Ship owners have resumed their newbuilding investments over the course of the past few days, after a few weeks of hiatus in terms of activity. In its lateste weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa, said that in the newbuilding market, it was a “quite intensive week in terms of large orders in the gas, tanker and container segments. Starting from tanker, Korean owners Sinokor ordered 10 + 5 optional Aframax at Samsung for delivery between 2021-2023, LNG driven, for long term contract with Shell; price around $62 mln per unit. Gas sector we keep on recording several options or additional orders being placed. NYK Japan added another 174k cbm at Samung for delivery 2021 which supposed to be the nr 4, all chartered out for 7 years to Total. Maran Gas also added another unit of 174k cbm with DSME for dely end 2021, no price reported, for a total of 6 units contracted so far. In the smaller LPG segment, Tianjin Southwest Maritime exercised an option with Jiangnan for a 86k cbm PLG carrier for dely Q4 2021. Container sector: to large orders for ULCC were placed in Korea and Japan; Samsung was awarded for the construction of 6 x 23,000 teu scrubber fitted for delivery in 2022 for account of Greencompass. Maritime (subsidiary of Evergreen) at price ranging between $150-160 mln each. Imabari was instead selected for the construction of 5 x 23,000 teu scrubber fitted under the account of its shipping arm Shoei Kisen who will then charter them to Evergreen. Dry orders were pretty scarce with a rumor of Mitsui having received an order for 2 x 66,000 dwt wide beam which though may be an older order of Doun Kisen we reported already in the past week”, said the shipbroker.

In a separate note, Clarkson Platou Hellas said that “in tankers, Samsung have announced a deal for 10 firm LNG DF Aframax Tankers which they have signed to build for Sinokor Merchant Marine which will then be taken on charter by Shell. The series of vessels will deliver in 2021 and it is believed Sinokor hold a further 5 optional vessels. Samsung announced the pricing of the vessels at abt USD 62 Mill each. In Dry, Mitsui have announced they have taken an order from an unknown owner for a pair of their updated 66K wide beamed ultramax design. Although just announced, with the delivery of the vessels from 2H 2020 onwards, these are believed to have been ordered in the first half of the year. In Gas, Maran have concluded a further 174,000 CBM LNG Carrier at DSME. This latest vessel in their series being due to deliver in late 2021. In the ferry and cruise markets, Huanghai Shipbuilding have announced they have taken an order for a small 280 passenger cruise ship from Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime (C.P.T.M), which is expected to deliver in 2022. Dae Sun are also understood to have taken an order for a further 160m LOA RoPax for domestic owner MCT with delivery in 2021”.

Meanwhile, in the S&P market, Banchero Costa said that “in the dry market, a Singaporean controlled Post-Panamax Alam Permai around 87k dwt 2005 built IHI was sold at $10.8 mln to Chinese buyers. Concerning Kamsarmax, after offers were invited last week a Japanese controlled vessel Bahia I around 82k dwt 2012 built Tsuneishi was sold at $19.3 mln to Far Eastern Buyers with DD due November 2019, one week ago always from Japan Key Pacifico around 81k dwt 2015 built Tsuneishi was done at $24.25 mln. In the Ultramax segment, Pacific Basin purchased Japanese controlled Navios Oriana around 61k dwt 2012 built Iwagi at $17.3 mln. In the tanker market, a VLCC Oriental Jade around 306k dwt 2004 built Mitsubishi was sold at $28.3 mln to Greek buyers (SS/DD due October 2019). Two weeks ago Nave Electron around 305k dwt 2002 built Daewoo was reported sold at $26.5 mln. Furthermore, a LR1 Breezy Victoria around 75k dwt 2007 built Minami Nippon was done at $13.5 mln to Greek Buyers basis DD due November 2019. Concerning MRs, Diamond S sold two HMD MRs 2008 built (Atlantic Leo and Atlantic Aquarius around 50k 2008 built ) at $16.1 mln each in en-bloc deal to Greek buyer”, said the shipbroker.

Allied Shipbroking added that “on the dry bulk side, interest remained robust during these past two weeks, with improved freight earnings affecting appetite amongst buyers. Several transactions were noted these past few days across different size and age units, as firm rates are being seen across all segments. The current encouraging activity figures is expected to continue over the following weeks, as appetite looks to be steadily on the rise as we enter the autumn period. On the tankers side, further escalation of interest was witnessed amongst buyers, as many new deals came into the spotlight during the past couple of weeks. The most notable transaction was the sale of 10 Suezmax units from Trafigura to Frontline, including a cash and shares deal. Other than that, product tankers continue to hold a protagonist role here, as buyers are still focusing on these units, driven by the positive market outlook still holding”, the shipbroker concluded.