge with seven hours of checks when the cruiseship Arcadia berthed at Los Angeles
"They will be joined by others currently finalising their paperwork."
Baltic Exchange chairman, Mark Jackson, on some Baltex latecomers.
