Ship owners are active once again in the newbuilding ordering market, as they look to clinch deals ahead of the end of the year. Once again their focus has been on niche segments of the market, which are less overcrowded than more traditional parts of the market, like tankers and dry bulk carriers. According to the latest weekly report from Clarkson Hellas, during the course of the past week, there has been further ordering of course on the various conventional asset classes, but the PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) sector has again won further orders.
According to the report, "we have already seen 25 firm Vessels contracted this year in the 3,500-7,300 CEU sector and with further options due to be declared within the end of this calendar year, we might see this number creep into the 30’s. This will be the most significant ordering in this sector in recent years, with only four firm vessels ordered last year, 21 in 2010 and 12 in 2009. As we have seen in the other conventional sectors, the ship designers have been working hard and have made significant reductions in the fuel oil consumptions of these new orders compared to the Vessels already on the water. The main debate amongst the owners and operators has been over choosing a panamax (sub 7,000 CEU) or a post-panamax beam design and to this date, the more traditional panamax beam design parameter has been the one to attract the most orders" Clarkson Hellas said.
PCTCs require specialized construction. For example, the internal decks are made from thinner steel plates that require skilled welding techniques and the design of these areas must ensure maximum cargo space, flexibility and efficiency. Only a limited number of shipyards and shipping companies worldwide are equipped to build this tonnage. Technical management is also specialized. Crews must be proficient in the additional systems on board a car carrier (ramp operation, deck lifters and ventilation) and competent in handling vehicle cargoes. Seaborne vehicle trades are worldwide and evolving as they track the globalization of the vehicle market. This is positive for the PCTC market, boosting ton-mile demand while providing more resilience to car makers and more choice for consumers. In addition to passenger vehicles, PCTCs also carry ‘high and heavy’ cargoes such as construction and agricultural equipment, trucks and machinery which have their own unique trading patterns
Clarkson Hellas said that in terms of reported business, "in the aforementioned car carrier market, STX are reported to have won an order for two option two x 6,500 CEU PCTCs. These have been ordered by clients of Zenith Partners Korea Co. and will be built at STXs main facility in Jinhae, Korea. The two firm units are scheduled to deliver in 2015 and pricing is understood to stand in the region of USD 65 Mill per vessel. Hyundai Mipo meanwhile are understood to have won a further order from the Grimaldi Group for a further pair of 28,600dwt Con-Ros. These are understood to be the declared options from their original deal for 3 units signed in September, bringing the number of vessels ordered in the series to five in total. The latest pair are also expected to deliver in 2015 and pricing understood to stand at circa USD 70 Mill per vessel.
In containers, Hanjin are reported to have won an order from clients of NSC Holding GmbH for a pair of 9,000 TEU container carriers. The deal is understood to hold options for up to as many as four additional vessels and pricing has been reported at USD 81.65 Mill per vessel. The two firm units are provisionally to be scheduled to deliver in Jul & Sep 2014. Part of the funds for this order will have come from the money Clients of NSC left behind from their cancelled order for four 13,000 TEU Vessels back in the peak of the market in summer 2007.
Finally in Dry, it was reported that U-Ming had ordered a pair of wide beamed 84K Bulk carriers at Oshima Shipbuilding for delivery in 2H 2014. The vessels were reportedly contracted at a price of circa USD 33.5 Mill which whilst seems somewhat rich, we understand this deal was concluded earlier this year, hence not only the price but the relatively early deliveries" the shipbroker concluded.