S&P, Newbuilding and Demolition Update (September 27th, 2014) – Dry Bulk Market Focus

Posted on September 28, 2014 by Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

It’s hard to believe that the Baltic Dry Index (BDI) started the year above the 2,200 mark given that now is standing at below 1,100, and having spent most of the late spring and summer below 1,000. A seasonal rally had religiously been prayed for and for a few recent weeks capesize rates improved to ‘high teen levels’ (approximately $18,000 pd on average spot market), but then again, the rally seems to have run out of steam a bit too early. A worldwide bumper crop season of grains, primarily in North America, has been holding the hopes for boosting panamax rates especially in the Atlantic, but it seems railroad capacity has preferentially been tied up to shipments of shale oil, leaving inland seaways transport to cope with the movement of the cargo along the Mississippi River to New Orleans for exporting. China, as this was put into perspective in a recent New York Times op-ed article, has been focusing on clean air and has shut down domestic coal mines of poor calorific quality or high sulphur content, and likewise imposed higher standards of imported coal, which likely would stimulate increased imports and thus help drive higher dry bulk freight rates. There has been speculation that, over the long run, China will be shifting its power generation to natural gas, which is perceived as a negative development for coal miners worldwide, but good for the LNG trade fortunes. In India, there has been noted excessive port congestion with vessels waiting to unload coal, and there is hope that such port congestion could translate to higher rates. The decision by the Supreme Court of India to declare ‘arbitrary and illegal’ the issuing of licenses for more than 200 coal mines issued since 1993 creates further hopes that coal imports would be needed for the country to meet its domestic needs. The decision is not revoking the licenses altogether yet, but taking action on the ‘coal scam’ has created great uncertainty for the approximately 30 operational mines.

Capesize vessel ‘Berge McClintock’ (Image source: http://www.shipspotting.com

In terms of sale and purchase in the dry bulk market, Bunge has exercised a purchase option to acquire from Fleet Management MV „C Phoenix” (2011, Jiangsu Rongsheng, 176,000 dwt) at a deep-in-the money price of $40 million. It is understood that the vessel has been already on charter to Bunge until January 2015 at $15,000 pd with Bunge’s option to extend at similar levels for an additional year, which definitely has affected pricing further. Navios has purchased from Berge Bulk MV „Berge McClintock” (2012, Hanjin Heavy, 179,000 dwt) at $52.5 million. MV „Rio Manaus” and MV„Rio Montevideo” (2012, HHIC- Philippines, 180,000 dwt) were sold CarVal Investors at $52 million; certain broker reports have the sale price at $48 mil, which may be better in line with the market given the thin pedigree of the shipbuilder and also the notion that sellers have been the Ahrenkiel Steamship in Germany, knowing to have been in discussions with their banks. CarVal has been active in shipping recently as a couple of week ago has been associated with the purchase of another modern cape MV „Silver Surfer” (2013, Sungdong S.B., 179,000 dwt) from Sinokor at $53.5 million, which would still be considered at a slight discount to the market, placing prompt capesize re-sales below the $60 million market, in order to reflect for the price achived for this 2013 tonnage.

Built at Burmeister & Wain (Denmark), panamax bulker MV ‘Jindal Vadar’ (Image source: http://www.shipspotting.com)

Vintage panamax bulker MV „Castillo de San Petro” (1994, Korea, 73,500 dwt) was sold for further trading at $5.7 million to undisclosed buyers, a price in line with her scrap value (10,624 ldt); vessel is immediately SSDD due. Similarly aged MV „Sinokor Pioneer” (1995, Sumitomo, 70,000 dwt) was sold at $5.95 million to Chinese buyers, with vessel having about a year to trade before her next drydock, while Danish-built MV „Jindal Varad” (1994, Burmeister & Wain, 75,800 dwt) was sold at $5.8 million to Indian interests. In terms of modern panamax bulkers, the most recent transaction of modern tonnage has been almost a month ago when MV „Zhushui 5” (2012, Seroya Zhushui, 79,500 dwt) fetched a discounted $20.5 mil by Greek buyers; the transaction is interesting that a relatively new Chinese shipbuilder built the vessel on their own account (with no independent third-party supervision besides the classification society) and then facing weak demand when attempting selling the vessel, and thus the soft cash price; interestingly, we keep seeing more tonnage of that nature.

Supramax bulker MV ‘Sea Lily’ (Image source: http://www.shipspotting.com)

In the supramax / handymax segment, MV „Emerald Strait” and MV „Endeavour Strait” (2010, Sanfu, 56,800 dwt) were sold by Rehder Carsten in Hamburg to Maritime Opportunities in Norway at $22.5 million, a rather strong price, given the vessels’ un-inspiring shipbuilding pedigree. Norwegian financial buyers were also the buyers of MV „Free Jupiter” (2002, Cosco Nantong, 47,000 dwt) at $12.3 million while sellers Freeseas (Nasdaq: FREE) took the vessel back on bareboat charter for seven years at $5,350 pd. Supramax bulker MV „Sea Lily” (2004, Tsuneishi Zosen, 52,500 dwt) was sold to Greek buyers at $15.5 mil by CosBulk to Greek buyers.

In the smaller handysize market, the well-built in Japan MV „Kwela” (2002, Kanda, 32,500 dwt) was sold at approximately $10.7 mil to ACT Infraport in China, while MV „Caribbean Frontier” (2002, Minami Nippon, 28,000 dwt) was sold at 9.5 million. MV „Fortune Frontier” (2002, Shikoku, 29,000 dwt) was sold in August at $9.7 million, confirming an asset price stability despite the end of the summer and renewed optimism on improving shipping prospects. MV „Ocean Pearl” (1994, Kanda, 28,000 dwt, 6,352 ldt) built at same shipyard in Japan achieved a very respectable $6.8 million by Chinese buyers. Exact sistership MV „Theomitor” (1994, Kanda, 28,000 dwt) by Anbros Maritime in Greece achieved also same price of $6.8 million in independent sale to also Chinese buyers a week earlier. MV „Silver Star” (1995, Saiki, 22,000 dwt) achieved a strong price of $5.1 mil given her immediate SSDD due position (5,318 ldt). Finally, MV „Lady Anthula H” (1999, 20,700 dwt, 5,300 dwt) was sold in a bank-driven transaction to Turkish buyers at $4.5 million with her SSD immediately due.

In re-capping market activity, the trend of institutional investors or buyers with the access to the capital markets is focusing on modern, expensive tonnage; lack of credit for the traditional, independent shipowner has shifted the market towards small transactions with relatively older tonnage; reflecting the nature of the buyers, there have been a clear bifurcation in the buying interest as well in reference to tonnage quality, with owners putting their own money on the table seeking value deals with quality (read Japanese) tonnage; there is little tolerance for sub-par tonnage; for institutional buyers, shipyard pedigree is a lower priority as this apparent with the capesize transactions reported herewith.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Access to this blog signifies the reader’s irrevocable acceptance of this disclaimer. No part of this blog can be reproduced by any means and under any circumstances, whatsoever, in whole or in part, without proper attribution or the consent of the copyright and trademark holders of this website.Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information herewithin has been received from sources believed to be reliable and such information is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, no warranties or assurances whatsoever are made in reference to accuracy or completeness of said information, and no liability whatsoever will be accepted for taking or failing to take any action upon any information contained in any part of this website. Thank you for the consideration.

S&P, Newbuilding and Demolition Update (September 27th, 2014) – Tanker Market Focus

Posted on September 27, 2014 by Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

Since our last week three weeks ago, crude tanker rates have softened with VLCC and Aframax average spot rates at approximately $12,000 pd and Suezmax tankers at approximately $16,000 pd, on the back of weak trading activity. At such levels, crude tanker spot rates stand substantially below the yearly average, and it has to be noted that present VLCC rates are very close to operating break even and far below levels required to pay for the vessel’s financial cost as well. Despite the weakness in freight rates, there has been meaningful activity in the sale & purchase market at strengthening prices, as optimism keeps building that the crude tanker market is well into a structural market recovery, and thus the present weakness in the market is only seasonal. A recent article on Reuters that pressures are building up in the US on allowing crude oil exports can only interpreted as a positive development for the crude tanker markets.

VLCC Tanker ‘Samco Sundarbans’ sold in en bloc transaction to DHT Holdings (Image source: Samco Shipholding)

Double Hull Tankers DHT Holdings (NYSE: DHT) has finalized the acquisition of Samco Shipholding Pte Ltd in Singapore with ownership of seven VLLC tankers with average age of 4.5 years at approximately $322 million; DHT Holdings also acquired in the same transaction and remuneration Samho’s 50% interest in Goodwood Ship Management. The vessels are built at Hyundai Samho and they are MT „Samco Sundarbans” and MT „Samco Taiga” (2012, Hyundai Samho, 318,000 dwt), MT „Samco Amazon” and MT „Samco Redwood” (2011, Hyundai Samho, 318,000 dwt), MT „Samco Europe” and MT „Samco China” (2007, Hyundai Samho, 318,000 dwt) and MT „Samco Scandinavia” (2006, Hyundai Samho, 318,000 dwt). This being a corporate transaction rather than a pure asset acquisition, there have been additional considerations, although DHT Holdings appears to be paying approximately $50 mil below the nominal market value of the vessels. On pure asset sales, BW Maritime of Singapore has sold MT „BW Nyssa” (2000, Daewoo, 299,500 dwt) to Smart Tankers in Greece at $29.5 million, probably at a $2 million premium over the market. The price reveals strong buyer’s optimism as the vessel is due drydock and special survey in January 2015 at a cost of several million dollars while she will be turning the dreaded 15^th anniversary from delivery that puts her on the second priority list of many charterers. The vessel was reported in January 2014 as tied up to a conversion project at $32 million purchase price which transaction apparently has not materialized.

In the Suezmax tanker market, MT „Aegean Navigator” (2007, Hyundai, 159,000 dwt) has been reported sold at $48 million to undisclosed buyers, while other reports state en bloc deal along with sistership MT „Aegean Horizon” and MT „Aegean Dignity” and MT „Aegean Angel” (2004, Hyundai, 159,000 dwt) to clients of Teekay (likely Tanker Investment Limited) at pricing to be confirmed.

In the Aframax tanker market, there has been the sale of coated tanker (LR2) MT „SC Laura” (2001, Dalian New Yard, 109,000 dwt) at $14.5 mil by KGAL to South East Asian buyers rumored to be Indonesians. The price seems to be softer than average which is mostly attributed to the Chinese-built of the vessel and the nature of the seller / transaction, while a week ago, similar tonnage from the same shipbuilder achieved $23.5 mil collectively for MT „Beach 3” and MT „Beach 4” (2000/1999, Dalian New Yard, 109,000 dwt). The Japanese-built vessel MT „SC Sara” (2001, Sumitomo, 105,500 dwt) was sold at $17 million earlier this month to Singaporean-based buyers (Zodiac Maritime), a noticeable ‘premium’ for the Japanese pedigree of the vessel. The still Japanese built MT „Song Lin Wan” (2002, Namura, 106,000 dwt) has been sold by CSDC at $19.5 million to again Zodiac Maritime. For more modern tonnage, it has been reported the sale of Daewoo Hulls 5402 and 5403 with 2015 delivery for coated tankers (LR2) 115,000 dwt at $57 million each to US-based buyers.

As we have mentioned in the past, despite the increased buying interest in the crude tanker market, buyers keep being very price sensitive with strong preference for Japanese or Korean built tonnage, and usually for vessels built in a year starting with ‘2’ getting more of the attention. Given that most banks would not provide mortgage financing for older than ten-year-old tankers, independent tanker buyers paying cash have been very opportunistic on their approach, and any urgency in the sale or other transaction handling mishaps or limitations from the sellers usually end up costing a lower sale price.

The products and chemical tanker market has been selectively active as well, with focused interest in the coated panamax (LR1) tankers and MR pumproom design tonnage. The LR1 tanker MT „Holy Victoria” (2008, Minami Nippon, 75,000 dwt) has been sold at $29 mil to Greece based Prime Marine; the smaller and older MT „Moonlight Venture” (2006, Sumitomo (Yokosuka), 61,000 dwt) achieved $22.5 million by unnamed Greek interests.

BP’s MR2 Tanker ‘British Harmony’ at anchor (Image source: shipspotting)

The MR2 tanker MT „St. Nikolai” (2005, Onomichi, 47,000 dwt) achieved $17.5 million by Indonesian buyers (technical details on the vessel are conflicting, but it seems she’s ‘pumproom design’ which would make her price in line with the market). The older but seemingly more sophisticated tanker MT „High Nefeli” (2003, STX, 47,000 dwt) achieved $15 mil by Greek buyers (Benetech Shipping). MT „British Harmony” and MT „British Chivalry” (2005, Hyundai Mipo, 47,000 dwt) were sold by BP at $19 each with bareboat back to the sellers for two years at undisclosed rate ($8,000 pd bareboat rate some wishfully well-placed reports mentioned) on an operating lease basis. MT „Topaz Express” and MT „Diamond Express” (2009, Minami Nippon, 45,700 dwt) were sold at $22 million each by Daichi Chuo to Island Navigation in Hong Kong. The older MR2 tanker MT „Hellas Progress” (1999, Hyundai Heavy, 46,000 dwt) has been reported sold by Latsco (London) Ltd. to West African interest at $10 million. For modern tonnage, publicly traded companies have also been active with acquisitions in the sector with Scorpio Tankers (Nasdaq: STNG) acquiring from Ceres Hellenic SPP Hull No S5126 on resale basis (2014, SPP, 50,000 dwt) at $37.10 million. Aspiring to soon to file for a public listing, Singapore based Navig8 acquired at $41 million each six MR2 tankers from Wilmar MT „Polaris” (2014, Hyundai Vinashin, 49,000 dwt) and sistership Hull Nos S401, S402, S403, S404 and S405 (2014/2015 delivery, Hyundai Vinashin, 49,000 dwt); the Scorpio acquisition seems to be in-line with prevailing market levels while the Navig8 acquisition seems to be a 10% premium to the market, which is especially interesting given that the shipbuilder is not considered top tier name.

Euronav’s ULCC ‘TI Europe’ taken for storage purposes by China’s Unipec at reportedly $25,600 pd for six months. (Image source: Shipspoting)

Crude oil has been trading in contango recently and a number of crude oil tankers have been reported chartered for storage, including Euronav’s 442,000 dwt ULCC MT „TI Europe” taken by China’s Unipec for six months plus options at $25,600 pd. The level of discount for present delivery of the commodity is still weak to justify a massive storage play and absorption of crude oil tanker supply from the market which hopefully would boost freight rates. The recent strength of the US Dollar reflecting the Fed’s statements about increasing interest rates in the US has had a negative impact of commodities, in part causing the contango, but making commodities less attractive as a storage medium, especially in an increasing interest rate (costlier) environment thus putting a limit to the storage play. On the other hand, increased refining capacity by Middle East refineries seems finally to be having a positive impact on larger product tankers (LR1 and LR2), a story hyped to ethereal existence for several years now. There are hopes that finally there will be impact on the market which could improve asset pricing. The waiving of export taxation on certain palm oil gradients by Southeast Asian countries, most notably Indonesia, in an effort to win market share on the world markets in a bumper crop season for palm oil, hopefully will have a positive effect on IMO III / veg oil chemical tankers.

Honestly, shipping can use all the help it can get in improving freight rates by contango and storage, to increasing refining capacity in Middle East, or fiscal strategy to move around record levels of vegetable oils.

S&P, Newbuilding and Demolition Update (April 18th, 2014)

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), the closely watched proxy for the shipping markets, has been on the cusp of wild crest recently: on December 12, 2013, the index topped at 2,337 points and promptly nose-dived to a bottom of 1,084 points by February 4^th, 2014, just to bounce back to 1,621 points on March 20^th, and since then, the index has been losing ground every single day to set a new low of 930 points on Thursday, April 17^th. As usually, the capesize component of the index, and its most volatile component, has pushed and pulled the overall index around the most, as spot rates for capesize vessels have ranged from $50,000 per diem since December last year to approximately $12,000 per diem at present. So far, so bad.

Asset prices for vessels and the market momentum overall are still very strong; despite all the gyrating and the recent declines, as per the graph herebelow, we should not forget that the present standing of the index is respectable given that the market was used to ‘bounding along the bottom’ of about 700 points for some extended amount of time and that capes (and VLCCs in the tanker market) were lucky to fetch $5,000 per diem for so long, that some people had given up hope that there will ever be a recovery. The fact that the market showed such strength as to bounce several-fold has put lead in the faith of many people, not to mention some extra cash in their pockets and that of shipping banks as they managed to contribute excess earning toward shipping loans in default. Thus, the recent decline in freight rates is not worrisome, at least not yet, and asset prices have been holding strong; usually there is a time lapse for asset prices to follow the dip in freight rates, and given that still there are few quality vessels available for sale, asset prices are nothing short of impressive, in our opinion. Quality vessels that come to the market, especially dry bulk and occasionally tankers, get very strong reception and force potential buyers to bid up the pricing; the bifurcating market is still selective on tonnage, as owners with inferior tonnage – including some newbuildings, are having hard time to get much attention.

Baltic Dry Index (BDI) and Baltic Cape Index (BCI) since January 2013

Despite heightened pricing levels, activity has been strong in terms of volume of transactions; in the last couple of weeks, a few noteworthy transactions in a certain market segments have as follows:

MV „SHAGANGFIRST ERA” – 181,500 DWT Capesize built at Koyo Dock K.K.

The Daiichi controlled capesize vessel MV „SHAGANGFIRST ERA” (181,000 DWT, 2010 –built at Koyo Dock K.K.) got strong buying interest and went for an impressive price of about $54 million, implying a prompt resale pricing of well in excess of $60 million. Buyers were Golden Union of Greece, an independent Greek owner specializing in such tonnage, and a net buyer of such vessels ever since the market collapsed in 2009. Golden Union has bought in July 2012 MV „CAPE ELEKTRA” (ex- „CHRISTINA BULKER”, 179,500 DWT built in 2011 at Hanjin H.I.) at $38 mil, in September 2012 MV „CIC ROLACO” (ex-„BULK LOYALTY”, 175,500 DWT, 2012 built at Jinhai Heavy Industries) at $34.5 mil, and in August 2013 MV „CAPE PROVIDENCE (ex-„LILAC”, 179,500 DWT built in 2009 at Daewoo) at $36 mil; these acquisitions are in addition to six capesize vessels on order with deliveries 2014-2016, orders believed to be placed at approximately $54-$55 mil per hull. Similarly, Vista Shipping has continued their fleet growth plan with the acquisition of vintage caper MV „LIAN FU STAR” (172,000 DWT, 1997 built at NKK) at $18.5 mil; it’s indicative of the strengthening market place since same buyers acquired from same sellers in September 2013, the slightly newer and larger cape vessel MV „CAPE TORONTO” (ex-„TAI FU STAR”, 178,500 DWT, built in 1998 at Daewoo) at the lower price of $16.5 mil, implying an approximate 30% improvement in asset pricing.

In the panamax market, Polembros Shipping of Greece has continued their acquisition spree in the sector by acquiring sistership vessels MV „ZHUSHUI 3” and MV „ZHUSHUI 5” (79,500 DWT, 2011/2012 built at Jinhai Heavy Industries) at reportedly region of $23.5 mil; about a month ago, same buyers committed to the purchase of sistership vessels from same shipbuilder (and likely seller) Hull Nos J0047 and J0048 (to be named MV „GOLDEN EXCELLENCE” and MV „GOLDEN EXPLORER” respectively, 79,500 DWT, 2014 delivery from Jinhai Heavy Industries) at $24 million.

In the ultramax market, Hamburg Bulk Carriers have exercised options from Sainty Shipyard in China for four 64,000 DWT vessels, delivery 2014 and 2015 at $29 million, each. Supramax bulker MV „CHANE NAVIGATOR” (55,000 DWT, C4x30T, 2010 built at Jiangsu Qinfeng) at a soft pricing – likely reflecting poor pedigree, at $18 mil., while sisterships MV „TANAGER BULKER” and MV „TESS BULKER” (58,000 DWT, 2011 built at Tsuneishi Cebu) were sold from Lauritzen Bulkers at $29 mil each to ID Shipping in Denmark.

MT „ATLAS VALOR” – Aframax tanker built in 1999 at Koyo Dock K.K.

In the tanker market, after a couple of ‘corporate transactions’ in the VLCC market at impressive prices that topped $100 mil per hull for the very first time since the market collapse in 2008 (for ‘arm’s length transactions’ it is), aframax tanker MT „FORWARD VENTURE” (115,000 DWT, 2006 built at Sasebo H.I.) was sold at $31 mil. Older tonnage such as MT „ATLAS VALOR” (107,000 DWT, 1999 built at Koyo Dock K.K.) was sold to Tsakos Hellas at $13 mil, while similar pricing was achieved by comparable vessel MT „JAG LAXMI” (105,000 DWT, 1999 built at Samsung) to Indonesian buyers (Waruna Shipping).

In the chemical tanker market, and the sophisticated segment of stainless steel tonnage which seems to be in the news recently – whether with the newbuilding orders by interests of Peter Georgiopoulos or the roadshow of Stalwart Tankers, MISC of Malaysia (a fully owned subsidiary of the national oil company Petronas) has taken a massive divestment of assets in the sector by selling to China’s Sinochem the stainless steel tankers MT „BUNGA KATAN SATU”, MT „BUNGA KANTAN DUA”, MT „BUNGA KATAN TIGA” (19,750 DWT, 2005 built at Fukuoka S.B., IMO II, with 20 segregations / pumps / tanks and 60 ˚C maximum heating capacity) at approximately $20.5 mil each, a rather strong pricing. Also, MISC has sold, to UACC based in UAE, the marineline coated tankers MT „BUNGA BALSAM”, MT„BAKAWALI”, MT „BUNGA BANYAN”, MT „BUNGA BEGONIA” (45,500 DWT, 2010/2011 built at SLS Shipbuilding, IMO II, MarineLine coating, 22 segregations/ pumps / tanks, 70 ˚C maximum heating capacity) at the fair pricing of $36 mil., each.

MT „BUNGA BALSAM” – 45,000 DWT MarineLine Coated Chemical Tanker

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Access to this blog signifies the reader’s irrevocable acceptance of this disclaimer. No part of this blog can be reproduced by any means and under any circumstances, whatsoever, in whole or in part, without proper attribution or the consent of the copyright and trademark holders of this website. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information here within has been received from sources believed to be reliable and such information is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, no warranties or assurances whatsoever are made in reference to accuracy or completeness of said information, and no liability whatsoever will be accepted for taking or failing to take any action upon any information contained in any part of this website. Thank you for the consideration.

S&P, Newbuilding and Demolition Update (March 18th, 2014)

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

Since our last Sale & Purchase report in January, the market has kept an active pace with general all market segments showing signs of life, and certain markets even much more so. The prevailing mode is that the world economy is entering a growth phase and that logically shipping would be the major beneficial of it; actually, a lot of market pundits have come to believe that the worst is behind us in shipping, the bottom of the market behind us as well, and now it’s the last chance to get on the boat before she leaves port.

We have been more skeptical than the average pundit – but we have been known to be of a skeptical nature – and we think that the present wave of enthusiasm may be a tad too much given the overall state of the market, still. Since our last report, we have had the opportunity to travel extensively and catch up with shipowners, charterers, banks, vessel managers, etc Certain markets such as older containerships remain abysmally bad, and several independent shipowners have been very concerned about the outstanding orderbook in every sector. Yes, indeed, independent shipowners have ordered vessels as well, but the majority of the ordering has taken place from financial players who have been riding fully the ‘eco design’ wave; to a certain extent, some of these financial players are the tail that wags the dog (rather than the charterers and cargoes) since they have been known to be placing orders and chasing markets that have been neglected during the present boom.

In the most recent developments, while China still remains that 600-pound gorilla that can move the shipping market with just a thrash of the dragon’s tail, there have been signs that the economy is slowing – despite the recently announced 7.5% official GDP growth for the next year; it’s an absolutely great number, but also absolutely interesting are the news that the Chinese government has been slowly devaluing the Chinese Yuan (CNY), that there has been the first major default of a real estate developer company in China for $500 million un-serviced ‘bond’, and that the shadow banking in China stands at an exorbitant $7.5 trillion dollars or about 85% of Chinese GDP (the numbers from last week’s front page graphic of the Financial Times.)

And just last week, Scorpio executed on a really impressive (risky nevertheless) ‘asset play’ maneuver, flipping their seven VLCC newbuilding orders in Korean yards to a US-based buyer (Genmar and/or Peter G.) for a capital gain of about $50 million for holding the orders for just a few short months; the price per vessel has been $105 million or so, about $7 million higher than the newbuilding orders, and the first time in more than three years that a VLCC changed hands above $100 million (actually more than five years, if one were to count only ‘arm’s length transactions’ where there was no involvement of seller / soft finance.) Believe it or not, there was a bidding war among several buyers for these vessels; all the buyers were sponsored by financial players; we caught several ‘old salt’ shipowners scratching their heads on the acquisition and pricing, and we noticed that although the words ‘VLCCs’ and ‘Fredriksen / Frontline’ are synonymous, ‘Big John’ has been conspicuously absent from all the gerrymandering in the VLCC space; either he knows something that the rest of the market doesn’t or the buyers of the Scorpio VLCCs know something that the market doesn’t know. For sure somebody better know more than the market.

Shipping is beautiful industry, and never boring!

VLCC TANKER MT ‘GENMAR ATLAS’

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Access to this blog signifies the reader’s irrevocable acceptance of this disclaimer. No part of this blog can be reproduced by any means and under any circumstances, whatsoever, in whole or in part, without proper attribution or the consent of the copyright and trademark holders of this website. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information herewithin has been received from sources believed to be reliable and such information is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, no warranties or assurances whatsoever are made in reference to accuracy or completeness of said information, and no liability whatsoever will be accepted for taking or failing to take any action upon any information contained in any part of this website. Thank you for the consideration.

S&P, Newbuilding and Demolition Update (January 19th, 2014) – Tanker Market Focus

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Karatzas Marine Advisors & Co.

Since our report of last week with its headline news of Euronav acquiring the Maersk Tankers VLCC fleet of fifteen vessels at $980 million, freight rates for tankers, primarily crude oil tankers, have seen levels that were almost forgotten, or even non existent any more. VLCC rates have ranged between $40,000 and $50,000 pd for this past week, while Suezmax and aframax tankers saw even higher rates, exceeding $100,000 pd for certain routes, primarily cross-Med and Baltic Sea, based on heavy delays in Bosporus and Libya having a change of heart in terms of oil exports. Clean tankers in the products trade have been ‘floating’ along with LR2s heading to Japan getting less than $10,000 pd, while dirty tankers whether cross-Med or USG-Caribs are getting better reception.

Enlightened sale of MT ALGECIRAS SPIRIT (Image source: shipspotting.com)

While Euronav was in the news last week with their transformative acquisition, this week they have been in the news with exceptional pricing for the sale of the 1999-built VLCC MT „LUXEMOURG” (299,000 DWT, 1999, Daewoo) for FPSO conversion to Modec at $28 million. Probably the price is close to $10 million above salvage value and several million from a hypothetical sale for ‘further trading’, but still meaningfully lower than the $35.8 million that Euronav achieved in 2012 for the sale of sistership vessel MT „ALGRAVE” still to Modec for again conversion purposes. Earlier in January, MT „SATURN GLORY” (299,000 DWT, 1998, Daewoo) was sold in excess of $23 million to clients of Sentek Marine & Trade. In the Suezmax market, Avin Oil of Greece has acquired the good vessel MT „ALGECIRAS SPIRIT” (150,000 DWT, 2000, Daewoo) from publicly listed TK Tankers at about $17.8 million. The pricing is a firm improvement over the sale of sistership tanker MT „TENERIFE SPIRIT” (15,000 DWT, 2000, Daewoo) again from Teekay Tankers to Eurotankers in Greece in early November 2013 at about $16.3 million. Still in the Suezmax market, MT „HERO” (156,500 DWT, 2011, Jiangsu Rongsheng) was sold at auction to Greek buyers (Alma) at $51.5 million.

Teekay has been active also in the buying front as they have acquired in a different transaction four modern sistership aframax tankers owned By Montanari but controlled indirectly from a European bank which had to approve any sale (MT „VALLESINA”, MV „VALBRENTA”, MT „VALFOGLIA”, and MT „VALDARNO” (2009/2009/2009/2010, 109,000 DWT, Hundong Zhonghua)) at about $30 million each. We understand that previous potential buyers were not impressed with the quality of vessels, but the pricing had to be ‘right’ given sellers’ price ideas came down sizably since early 2013 at a time when asset prices, rates and momentum were heading the opposite direction. In a sign that there is a big disconnect with tanker tonnage sold before the turn of the century, MT „NORD” (105,000 DWT, 1998, Halla Eng.) achieved $9.8 million, a price no much higher than scrap, but still strong for what vessels of this vintage have been fetching of recent.

The LR1 tanker MT „ANNA VICTORIA” (75,000 DWT, 2004, HHI) was sold to clients of Eletson at region $22 million. In general, the market for product tankers has been cooling off as many players are trying to stay away – let’s say a ‘hangover’ effect from the massive orders in the sector, while we have seen ever increasing inquiry in the crude tanker market, including purchase inquiries for VLCCs, Suezmax and aframax tankers; sometimes we are confused whether such inquiries are legitimate efforts to enter / expand in these markets or cases ‘the tail wagging the dog’. No doubt however, that there is increased levels of inquiries in the segment which could be a sign of potential ‘break out’ of the market.

Stainless steel parcel tanker MT CLIPPER MAKISHIO (Image source: Wiki Commons)

In the stainless steel parcel tanker market, there is the interesting sale of MT „CLIPPER MAKISHIO” (19,980 DWT, 2009, Fukuoka SB) to clients of Songa Shipping in Norway at just below $27 million. There are no many sales in this niche market in general, so each one of them is noteworthy; the pricing has been fairly strong for a vessel already five years old.

The demolition market seems to be coming back to market slowly after the holidays, but again, when freight rates are solidly in cash flow positive territory, it’s only logical that owners are given an extension to do the inevitable; maybe another trip, maybe another month, but definitely not now. Tankers coming for their third or fourth special survey are the lowest hanging fruit, and the lower quality vessels with opex. Demolition pricing is solidly in the $400/ldt territory, with tankers getting $450/ldt or even more in subcontinent, with about 20% discount in China, at about $350/ldt.

Our report in the dry bulk market has been posted separately due to volume of reported transactions (please click here to access.) Developments in the financial and capital markets have always been of heightened interest, especially the prospects for a new round of stress tests with the European banks. That will be an interesting development to watch, although it seems ever likely that Basel III will have little chance to get implemented as envisioned originally and on schedule; just more regulatory bodies seem to be getting more receptive to the banks’ points of view and also giving higher priority to stimulating economic growth at the cost of curtailing or penalizing banks just because they stand on the wrong side of a benchmark figure.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Access to this blog signifies the reader’s irrevocable acceptance of this disclaimer. No part of this blog can be reproduced by any means and under any circumstances, whatsoever, in whole or in part, without proper attribution or the consent of the copyright and trademark holders of this website. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that information herewithin has been received from sources believed to be reliable and such information is believed to be accurate at the time of publishing, no warranties or assurances whatsoever are made in reference to accuracy or completeness of said information, and no liability whatsoever will be accepted for taking or failing to take any action upon any information contained in any part of this website. Thank you for the consideration.

Karatzas Shipbrokers Register

The Shipping Sale and Purchase (S&P) Worldwide Report

Category Archives: S&P Update