Energy efficiency. Also in this issue: Guidelines for lay-ups, HSH Nordbank, AXS-Alphaliner, Market outlook, CMA CGM Kingston
Cost-benefit assessment of Energy Efficiency
The ability to compete effectively is a crucial issue for any shipping company at any point in time. Recently, we have seen fuel prices rise to record high levels, and even following the recent plunge fuel will remain a significant cost element. Also, with emission reductions high on the international agenda, fuel and energy efficiency should receive additional focus from ship designers and operators.
The uncertainty
“The uncertainty,” was the answer he gave me when I asked one of my good business friends “What’s on top of your agenda these days?”
Guideline for the lay-up of ships
During the major lay-ups in the shipping industry in the 1970s and 1980s, DNV was instrumental in setting the standard for the safe and cost-optimal lay-up and preservation of ships. Due to the financial crisis and economic slowdown, this knowledge and experience are once again sought after, and the guideline has now undergone a complete revision based on the technical developments in shipping over the past two to three decades.
A focus on core business, including shipping
HSH Nordbank is the world’s leading ship financing bank, with ship finance lending of € 30 billion. The bank’s restructuring plans include letting some 1,100 of the 4,400-strong workforce go and shrinking the balance sheet by about half to € 100 billion.
Liner information online
“Our job is to provide the best data possible for people to make their own decisions,” says Jan Tiedemann, liner shipping analyst with AXS-Alphaliner. “You could say that we are like detectives, seeking the latest information on container shipping worldwide. We have information on all ships, their position and deployment at all times, and it is all online readily accessible by our subscribers.”
What is the outlook for the container ship industry?
How big will the oversupply of container ships be in the coming years? Are there any indications of a market recovery? How will scrapping and new contract cancellations affect the fleet development? How many vessels may end up in lay-up in the next few years?
Saturday evening in Hamburg
It is a damp and rainy evening as I'm entering the CMA CGM Kingston, which has just landed at the Burchardkai terminal, to stay onboard on the short voyage to Antwerp.
Environmentally sound ship recycling
The bulk carrier industry has been seriously affected by the current recession in the world economy, and most operators are now facing a market where the capacity outweighs the demand. The effects of this can be seen not only by falling freight rates but also by the number of vessels sent for scrapping. This constitutes considerable resources in terms of scrap steel supply to the steel industry, but also represents an environmental challenge unless the scrapping - or rather the recycling - is done in an environmentally sound manner.