Newbuilding ordering activity has picked up pace over the past week, but for the most part, ship owners are still very much focused in the S&P market, which offers much more flexibility of ships’ anc capital’s usage. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Allied Shipbroking said that “this week we continued to see activity hold firm with interest still on the rise, despite still at relatively soft levels when compared to historical averages. Given the most recently reported contracts we have yet to see any major shift in terms of pricing, while at these price levels a fair share of shipbuilders are still unable to compete and as such hold a seat in the sidelines. It is now surprise that for the moment Chinese shipbuilders are taking up the lion share of new contracts being placed and have even managed to get a strong share in sectors such as that of tankers and containerships, where traditionally they where at a disadvantage when competing with the S. Korean and Japanese yards. This week we witnessed a fair amount of activity split between the dry bulk, tanker and containership segments, all of which have felt a fair amount of pain in their respective freight markets over the past two years and as such could be a possible reflection on the more promising prospects now held by most market participants”, Allied said.

In a separate newbuilding note, Clarkson Platou Hellas said that the was “one order to report in Dry, with DSIC receiving an order for ten firm 25,800 DWT Bulk Carriers from Dalian Success Innovation Group. The vessels are set for delivery in 2019 and 2020 and will be built at Dalian Shipyard Industrial Development, DSIC’s subsidiary. In the Container market, Marlink have extended their series at Fujian Mawei, now backed by Bertram Rickmers’, Rickmers Reederei for a further order of two plus two 1,162 TEU Container Carriers. The scrubber fitted duo are slated for delivery within 2019”.

Meanwhile, in the S&P market, Allied said that “on the dry bulk side, there is still a fair amount of activity being seen in the market though still with limited effect on the overall price levels being seen. Overall it looks as though we may well have some slight downward corrections on some size and age segments which had shown faster paced gains than what they could sustain. At the same time firm buying interest in parts of the Supramax size segment shows that the possibility for further price gains there before the end of the year still holds. On the tanker side, the positive momentum in terms of activity has held for yet another week, with a healthy number of large crude oil carriers changing hands and at relatively firm price levels. Support seems to have finally shown face, with buyers now willing to face the fact that it looks as though this is a low as prices can go for the time being”.

Also, in a weekly note, ships’ valuations expert VesselsValue said that in the tanker market, “values remain stable this week for tankers. Few sales have been seen, with sales exclusively in the VLCC and Suezmax sectors. An en bloc deal bought by Ridgebury Tankers including VLCCs’; DHT Utik (299,500 DWT, May 2001, Daewoo), DHT Utah (299,500 DWT, Jan 2001, Daewoo), DHT Eagle (309,100 DWT, Jan 2002, Samsung) Sold en bloc for USD 66.5 mil, VV value USD 59.46 mil. VLCC Artois (298,300 DWT, Jul 2001, Hitatchi) sold for USD 22.0 mil, VV value USD 19.41. Suezmax Teide Spirit (159,400 DWT, Oct 2004, Daewoo) sold for USD 18.8 mil, VV value USD 19.05 million”.

In the bulker segment, “it has been a quiet week for Bulker sales with values remaining stable. An en bloc deal bought by Ridgebury Tankers to include Capesize vessels; Alexandria VII (178,000 DWT, Feb 2010, Jiangnan Shanghai Changxing), Rhodes VI (178,000 DWT, Jun 2009, Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding) Sold en bloc for USD 48.0 mil, VV value USD 49.88 mil. Panama Golden Heiwa (76,600 DWT, Mar 2007, Imabari) sold for USD 13.25 mil, VV value USD 13.41 mil. Handymax Jupiter II (27,000 DWT, Jun 2009, Zhejiang Shipbuilding Co) sold for USD 6.25 mil, VV value USD 6.24 million”, VV said.

Finally, in the container shipping sector, “Post Panamax values softened slightly this week, with Panamax values firming following an en bloc transaction. Handy and feedermax values remain stable. Panamax containers; Apl Oakland (4,730 TEU, Apr 2008), APL Denver (4,730 TEU, Jun 2008), APL Los Angeles (4,730 TEU, May 2008) and APL Atlanta (4,730 TEU, Jul 2008) all built at New Century, sold en bloc for USD 96.8 mil, including a TC of USD 27,500 pd to CNC line until 2020”, VV concluded.