“Weall know, banks are holding back distressed assets, so do I dare mention zombieshipping companies being propped up by some banks that have zombie divisions,which were previously called work-out departments?”

Timefor Riaz Khan to take up voodoo banking to bring living dead shipping venturesback to life?

(Differentagendas ‘can influence success or failure’)

“Weroutinely evaluate the market for acquisition opportunities consistent with ourfleet strategy, which is focused on mid-size product and chemical tankers. Thisincludes secondhand, resale and newbuilding orders.”

Goodto hear that Ardmore Shipping’s Anthony Gurnee is keeping his eyes open.

(Gurneewants more)

“Ifyou, as a foreign shipping line, want to come to a country and get one of themost powerful legal tools that the country can grant — immunity fromprosecution for price fixing — then you have to show due deference to theregulator.”

TheP3 alliance is all ready to play but seems to have upset referee Richard Lidinskywho is hanging on to the ball.

(USFederal Maritime Commission on P3 war footing)

“Weobviously have different accents than everyone on the bayou, but we feelcomfortable there and everyone is good to us.... We are straightforward andhonest, but we are also well thought out and a little nerdy.”

Maybe NathanGuice and bros Billy need to put their fancy Mississippi ways behind them andfind more ‘joie de vivre’ if they are to assimilate with Jean-Francois andLeroy.

(SavvyGuice Offshore makes break into OSV shipowning)

"Oncewe restructure our debt and make our capital structure adequate, OGX will havea prosperous future, able to generate wealth for its shareholders, workers,creditors and for Brazilian society."

EikeBatista’s lawyers samba around the little inconvenience of the former billionaire’sOGX Petroleo e Gas Participacoes filing for protection from creditors inBrazil.

(Batista’sOGX files)

“Sothe question is not mark to market or mark to model, it is market value andincome value.”

Seasure’sRichard Rivlin considers the question of efficient markets and the worth of a ship for its steel or its earning potential.

(Atime to buy, or a time to sell — it is all down to being able to spot thesignals)

“Facinga choice between relatively modest premium increases in the short term or moresubstantial and painful increases in future, the board does not view the latteroption as being in the best long-term interests of its members or the club.”

Newlyelected UK Club chairman, Alan Olivier, explains the dilemma facing the shipownerdirectors of P&I mutuals.

(Costlypremium increases facing shipowners at next P&I renewal)

“Wehave used the exclusive correspondent model for decades and it has served usvery well, but we think the time has come to change and put Britannia’s nameout there.”

Maybea bigger change than it appears but unlikely there will be any neon BritanniaClub signs any time soon.

Britanniaupgrades Sureness into Hong Kong branch

“Thechallenge is to ensure that we stay absolutely true to our purpose, which ishelping the maritime industries to mitigate and manage their risks. So we needto be completely in tune with our members and clients, their needs, how theirbusinesses are developing and what that means for their risk profiles."

Rolf Thore Roppestad, sets out a less than surprisingagenda as he prepares to move into the chief executive’s office at Gard.

(Roppestadconfirmed as Gard’s new chief)

 “The detention had nothing to do with placingan agreement aboard the vessel.”

ITFinspector, Gerard Bradbury, insists there was no ulterior motive to blowing thewhistle on unpaid wages on the Japanese controlled bulker Kouyou.

“Thelack of safety measures during asbestos removal is particularly worrying.Workers remove asbestos only protected by gloves and equipped with a hook.”

Lifeon Gadani Beach is no holiday and for a reward of as little as $3.50 a daycould be shorter than it should be.

(NGOsurge Pakistan to overhaul shiprecycling standards)