Seatrade Maritime’s Post

Noatum Maritime, the #Maritime & #Shipping arm of AD Ports Group, has strengthened its collaboration with #Kazakh partners by signing Heads of Terms with Kazakhstan National Shipping Company – Kazmortransflot NMSC LLP (KMTF), a subsidiary of KazMunayGas, the Kazakh National Oil Company, to expand #operations in the #CaspianSea. The two parties intend to collaborate on the #construction of two #containervessels, specifically designed for operations in the Caspian Sea, each with a capacity exceeding 500 TEUs. #transport #logistics #supplychain #shipbuilding #ports #maritime

Papua New Guinea’s ports anticipate lift in freight volumes Business Advantage PNG / Tony Jordan / 7 hours ago After a challenging 2023, Papua New Guinea’s port and road transport operators are preparing for a significant recovery in demand this year. Lae port. Credit: ICTSI Papua New Guinea’s logistics companies made the most of a quiet 2023 by doubling down on maintenance and investing in new vessels and equipment, in preparation for an expected increase in demand this year. Steamships Trading Company, International Container Terminal Services Inc (ICTSI) and PNG Ports Corporation have all made significant investments to expand services and boost efficiency ahead of the final investment decision for the TotalEnergies-led Papua LNG project, expected next year. “We’re relatively confident about the market coming back, not just because of the [Papua LNG] final investnent decision [FID], but we’re confident of underlying volumes coming back in 2024,” said Chris Daniells, Steamships’ Chief Operating Officer. “Market sentiment is more positive than it has been for a while.” Steamships has added two vessels and three new tugboat and barge combinations, increasing its mainline capacity by 25% to prepare for growth. Additional capacity While it awaits FID, Steamships will use its additional capacity to restore weekly sailings between Lae and Port Moresby, Daniells tells Business Advantage PNG. It used the dip in demand in 2023 to focus on maintenance programs for its vessels and fleet of trucks, and invested in quality improvements at its workshops in Port Moresby and Lae. Meanwhile, ICTSI South Pacific (operator of PNG’s two international ports, Motukea and Lae) has also focused on efficiency gains. Additional ship-to-shore cranes in Lae are reducing discharging and loading times, achieving faster vessel turn-around times, and improving safety, according to CEO Robert Maxwell. “This is evidenced by an increase in trans-shipments, with Lae starting to become a trans-shipment hub for the region, particularly for cargo going to and from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu,” says Maxwell. He expects freight volume to increase 5 to 6 per cent this year, based on the advancement of Papua LNG, the restarting of Porgera and the beginning of Wafi-Golpu. “We’re relatively confident about the market coming back … Market sentiment is more positive than it has been for a while.” Efficiency and emissions Maxwell also notes ICTSI is committed to reducing emissions by deploying solar panels, converting terminal lighting to LEDs, and using of rain-harvesting technology in Lae. “In terms of emissions, the big one for us is efficiency within the terminal,” he said. “Ship-to-shore cranes in Lae can lift two twenty-foot containers simultaneously, instead of one at a time, which reduces the net emissions per container.” Lae is PNG’s busiest port, handling 54 per cent of PNG’s trade volumes, followed by Port Moresby (21 per cent) and Kimbe in West New Britain

AD Ports Group and Kazakhstan National Shipping Company, KazMorTransFlot or KMTF, have embarked on an exciting new chapter in their strategic partnership, set to enhance operations in the Caspian Sea. With this agreement, both entities are poised to elevate Kazakhstan's position in the energy and logistics sectors substantially. The initiative includes the construction of two state-of-the-art container vessels, optimized for the Caspian Sea, each boasting a capacity of over 500 TEUs. These vessels are expected to deliver improved operational efficiency, driven by advanced cargo handling systems, thus optimizing scheduling and turnaround times. Furthermore, the partnership is set to pioneer an intermodal system across the trans-Caspian region, incorporating high-capacity ferries and robust terminal infrastructure. This development is aimed at drastically reducing transit times for shipments along the crucial Middle Corridor. Additionally, the expansion plans include broadening the tanker fleet for crude oil transportation, further reinforcing Kazakhstan's energy sector. This move comes at a time when tanker export markets are thriving, with countries like China and South Korea leading the charge in 2024, registering export values of USD 5.7 billion and USD 5.6 billion, respectively, as per IndexBox data. Captain Ammar Al Shaiba, CEO of the Maritime & Shipping Cluster at AD Ports Group, highlighted the strategic value of this partnership, noting the successes achieved and the potential for future opportunities. Aidar Orzanhov, director general of KazMorTransFlot, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the pride in strengthening collaboration with AD Ports Group. This strategic agreement not only expands on the joint venture launched in 2022, Caspian Integrated Maritime Solutions, CIMS,, but also underscores a shared commitment to advancing maritime connectivity and trade within the Caspian Sea region. It aligns Kazakhstan's expanding sectors with global supply chains, ensuring robust growth and interconnectivity. #ShippingInnovation #LogisticsSolutions #CaspianSeaExpansion https://lnkd.in/dJghzN5s

QatarEnergy signs long-term time charter party agreements for nine Q-Max LNG vessels with Chinese companies LNG is fast moving and in a rapid development of events, QatarEnergy has followed their announcement of building 18 Q-Max (271,000 CBM) LNG vessels in Chinese shipyards by awarding nine of these vessels to Chinese shipowners - China Merchants Group, Shandong Marine Group, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited.  This is the first time that Q-Max LNG vessels will be owned by entities outside Qatar. Up till now, Nakilat has operated 14 Q-MAX LNG vessels. These LNG vessels will be used to meet the transportation requirements of QatarEnergy ongoing North Field expansion program, Golden Pass LNG project in the US and for fleet replacement. Earlier this week, QatarEnergy had awarded contracts to China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) for the construction of 18 Q-Max LNG vessels. These contracts are valued at about USD 6bn, translating into USD 333mn for each Q-Max LNG vessel. As we mentioned previously, we expect Nakilat to be awarded part of these Q-Max LNG vessels given their existing business relationship with QatarEnergy and their expertise in operating Q-Max vessels. China is the world’s largest LNG importing country and the country’s LNG imports have grown 15.6% between 2019 and 2023 and constitute about 17.3% of global LNG imports. The country’s LNG imports should continue to trend up given the country’s ongoing coal-to-gas switch. Chinese players have taken stakes in Qatar’s North Field LNG expansion plan and have signed multiple long-term LNG sale and purchase agreements.  For an idea of potential IRR, please refer to our thought piece in which we analyzed potential IRR to Nakilat for multiple orders from QatarEnergy. This analysis though is for a conventional ME-GI/X-DF LNG vessel -  https://lnkd.in/gzna6T-c #lng #shipping #qatarenergy #China #Qatar To learn more about our equity research services, please write to us - financialresearch@drewry.co.uk

ETYFA’s converted #FSRU, which will serve the first Cyprus #LNG import terminal in Vasilikos, has finally left Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry's yard in Shanghai. #lngprime https://lnkd.in/dpUzR6zy

🌊 Insights from the Africa Maritime Investment Indaba: AFRICA IS OPEN FOR MARITIME BUSINESS! 🌍 We had an incredible time attending the Africa Maritime Investment Indaba, gaining fresh insights and inspiration for the future of Africa’s maritime sector. The conference highlighted Africa’s vast potential in the global oil and gas industries, bunkering for vessels en route to other regions, and advancing shipping activities to and from the continent. Equally inspiring was the focus on port capacity and efficiency improvements, which will be critical to unlocking even greater economic potential. Key sessions covered: ⚓ Manufacturing and Bunkering; 🌱 Ecosystem Climate and Environment; 👨🏫 Maritime Skills and Capabilities Market; 💧 Blue & Ecosystem Financing – Mechanism Development; 💰 Ship Finance – Vessels & Ecosystem Finance; 🏗️ Maritime & Coastal Infrastructure and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs); 🌆 Sustainable Cities & Inland Waterways These discussions emphasized Africa's growing strength as a global player, underscoring the exciting opportunities for investment and collaboration. The takeaway is clear: Africa is ready for maritime business. Let’s continue the conversation on how we can harness this momentum to drive impactful growth in the sector. 🌍⚓ #AfricaMaritime #InvestmentIndaba #MaritimeBusiness #Shipping #AfricaEconomy #OilAndGas #Bunkering #PortEfficiency #SustainableInfrastructure #BlueEconomy If you want to stay up-to-date with us, follow our Page.

Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller - Maersk has ordered 20 #LNG dual-fuel containerships from yards in China and South Korea. #lngprime https://lnkd.in/dxscABK8

🚢 The Canal de Panamá is set to undergo major upgrades that could double the number of containers transiting its waters in the coming years! The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is investing $8 billion in infrastructure to increase its capacity and streamline operations. 🌊 Key innovations will include a water conservation strategy following recent droughts and the use of the west bank lands to expand cargo transfer capacity. These steps aim to move at least 5 million additional containers per year by 2045. The focus on container ships will bolster trade between Asia and the U.S., including liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments. 🌱🔋 "The canal is exploring business opportunities with the Port of Houston," said Ricaurte (Catin) Vasquez, Chief of the Panama Canal Authority. He emphasized that as renewable energy transitions and energy security become more critical, the canal's role in facilitating energy trade, including LNG, will be increasingly vital. "Energy products have become a major element in our customer and profit base," he added. The canal's expansion also aligns with growing global trade efficiency and energy innovation, which is essential for scaling up renewable energy solutions. 🌍 ⚡ #PanamaCanal #RenewableEnergy #EnergyTransition #LNG #CleanEnergy #Infrastructure #Sustainability #GlobalTrade #Shipping #FutureOfEnergy https://lnkd.in/g4EtYwqJ

Really useful graph here from EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)'s Q3 report on the cost of annual products at selected border points. No surprise to see German points at the top here. But even without the storage levy we can see that Poland is frequently towards the top as well, and that's even without accounting for the double-tariff you pay if using Yamal-Europe for transit. For those saying that CEE can be supplied via Poland no problem, you'll at least have to bare in mind that this route comes with significant cost. #CEE #trading #tariffs #barriers #costs #diversification

China’s Hudong-Zhonghua has launched the second in a new series of 23,000-teu #LNG dual-fuel containerships for French shipping giant CMA CGM. #lngprime https://lnkd.in/dgePmKqW