One could very well wonder what could happen if ample ship financing was available, since ship owners' appetite for newbuildings appears to be the largest since the days of 2008. Clarkson Hellas said in its latest report that the past week also ended with a notable number of ordering across the key sectors. "Having been signed early last week, it has come to light in the past few days that Berge Bulk has signed a contract with Guangzhou Longxue for two firm plus two option 250,000 DWT VLOCs. Pricing is understood to be around $57 Mill and although delivery of the firm vessels was reported planned for 2H 2014 and the options in
2015 if declared. Just one order to report this week in the Kamsarmax sector, with Wisdom Marine Lines placing an order for two 81,600 DWT bulk carriers at Tsuneishi Zhoushan for delivery in the second half of 2015. Pricing for each of these vessels is understood to be at $27.77 Mill", said Clarkson Hellas.
It added that "in the smaller sizes, Smooth Shipping are understood to have placed an order for six firm 64,000 DWT Supramax at Sainty Shipbuilding in China on the basis of long term charter. Delivery of the vessels is split between 2014 and 2015, with pricing not disclosed. Additional orders to report this week for the SDARI design 38,000 DWT Handysize design with Aquavita International having contracted two firm vessels for delivery in 2015 as part of a leasing deal with the yard", the shipbroker concluded.
In a separate report, Golden Destiny said that "overall, the week closed with 73 fresh orders reported worldwide at a total deadweight of 3,793,110 tons, posting 3% week-on-week decline from previous week, with tankers holding 38% share of the total volume of new orders, bulk carriers 23%, and special projects 16.4%. This week’s total newbuilding business is up 943% from similar week’s closing in 2012, when 7 fresh orders had been reported, 1 tanker, 2 containers and 4 special projects. In terms of invested capital, the total amount of money invested is estimated in region of more than $4,55 bn with 21 newbuilding contracts reported at an undisclosed contract price. A hefty amount of money is invested in the offshore segment with an invested capital of more than $1,78bn for 12 new orders and tankers follow with 28 new orders, up by 133% week-on-week, for an invested capital of more than $944,4mil. In the bulk carrier segment, the volume of new orders showed 26% weekly decrease with 17 new orders at a total value of more than $516mil", the Piraeus-based shipbroker said.
It added that "in the bulk carrier segment, Golden Union of Greece placed an order for two 180,000dwt bulkers at Hyundai Heavy Industries for about $49mil each with delivery in 2014-2015. In the supramax segment, Atlantic Bulk Carriers of Greece ordered three 57,000dwt vessels at Hyundai Vinashin of Vietnam for $27,5mil each with delivery in 2015-2016. In the handymax segment, Transbulk Management of Greece ordered two 39,500dwt vessels at Zhejiang Yangfan for $23mil each with delivery in 2015. In addition, Chengxi Shipyard has been contracted to build two Green Dolphin-design bulkers in a leasing deal arranged by its parent company. The 38,800dwt Handysizes will be built for CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping under yard for delivery in the second half of 2014. The vessels would be under charter agreement with Aquavita International of Ukraine. In the handysize segment, Wisdom Marine Lines of Taiwan ordered one 35,300dwt bulker at Tsuneishi Zhoushan for about $22 mil with delivery in 2014. In addition, South Korean Kwangyang Marine Co. ordered one 20,000dwt bulker at Chonhaiji of South Korea for $21,6mil with delivery in March 2015", Golden Destiny said.
It added that "in the tanker segment, Consolidated Marine Management Inc. has placed an order for two 114,000dwt vessels at Hyundai Heavy Industries, with an option of two more, for $48mil each, to be delivered in 2015. Scorpio Tankers announced contracts for 16 more fuel-efficient product tanker newbuildings and confirmed that it plans no more orders. Eight 114,000dwt LR2s were ordered for $52M each, for deliveries in 1Q-2Q15. Four will be built by Samsung HI, two by Hyundai Samho HI and two by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Four 52,000dwt MRs were ordered for $32.5M each, to be delivered by SPP Shipbuilding in 1Q-2Q15. Finally, four 37,000dwt ice-class Handymaxes were contracted for $31.6M each, for delivery in 3Q14 by builder Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The aggregate price-tag on the 16 orders announced today is $672.4M. In addition, Guangzhou Shipyard International has secured a contract to build up to eight MR chemical/products tankers of 50,000dwt for Trafigura with delivery during 2015. Navios Acquisition of Greece signed a contract of two more eco design MR tankers of 51,200dwt at South Korean yard Dae Sun Shipbuilding & Engineering for delivery in the second half of 2014.
In the small tanker segment, China’s Chongqing Chuandong Shipbuilding Industry won orders for six tankers within May. The yard obtained and order for one plus one 5,400dwt oil products/chemical carrier from Nanjing Zhonggang Shipping on 6 May, and 2+2 7,700dwt oil tankers from SK Shipping on 16 May. The 5,400dwt ship will be 108.2m long, 15.5m wide and 8m deep, with draught of 6.3m and 6,600m³ liquid cargo tank. The two 7,700dwt tankers will be 101.39m long, 19.05m wide and 10.50m deep with draught of 6.70m.
In the gas tanker segment, Japan’s K Line is said to have signed a contract to build the world’s largest moss type LNG carrier of 182,000cbm at Kawasaki Heavy Industries under a long time charter with Japan’s Inpex and energy major Total. In addition, K Line ordered one 152,000cbm LNG at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to be also under a long time charter agreement with Japan’s Inpex. In the LPG segment, Epic Shipping of Singapore ordered two fully pressurized 5,500cbm gas carriers at Sasaki Shipbuilding of Japan for about $18,5mil and two 3,500cbm gas carriers at Kitanihon Shipbuilding for about $16mil each", the report concluded.