As the year inches closer and closer to its end, many ship owners are looking to close deals for newbuilding vessels they have been negotiating during the past few weeks, thus boosting overall activity in yards. According to to the latest report from Piraeus-based shipbroker Golden Destiny, the past week ended with 31 fresh orders reported worldwide, for a total deadweight of 712,900 tons, posting a 24% increase from previous week with a 1400% week-on-week decline in bulk carriers ordering activity. At similar week closing in 2011, the newbuilding business was standing at 42% lower levels than today with 18 newbuilding orders, 9 for bulkers, 1 liner, 2 passenger/cruise and 6 special projects. In terms of invested capital, the total amount of money invested is estimated at region more than $615,4 mil with 19 orders reported at an undisclosed contract price. The offshore segment appears the most overweight by grasping 62% of the total amount invested in newbuilding business, it said.
According to Golden Destiny's report, "in the bulk carrier segment, , Precious Shipping of Thailand has placed an order for two cement carriers of 20,000dwt at Chinese yards, Shanhaiguan and China Shipbuilding, as a replacement of two cancelled vessels at ABG Shipyard of India due to delays. The newbuilding cost is about $24,2mil for each vessel with delivery in 2014, with an option of one more with cancelling date March 31, 2013. Furthermore, Vietnam’s Hyundai Vinashin won an order from South Korean player, Joong Ang Shipping Co. for two 63,000dwt bulkers with delivery in September and December 2014 at a price of $25 mil each.
In addition, Chinese CSSC Chengxi shipyard has sealed a string of newbuilding orders with China Navigation ordering four more 39,100dwt bulkers from its initial order of four similar vessels in March with delivery 2013-2014. “This order represents a significant commitment by the company in the energy efficient B Delta 37 design that offers lower fuel consumption, additional cargo deadweight and cargo cubic capacity compared to the best existing designs”, China Navigation said in a statement. Chengxi will also build three 48,500dwt bulkers for domestic energy company Jiangsu Ligang Power with delivery from April 2014 and it has signed a deal with Guangzhou Maritime Transport, a wholly owned subsidiary of China Shipping, for a 65,000dwt bulker" the shipbroker said.
It added that "in the tanker segment, d’Amico International Shipping S.A announced that its operating subsidiary d’Amico Tankers Limited (Ireland) will enter into shipbuilding contracts for the construction of two additional new product/chemical tanker vessels (50,000 dwt Medium Range) with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd. – Korea. These are expected to be delivered between the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015, for about US$ 32.0 million each. d’Amico International Shipping S.A. was offered the opportunity to buy these two new vessels by exercising the option, as amended, attached to the contracts when it ordered its two ECO-40 Shallowmaxs, announced on July 26th,2012. These two newbuildings are the latest IMO II MR design with the highest fuel efficiency. Wilmar International of Singapore has placed an order for two MR 49,000dwt vessels at Hyundai Vinashin Shipyard, the joint venture between Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Corp. (Vinashin) with delivery in the second half of 2014.
In the liner segment, Rickmers-Linie of Germany has resumed newbuilding investments by contracting two 20,000dwt multipurpose ships at China’s Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2015 and will be fitted with two main cranes for combined heavy lifts up to 900 tonnes and a third crane for safe working loads up to 120 t.
In the gas tanker segment, Tomza group of Mexico is said to have signed a newbuilding contract for a very large gas LPG carrier at Hyundai Heavy Industries with delivery in July 2014 at a price of less than $74mil. The ship will be built to a new advanced design with a low consumption G-type engine, which will burn 42.9 tonnes of fuel at 16.8 knots, typically 10 tons less than most very large gas carriers.
In handysize LPG segments, Navigator Gas has secured an extension to its deadline on options for two 21,000cbm LPG newbuildings at China’s Jiangnan shipyard. In addition, Chile based owner, Ultranav, has ordered two 22,000 cum LPG vessels at South Korea’s STX Offshore and Shipbuilding as a first eco design order for that vessel segment. The vessels will also have the capacity to carry ammonia and petrochemical gases and will be delivered in August and September 2014" the report said.
Finally, "in the offshore segment, Chinese shipbuilder Jiangsu Eastern HI has won an order for a third UT 755 LN platform supply vessel from an undisclosed Norwegian shipowner, which has exercised its first option. The $9M order, which is scheduled for delivery in 2014, is in addition to its order for two UT 755 LN PSV’s reported in October and an option for a fourth vessel to be declared in January 2013. There are reportedly four further options available by October 2013. The UT 755 PSV’s are designed for transporting solid and liquid cargo to and from offshore oil and gas platforms worldwide. Chinese shipbuilder Cosco, the shipbuilding arm of China Ocean Shipping, has won its first order for the construction of a FPSO from listed Norwegian operator, Sevan Marine, for North Sea use at a cost of $370mil. The unit will be built at COSCO’s Nantong and Qidong yards and be operated in the Western Isles Project that is expected to produce 40,000 barrels of crude per day with production scheduled to start in 2015. The FPSO will have a storage capacity of 400,000 barrels of oil with 78m length and 32m height" Golden Destiny concluded.