Rickmers-Linie’s 19,100dwt Baltic Winter has recently completed the transportation of three LPG storage tanks, each weighing 475 tons, from Kuantan in Malaysia to Shuaiba in Kuwait.

The dry bulk shipping market is in a poor state, with the Capesize segment the worst of all. Unfortunately, the latest analysis from Drewry Maritime Research’s Dry Bulk Forecaster indicates that sub Capesize sectors which have hitherto performed better than Capes are now facing an equally uncertain future.

Handysize dry bulk freight rates within the Asian region have tumbled 16% in the last three weeks due to lack of cargoes circulating and high numbers of idle ships, Platts reports.

Handysize dry bulk freight rates within the Asian region have tumbled 16% in the last three weeks due to lack of cargoes circulating and high numbers of idle ships.

In an effort to strengthen the position of owners and counter the incorporation of charter party clauses that seek to inhibit the owners’ ability to appoint their own cargo surveyor to carry out checks on the cargo, BIMCO, working together with the International Group of P&I Clubs, has produced a new standard clause entitled the BIMCO Solid Bulk Cargoes that Can Liquefy Clause for Charter Parties.

Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co.,Ltd (SWS), a full owned subsidiary of China CSSC Holdings Ltd, has secured an order to construct four capesize Bulk Carriers by U-Ming Marine Transport Corporation.

Rates for dry bulk carriers on key Asian freight routes are expected to hover near multi-year lows over the next week as an increase in trading activity fails to offset pressure from an ever expanding fleet, ship brokers said.

South Korean company STX Pan Ocean Co. stated that the Vale Beijing vessel has been successfully moved to an anchorage and that the damage caused upon loading Vale SA iron ore in northeast Brazil in December is reparable.

A few days ago VLOC Vale Beijing was towed off the berth to avoid risk of foundering alongside the Vale iron ore loading terminal at Ponta Madeira, having earlier reported ingress of water to a partly loaded cargo hold.

Vale SA (VALE3) sold four of its 19 iron-ore mega ships to Asian companies, Valor Economico reported, citing a Vale official that it didn’t identify.