Ορισμενοι εχουν πιστη στην αγορα.

[Nick the Greek]

MITSUI OSK Lines, the world’s largest bulker operator, has denied it is cancelling very large ore carrier newbuildings, but it will put plans for further orders on hold, write Marcus Hand and Toby Anderson. “We have not cancelled any new orders, including those for VLOCs and capesizes,” a senior MOL executive told Lloyd’s List. He said the company was maintaining all its orders for VLOCs and capesizes through to 2013 delivery.

In May last year, the Japanese shipowner announced plans to build 53 ore carriers ranging from panamax through to VLOC size, including 14 VLOCs and 27 capesizes with delivery by March 2014. At the time, MOL said it had secured mid- to long-term contracts for 40% of the vessels and planned to increased this percentage to around 60%. All the VLOCs were ordered in Japan, with two reported to have been contracted at Universal SB, five at Namura Zosensho and four at Imabari ShipbuildingGroup.

With a fleet of 125 panamax and capesize bulkers in May 2008, the company was aiming for a fleet of about 160 by 2014. Plans for any further fleet expansion have though been put on hold given market conditions. The shipowner has been scrapping older ore carrier tonnage, and the executive confirmed it had already sent two older vessels to the breakers yard. There are reports that the company could scrap a further four to five ore carriers, but these could not be confirmed.

MOL has one of the highest numbers of orders for VLOCs, defined as a bulk carrier larger than 220,000 dwt. There are 108 of the giant bulk carriers on order of 32.3m dwt included in the bloated capesize orderbook of 826 vessels. MOL posted a 77% drop in net income for its third quarter to December 31, 2008, with a profit of ¥13.7bn ($138m) during the last quarter of 2008. The company revised its full-year net income forecast ending March 31, 2009, down 33.3% to ¥130bn. It cited deteriorating demand for raw materials such as iron ore as one of the factors behind the revision.

Απο τη σημερινη Lloyd's List

ΥΓ: Κρατηστε κι ενα Imabari και για μενα ρε παιδια!