Although the market for second hand vessel purchasing was quite lull during the Holiday period, as is usually the case, the first days of the New Year have proven that ship owners' appetite for second hand carriers, available at attractive prices, hasn't waned at all, quite the opposite. According to the latest weekly report from shipbroker Lion Shipbrokers, "the second hand market remains very active during the first week of the year, with various vessels changing hands, especially panamaxes. Clients of Fredrisksen Group of Norway are reported to have bought en bloc two 82,000 dwt kamsarmax prompt resales ex Xiamen Shipyard (Hulls XSI482A & XSI482B) at the soft price of $22.5 mill each. We understand that Japanese controlled panamax bulkers CROWN STAR (76K BLT 2002 IMABARI/JAPAN) & KONMAX (72K BLT 2000 IMABARI/JAPAN) are both committed to Greek interests for $12.1-$12.5 mill & $10.1-$10.5 mill respectively. N.J. Goulandris’ nineties vintage panamax KRONOS (73K BLT 1996 SAMSUNG/S. KOREA) has been also acquired by Greek buyers at a price of $7 mill. Clients of Precious of Thailand have added two more Indian built bulkers to their fleet; GOOD PRIDE (53K BLT 2010 HINDUSTAN/INDIA CR 4X36T) & GOOD PRECEDENT (53K BLT 2011 HINDUSTAN/INDIA CR 4X36T) attracted 13.25 & 14.25 mill respectively.
Tankers: In an off-market deal, clients of Hellenic Tankers of Greece are reported to have purchased en bloc aframax sisters BRITISH HAWTHORN & BRITISH LAUREL (106K BLT 2003/2002 TSUNEISHI/JAPAN) for $30 mill. Japanese controlled pumproom type MR LOTUS EXPRESS (45K BLT 2003/JAPAN IGS/SBT/EPOXY COATED/DOUBLE HULL) is committed to undisclosed interests for 15.5 mill basis ss/dd freshly passed" said the report.
In a separate note, Golden Destiny noted that during the past week "overall, 11 vessels reported to have changed hands this week at a total invested capital in the region of US$ 75.35 mil, while for three deals the price hasn’t been reported. Bulkcarriers, tankers and roro vessels, were the vessel type’s that attracted buying interest and in terms of the reported number of transactions, the S&P activity is down by 71% from our last report that was issued on Friday the 21st of December and up by 37.5% from the similar week of last year when 8 vessels induced buyers’ interest at a total invested capital of about $ 40,5 mil with 3 S&P transactions in the bulk carrier segment, 2 in the tanker, 2 in the liner and 1 Ro-Ro" the shipbroker said.
In terms of demolition activity, Lion said that " 2013 is expected to be one more record year for scrapping and the sentiment is bullish in Subcontinent, China and Turkey alike. Bangladesh and Pakistan market are paying $390 for bulkers, $415-$420 for tankers & $425-$430 for container vessels. India is firm, currently paying $400-410 for bulkers, $410-$420 for tankers and $440 for containers. China is strong, paying $360-$370 for bulkers, $370-$380 for tankers, $360-$370 for containers. Turkish market is firming as well, paying $300-$310 for bulker, $315-$325 for tankers and $310-$320 for containers".
Similarly, Golden Destiny mentioned that "scrap prices have been in a downward incline in the Indian subcontinent region at the end of the last quarter of 2012 with China offering competitive price levels and grasping significant business. The number of vessels heading to the scrap yards is keeping high pace that seems that will be followed during the first quarter of 2013 as freight markets still float in troubled waters for ship operators for the “New Year”.
In the demolition market the week ended with 20 vessels reported to have been headed to the scrap yards of total deadweight 849,671 tons. In terms of the reported number of transactions, the demolition activity has decreased by 13% since our last issue report of 21st December 2012. The activity was spread in major demolition countries, while for 25% of the deals the final destination hasn’t been revealed. At a similar period last year 2012, 12 vessels were reported sold for demolition of a total deadweight of 383,030 tons with 3 vessel disposals in the bulk carrier segment, 3 in the tanker, 4 in the liner and 2 in the Ro-Ro" it concluded.