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What to watch

Ships operated by Pacific International Lines could be facing the threat of arrest as the company struggles to meet payments to its bunker suppliers. The Some of the Singapore-based container line’s ships have been idled awaiting low-sulphur fuel, but bunker suppliers are now considering vessel arrests due to delays in payments, while others have stopped serving the line.

Bahri, Saudi Arabia’s national shipping company, has defied safety and security advice from its own insurers and the US government by allowing tankers to “go dark” during Strait of Hormuz transits. For most transits over the last six months, Bahri-owned and operated tankers have switched off their Automatic Identification System required under international regulations to transmit vessels’ locations at all times, according to satellite-tracking data analysed from Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

The Lloyd’s List podcast: Shipping has once again been left with the threat of getting caught in the crossfire of escalating tensions in the wake of the US killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani. Joining the Lloyd’s List Podcast this week to discuss the risk assessment for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz are BIMCO’s head of safety and security Jakob Larsen and Senior Maritime Analyst at Control Risks Cormac Mc Garry.

The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on Iran targeting Iranian steel and iron manufacturers, but also included a Liberia-flagged dry bulk vessel and Chinese trading company Hong Xun Shipping, alleged to be involved in the purchase, sale, and transfer of Iranian metals products.

Analysis

The risk of port congestion in the US Gulf during times of unfavourable weather has heightened as LNG exports from the area increase. But the market can take solace from the prospect that over the next few years, supplies from elsewhere should be more than enough to make up for any shortfall resulting from domestic disruption.

Opinion

With the consortia block exemption regulations due for a four-year extension, carriers will be breathing a sigh of relief. But risks still exist for consortium members. As carriers move to end-to-end services, questions arise over whether the level of integration they require will breach competition regulations, argues advocate August Braakman.

Creating the intelligent supply chain involves bankers, classification, vessel owners, ports and terminal businesses, and more. The Lloyd’s List Qatar Summit next month will explore why, says our chief correspondent Richard Clayton. Time to book that flight to Doha!

Markets

India’s plan for its coal industry is to reduce the dependence on imports, which is likely to hurt dry bulk shipping demand in the medium to long term. The country wants to boost domestic production to 1bn tonnes by 2024-2025. The privatisation of coal mines will have a knock-on effect on dry bulk shipping, which has benefited from the increased demand for seaborne coal in the previous year, writes our Singapore reporter Inderpreet Walia.

In other news

Bocomm Financial Leasing and SPDB Financial Leasing have ordered two 98,000 cu m newbuildings worth about $240m in total at China’s Jiangnan Shipyard. The vessels are to be chartered out to UK-based chemical producer Ineos.

Debt-ridden Dongguan Fenghai Shipping, a Chinese chemical and product tanker owner, has received court approval for its restructuring plan.

China has reportedly issued tax waivers for exports of very low sulphur fuel oil out of the country but may try to limit them to promote domestic consumption.

Exmar, the Belgian owner of gas carriers led by chief executive Nicolas Saverys, has announced management changes and a new corporate structure that will result in a simplified business unit set-up.

A joint venture led by Woodside Energy has sanctioned Senegal’s first offshore oil and gas development and finalised the awards for the production facilities, including the purchase of a floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

Teck Resources, a Canadian metals and mining company, has announced an expanded commercial agreement with Vancouver-based Ridley Terminals Inc for shipments of steelmaking coal from Teck’s British Columbia operations.