Although this week has seen limited reported ordering, the newbuilding market remains active with on‐going discussion across the majority of conventional sectors and a further tightening of available shipyard capacity for delivery next year.   This was stated by Clarkson Hellas in its latest report, where it noted that "what orders there have been this week have primarily been focussed on the large product tanker sector. Further to the total of around 25 MR tanker orders reported s...

Prospective recovery in bulker shipping market may face challenges again, with shipowners' irresponsible ship ordering. Khalid Hashim, managing director of Precious Shipping of Thailand, said, “I think 2013 will be challenging, 2014 will offer some relief, especially at the end of the year, 2015 will be smiles for owners, but 2016 will see the return of irresponsible vessel ordering again and so the cycle will continue”. Also, he took ill of shipowners who will follow each other blindly and...

  Over the last decade, China's dry bulk imports have rocketed to 1.3bn tonnes in 2013. Such has been the development of China's involvement in dry bulk trade that concepts such as the Baltic Dry Index are becoming common currency amongst laymen. Many non-traditional companies and investors have been showing interest in getting involved in shipping, and consequently, the nature of ownership of the Chinese dry bulk fleet is changing.   Farewell to Traditional OwnersTraditionally, t...

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has signed an agreement with STX Construction (Dalian) Co., Ltd., of Dalian, China - a group company of STX Corporation, a major Korean shipbuilder - under which MHI will license production and marketing of marine deck cranes. Through licensing to a company in the STX group, which has shipyards in Korea, China and Europe, MHI aims to accelerate global market penetration of its technology-based marine deck cranes. Earlier, MHI licensed the technology to...