BP announced today that it has agreed to sell its interests in its southern gas assets (SGA) in the UK North Sea to Perenco UK Ltd for $400 million in cash
As it continues the active management of its business portfolios around the world, focusing on core activities and future growth, BP expects to divest assets with a total value of $38 billion between 2010 and the end of 2013. Including the agreement to sell SGA, the company has now announced divestments with an expected value totalling approximately $23 billion.
Perenco has made an initial payment to BP of $100 million in cash and the remaining $300 million will be paid on completion, which is expected before the end of 2012. A further $10 million may be paid in the future contingent on the prevailing gas prices. Completion of the sale is subject to a number of third party and regulatory approvals. It is expected that impacted BP employees working for SGA will transfer with the asset to Perenco.
Trevor Garlick, regional president for BP North Sea, said: ''We are pleased to have reached this agreement. Perenco is committed to investing in and developing SGA beyond BP's plans, ultimately providing a longer-term future for the assets and the people who work there. The continued safe operation of SGA will continue to be our priority as we support employees through the transition process.''
The divestment of SGA is part of BP's strategy to develop a more focused North Sea business in the UK and Norway. BP has a multi-billion pound investment programme currently underway, with four major field development projects in the UK and a further two in Norway.
Mr Garlick said: ''Together with our partners BP is currently progressing projects in the UK offshore that will involve a total investment of Ā£10 billion over the next five years ā€“ representing the highest level of annual investment BP has ever made into the UK's offshore industry. Actively managing our portfolio allows us to concentrate our people, capabilities and investment on sustaining BP's business in the North Sea for the long term.''
Source BP
This year Port of Hamburg Marketing (HHM) will be showcasing Hamburg‘s potential to around 45,000 trade visitors from industry, commerce and the logistics sector in South America by participating again in Intermodal South America in São Paulo. The fair is being held from 10th to 12th April 2012.
HHM will be represented on the German Ports joint stand at the logistics and transport fair together with Brunsbüttel Ports, Buss Port Logistics, Polzug Intermodal, Swan Container Line and TCI International Logistics.
In 2011 Brazil emerged as the Port of Hamburg’s fourth most important trading partner. A total of 302,000 TEU (20-ft standard containers) were transported with Brazil in 2011, representing an increase of 16.6 percent. The outward total to Brazil reached 231,000 TEU. This brought the country on the East coast of South America into the Top Ten among Hamburg’s trading partners in the container traffic that is so crucial for the port. Not surprisingly, therefore, last year also saw the inauguration of a new liner service between Brazil and Hamburg – a joint service run by shipping companies Hanjin from Korea, UASC (United Arab Shipping Company), COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Company) and CCNI (Compania Chilena de Navegacion Interoceanica).
Among the main goods exchanged as imports and exports between Hamburg and Brazil are machinery and machine tools as well as the corresponding spare parts. Hamburg continues to import vast quantities of meat and fish products from Brazil, along with fruit and vegetables among other cargoes. The main exports from Hamburg to Brazil are automotive parts and basic chemicals.
Apart from showcasing some 450 exhibitors, on two days Intermodal South America offers conferences on “Ports & Intermodal Infra 2012” and “Air Cargo 2012”, which will also feature workshops, presentations and panel discussions. Further details of the fair and the exhibitors will be found in English under www.intermodal.com.br/en/index.php .
Source HAFEN HAMBURG
Nordic Tankers has today entered into a conditional agreement to sell its chemical tanker activities including the organisation for USD 30 million to a company controlled by Triton, a Europeaan investment firm.
The sale is a result of discussions between Nordic Tankers and its banks driven by the high debt position in Nordic Tankers and continuing low freight rates.
Nordic Tankers will in the future be a tonnage provider with a fleet of six product tankers in the range 37,000-73,000 dwt.
A moratorium on deferred and ordinary instalments payable until 31 March 2013 has been agreed for the product tanker fleet subject to certain conditions.
The listed company will change its name from “Nordic Tankers A/S” to “Nordic Shipholding A/S”.
1. Introduction
Nordic Tankers or the “Company” has today entered an agreement on the divestment of its chemical tanker operations to a company controlled by Triton, a European investment firm.
The transaction is subject to certain conditions being fulfilled, amongst other approval at the annual general meeting on 20 April 2012, and applicable competition law approvals. The parties expect the transaction to be completed in May 2012.
The divestment comes as a result of discussions between Nordic Tankers and its banks – Nordea and Danish Ship Finance – and is viewed as the best available solution for Nordic Tankers and its stakeholders considering the high debt position and continuing low freight rates.
The period with very low and non-compensatory freight rates has regrettably lasted much longer than anticipated by most observers. Thus, the development has deviated significantly from expectations when Nordic Tankers was reconstructed January 2010 and capital was raised from existing and new shareholders to implement the Company's strategy: "The Nordic Ambition".
Over the last two years, however, significant improvements have been achieved in line with the strategy. The contract of affreightment portfolio has been expanded, new chemical tanker pools have been established, and time charters have been concluded. Technical and nautical level of operation has been upgraded to the extent that all major oil companies will contract Nordic Tankers. In parallel, the organisation has been fine-tuned to deliver strong performance.
But the financial and economic crisis and the prevailing freight market conditions have eroded the capital base required to further implement the strategy. During 2011, the board and management have therefore continuously worked on identifying sources of new equity to strengthen the capital base and see the Company through the prolonged period of nonsustainable rates. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to determine viable ways to attract equity. Nordic Tankers thus faced a difficult situation.
In this long-lasting process the board, however, identified Triton as a motivated potential buyer with the financial strength and strategic interest in buying the strong cohesive asset – the chemical tanker vessels and the organisation managing it as a whole. The divestment provides Nordic Tankers with time to continue the search for a long term solution based on its product tanker fleet. With the prevailing loss making freight rates a recapitalisation and refinancing is however necessary.
2. The contemplated transaction
The proposed divestiture of the chemical tanker activities will be structured as a sale of all nine owned chemical tanker vessels, the six in-chartered chemical tanker vessels, all contracts of affreightment and the organisation of Nordic Tankers, encompassing commercial and technical management, administration and corporate management – approximately 140 employees. The purchase price has been agreed at USD 30 million, of which two-thirds will be lent to the company to be established, which is to own the nine owned chemical tanker vessels, in order for the buyer to reduce the debt position and ensure cash-break-even in this entity over the coming period of time. The loan, which will be subordinated to the bank debt in the nine vessels, is repayable in 2017, will accumulate rolled-up interest of 7.5% annually, and is subject to certain conditions.
The sale and purchase agreement includes a 3 year non-compete clause restricting Nordic Tankers A/S to invest in and operate in chemical tanker business as well as a customary catalogue of seller’s warranties.
3. The future direction of the listed Company
Following a divestiture of the chemical tanker activities the listed Company will become a tonnage provider in the product tanker segment. The five 37,000 dwt handy-size vessels will remain in commercial management with Maersk, where they participate in the Handytankers Pool, while the technical management of these vessels will remain with TB Marine in Hamburg. The 73,000 dwt LR1 Nordic Anne will remain commercially managed by Hafnia in the Straits Tankers Pool, while its technical management will remain with the organisation of Nordic Tankers being divested.
The board of directors has agreed with the Company’s two banks – Nordea and DSF – that both deferred and ordinary instalments payable on the product tankers will be deferred until 31 March 2013. It has further been agreed that the USD 10 million of the USD 30 million purchase price will be applied towards reduction of debt in the product tankers.
Following a sale the listed entity will thus consist of six product tankers and related bank debt, obligations towards Clipper related to the acquisition of the chemical organisation back in 2010 and a loan received during Q4 2011, and the receivable related to the loan of USD 20 million made in connection with the transaction. The listed Company’s post-transaction equity ratio will be approximately 8.9% comparing to a 7.6% equity ratio at Q4 2011.
Over the coming year, the board and the Company’s banks will cooperate to establish a permanent financial solution including a recapitalisation and refinancing of the Company. The solution may encompass elements such as an equity injection from existing or new investors, a potential merger or a sale of one or more vessels, if doable at agreeable terms.
4. Future management and administration of the listed Company
In order to bring cost in line with its new reduced size the listed Company expects to enter into an agreement with Tankers Inc. regarding future management and administration. Tankers Inc. will take over all tasks related to accounting, stock exchange communication and investor relations, and will simultaneously monitor the external commercial and technical management partners while the overall strategy and responsibility for the commercial direction and bank relations remain with the board. As part of the product tanker industry, Tankers Inc. will be able to advise the board of directors on possibilities relating to chartering out or selling vessels. This setup represents a relatively low cost solution.
5. Name change from “Nordic Tankers” to “Nordic Shipholding”
The name and brand “Nordic Tankers” is included in the sale as the organisation transferred operates globally under this name.
As all commercial activity related to the product tankers remaining in the Company is outsourced to leading professional pool operators (the Maersk Handytankers Pool and the Hafnia/Straits Tankers Pool, respectively), the continuing listed Company does not commercially need the name. The board proposes to change the name of the listed Company “Nordic Tankers A/S” to “Nordic Shipholding A/S”.
Source Nordic Tankers
On March 26 the Italian cruise liner MSS MELODY (204,7 m, flag of Panama), launched the spring and summer navigation of passenger ships in 2012 in the port of Odessa. The vessel arrived from Yalta to Odessa and moored at berth #15 at 7.00. 1002 tourists came ashore - among them Italians, Germans, Englishmen, Frenchmen. Sightseeing tours on 12 buses is ordered by 600 persons, the other, in spite of the gale and very cold weather (+ 5 degrees) preferred to get acquainted with the sights of South Palmyra alone or within small groups on walking tours. At 12:30 the ship will head for Istanbul. Boat cruise company MSC, as well as other companies - clients world-famous tourist corporations Intercruises in Ukraine since 2009 serving the Black Sea Shipping Agency "Inflot". "Inflot", the oldest in Ukraine (founded in 1934) includes eight branches in the largest Ukrainian ports. As a result 2011 "Inflot" served 480 ships (the agency takes second rate in the National Maritime Rating of Ukraine). During the meeting with CEO of M/V MELODY in the port of Odessa CEO CHGMA "Inflot" Olga Bronetskaya noted that the next call of the vessel to Odessa will be significant. This will be the April's visit of the megayacht PEACEBOAT (literally - "Boat of the world"), with 1000 passengers onboard. Tourists (mainly citizens of Japan) will take part in the famous Odessa "Humorina." They will walk through the city in a convoy of carnival, and even perform on stage. This project, admitted O.Bronetskaya "Inflot" was being prepared during 3 months. Press-Service "OCSP".
Source Odessa Commercial Sea Port
Defence and security company Saab has received an order from the Dutch authority Rijkswaterstaat regarding delivery of the AIS automatic identification system. The system will increase safety on the Dutch waterways.
The contract means that Saab will provide the complete technical system solution within the DIAMONIS project (Dutch Inland AIS Monitoring System). Saab has forged a partnership with the local company Tein Telecom, which will be responsible for implementing the project locally, providing 24/7 support and more. The delivery comprises approximately 40 AIS base stations, a network solution and a web-based presentation system.
The AIS system transmits regular information about a vessel's position, speed, course etc. to other vessels and operation centres. The vessels are equipped with a transponder, which automatically sends updated information via VHF radio at certain intervals. The system increases safety by enabling vessels to quickly discover how other vessels are behaving in order to detect potential collision risks.
"Saab is a market leader within the AIS domain and the system will increase safety significantly throughout the extensive Dutch inland waterways. Rijkswaterstaat is a highly competent authority that has produced a detailed specification for the project, meaning that our well-established system solution will be enhanced even further in terms of functionality and performance," says Lars Bergholtz, Managing Director for Saab TransponderTech AB.
The contract is valued at over SEK 20 million and includes a number of future options, such as a possibel expansion of the system. The implementation of DIAMONIS will take place over 18 months.
For more than 10 years, Saab TransponderTech has delivered AIS-based products and systems to the world market and also offers advanced multi-sensor system solutions within VTS and Coastal Surveillance based on the internally developed "CoastWatch" platform. Read more here: http://www.saabgroup.com/en/Civil-security/Maritime-Transportation-and-Port-Security/
Source Marine NewsWire
THE eastern Port of Suzhou rose to the No 7 spot on the world's top port for throughput tonnage list last year from year 2010's No 8, Xinhua reports.
Suzhou posted 380 million tonnes last year, 15.6 per cent more than in 2010, surpassing Qingdao's 370 million tonnes to the fifth largest port in China, following Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Tianjin and Guangzhou.
Xinhua says the world's top 10 ports last year in all cargo categories were Shanghai, Ningbo-Zhoushan, Singapore, Tianjin, Rotterdam, Guangzhou, Suzhou, Qingdao, Dalian and Tangshan. Eight of them are Chinese.
In containers, Suzhou lifted 4.7 million TEU last year, ranking 10th among all Chinese seaports.
At the end of last year, Suzhou port had utilised 60 kilometres of the Yangtze shoreline and had 224 berths in operation with an annual capacity of 210 million tonnes. Its Taicang port area has an annual container handling capacity of 4.35 million tonnes.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SALVAGE crews working on the Singapore-flagged and owned 3,100-TEU Bareli, chartered to CMA CGM, say the ship that ran aground March 15 remains on the rocks off Fujian province across from northern Taiwan, but is in no danger of sinking.
There is no word from the Norwegian ship manager or from the charterer, Marseille-based CMA CGM, whether a General Average will be declared, but it seems the ship is a total loss.
The ship, built in 2004 is owned by Antarctica Shipping Pte Ltd of Singapore and managed by Oslo-based Klaveness Ship Management AS. It is manned by Romanians, Filipinos and South Africans and is insured by Gard, according to the ship manager's website.
Klaveness Ship Management says 220 tonnes of fuel has been removed, and another 224 tonnes was being taken from another tank, part of the 1,100 tonnes aboard. While this work continues, 40 containers being removed every day. The next priority is the recovery of dangerous goods containers among the 1,900 aboard.
"Some sheen, probably diesel oil, has been observed on the sea in the area of the accident. But it is not clear whether this is from Bareli or from the numerous ships working and trading in the area," said the Klaveness statement.
Heavy fuel oil continues to be pumped out of it tanks and by Thursday, one tank containing 220 tonnes of bunker is expected to be emptied. The emptying of a neighbouring tank, containing 224 tonnes, will commence after that, said the ship manager.
One tank, containing 205 tonnes of bunker has been damaged, with "probable water ingress", but no oil appears to be leaking and salvage crews expect to empty that tank as well, said the statement.
"Weather conditions in the area have now improved, with good forecasts for the next days. This is good news for the salvaging operation," said Klaveness CEO Lasse Kristoffersen.
Chinese maritime authorities, with active support from Norwegian management company and insurers Gard, are in full operation.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
CHINA's central government has approved Ningbo port's expansion plans with the opening of a new port area called Meishan and a new berth in Beilun port area to foreign vessels, Xinhua reports.
The Meishan port covers 27 kilometres of quay lines has five container berths and two multifunctional berths. It was put into trial operation in August 2010 with temporary restrictions in place. The Meishan Free Trade Zone located in the port area will further boost development in foreign trade and port logistics after the expansion.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
IN February, ports in northeastern China's Liaoning province lifted 1.05 million TEU, an increase of 39.5 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.
But this remained at the same level achieved in January, Xinhua reports.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
NORTH China's Huanghua port in Hebei province posted a container handling increase of 325 per cent in February year on year 5,001 TEU.
The port also handled 10.4 million tonnes of cargo, up one million tonnes or 10.6 per cent over the month before, reports Xinhua.
The volume of coal for power plants increased 14.2 per cent to 8.99 million tonnes against January while the ore volume hit 1.09 million tonnes.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
CHONGQING is to establish a new agricultural product logistics and processing area, which aims to have a trading volume of CNY100 billion (US$15.8 billion) by 2015, Xinhua reports.
The area is to cover 8.9 square kilometres and will offer distribution, trade and warehousing services for agricultural products in and around the city.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
NORTHWEST Qinghai province has invested CNY15 billion (US$2.37 billion) in rural roads, building over 30,000 kilometres of new highways in the past five years, reports Xinhua.
The investment grew 21.6 per cent against 2010's expenditure of CNY13.56 billion, building 1,000 kilometres of expressways and 1,767 kilometres of rural roads including the construction of 306 village bridges.
The province's 4,172 villages among six autonomous districts are connected by highways which are constructed in a ecological manner.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE commonplace hazard of berthing a vessel can be reduced with load monitoring system to measure both the impact on fenders as continuous force is applied when the ship bears against the dock while coming alongside, reports the UK's Handy Shipping Guide.
Trelleborg Marine Systems, manufacturer of docking, mooring and berthing equipment, has received patent pending status on a system for monitoring the load on marine fenders, said the report, adding that the system will also help avoid disputes and downtime associated with insurance claims.
"The data collection device may be located within the fender, on the structure (jetty), or at a remote location, depending on the needs of the customer. If more than one fender is providing load sensing data, this can be transmitted to a central data collection and processing system. The system is also apt to be retrofitted into existing fenders," said Trelleborg's technical chief Scott Smith.
When analysed, the data obtained has the potential to be used in a number of ways, such as developing a deeper understanding of berthing dynamics, which in turn could assist with future fender and wharf design, and further, feed into the revision of safe and acceptable berthing operations and procedures, said the report.
Load data may also be used to determine when maintenance is needed or when replacement fender is required. In the event of an accident, or a fender failing, the data can be used to provide information as to why - providing valuable data for insurance claims, and helping ports and shipping lines to avoid the costly downtime associated with disputes, said the report.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SEAPORTS must be ready to handle 22,000-TEU ships now that feasibility studies have been completed on their deployment, says APM Terminals Crane & Engineering Services managing director Halfdan Ross.
"The point is that ultra-large vessels are already in service, and even larger ships will follow," he told the TOC Container Supply Chain Asia Conference in Hong Kong. "So the time to prepare the necessary terminal and quay infrastructure is now."
While no 22,000 TEUers have been ordered, feasibility studies have been completed. "So planning for infrastructure support to accommodate such vessels is a very necessary exercise for any major hub port," he said.
As of February, there were 153 containerships of 10,000 TEU or more - including 20 of Maersk's 18,000 TEU, the first of which is expected for delivery next year. There are currently 121 vessels of 10,000 TEU ships at sea.
"There are issues of structural stiffness, weight, visibility and wind load, which all must be taken into account with cranes of such dimensions, along with the question of upgrading existing equipment or installing new cranes," Mr Ross said.
Better engineering, camera-assisted, remote controlled cranes were options, he said, but the increased power needed was often unavailable at emerging market ports.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SWEDISH logistics firm Greencarrier Freight Services has purchased a majority shareholding in the leading logistics service provider in Poland, Transpoint International, in a bid to strengthen its position in the Nordic and Baltic Sea regions.
The shares were purchased from the managing director of Transpoint in Poland, Arkadiusz Prejna, who will retain the remaining shares.
Transpoint in Poland provides cross-border transportation services, delivering parcels and part- and full loads between Finland, Scandinavia, the Baltic States, the UK, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
"This acquisition is in line with Greencarrier Freight Services' strategy to be the best transport solution provider having the Nordic and the Baltic Sea regions as its domestic market," said Peter Nevhagen, CEO of Greencarrier Freight Services International. "Transpoint International is a perfect match for us since Poland has been a white spot on the map for Greencarrier until now."
The acquisition consists of Transpoint in Poland and its subsidiaries in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The company brings 80 employees to serve Greencarrier's customers in this region.
"Greencarrier Freight Services is an ideal partner for us with its network of offices in our major markets in the Nordic countries, the Baltic states and the UK," said Mr Prejna, who will continue as the managing director of Transpoint in Poland. "Together with Greencarrier we plan a continuous expansion of our business activities not only in road freight but also in ocean and air freight."
With the acquisition of Transpoint International, Greencarrier Freight Services expects to generate a turnover of EUR175 million (US$230.0 million) and have 425 employees in 13 countries, the company said in a statement.
Source Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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