Do you have a bus? Not a problem for AEC’s flexible fleet.

Buses loaded on MV AEC Ability II

AEC load rare cargo grade

The AEC fleet vessel, MV Giovanna 34,146 dwat Built 2011, loaded Olivine Sand at Aaheim, Norway. It was a short quick voyage for discharging in Gijon, Spain.

Olivine sand. Sand composed almost exclusively of olivine grains is rare. Olivine is a common rock-forming mineral of certain igneous rocks.

 

 

General
Category Nesosilicate
Olivine group
Olivine series
Formula
(repeating unit)
(Mg, Fe)2SiO4
Strunz classification 9.AC.05
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Identification
Color Yellow to yellow-green
Crystal habit Massive to granular
Cleavage Poor
Fracture Conchoidal – brittle
Mohs scale hardness 6.5–7
Luster Vitreous
Streak None
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 3.2–4.5[1][2][3][4]
Optical properties Biaxial (+)
Refractive index nα = 1.630–1.650
nβ = 1.650–1.670
nγ = 1.670–1.690
Birefringence δ = 0.040

AEC’s ‘Super’ Ultramax in action

MV Christina loaded 60,500 mts of bulk wheat in Prince Rupert, Canada for Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Some holds were filled to the edge.

This lovely Japanese New Building is

66,653 Dwat on 12.925 m ssw

5 holds / 5 hatches

83,102 cbm grain cubic

4 x 30 mts cranes with 4 x 15 m3 grabs

Beam 36 m / LOA 199.99 m

New addition to the London team

We welcome Gary Robson (GR) to the AEC team. Gary comes with loads of specialized chartering experience from our industry and will work out of London.

With AEC’s increasing activity Gary will for sure be a great addition to our team.

Prominent visit in Houston

While MV AEC Ability II was discharging steel drilling pipes in the port of Houston, AEC’s CEO Mr. Madsen escorted a prominent Houston delegation to the vessel to experience what is happing in their own home port and onboard an AEC vessel.

A warm thank you to Captain Darko Turato and Crew for receiving everyone with great hospitality and for keeping our good vessel in an excellent condition.

Picture (From the left):

Mr. Sarofim, Mr. Kempner, Captain Turato, Mr. Lummis, Mr. Madsen, Mr. Seeligson, Mr. Mathis, Mr. Holstead, Mr. Stude and Mr. Curtin.

 

Ultramax or Panamax?

The traditional Panamaxes are facing competition from two sides. The Ultramaxes and the Kamsarmaxes are both newer popular designs. Depending on the restrictions involved in the various trades, the newer designs do threaten the standard Panamax vessels in their trades.

During the 2016 CMA in Stamford, CT, the CEO of AEC was asked what designs he thought would be the future designs in Dry Bulk.  Mr. Madsen was not in doubt when he in details explained why some of the new Bulk Carriers designs indeed would have a bright future over a longer period. Yes, the markets where extremely dull at the time (End February 2016) but it was still a question of keeping ‘the eye on the ball’. He outlined why Kamsarmaxes (81-86,000dwt), Ultramaxes (60-66,000 dwt) and Handymaxes (37-45,000 dwt), from good shipyards, would fair well over the next decades.

Pictured: AEC’s chartered Ultramax, MV Start Mistral – 63,306 dwt. The vessel loaded a cargo of bulk coal at Mobile, USA during the first week of May 2018.

 

AEC add special ‘Ultra’ Ultramax Newbuilding to it fleet

The Japanese Bulk Carrier, MV Christina, has been chartered on long term Time-Charter to AEC. The vessel is a special Japanese design with higher Deadweight that normal Ultramaxes. She delivered from Mitsui Yard in Japan and was sent on her first employment to load grain in Vancouver, BC for discharging in Japan.

‘We have a great interest in this special design of vessel’ says CEO Lars-Peter Madsen and continues ‘Our experience tells us that this is a great design and also the ultimate design for the Grain trade out of South America.’

The New Building has the following particulars:

66,653 Dwat on 12.925 m ssw

5 holds / 5 hatches

83,102 cbm grain cubic

4 x 30 mts cranes with 4 x 15 m3 grabs

Beam 36 m / LOA 199.99 m

True to its name, AEC maintains its competency in transporting Energy Products

Be it Coal or Petroleum Coke, AEC continues to be the trusted partner to meet the Marine Transportation requirements of our clients in the Energy Sector.

MV Falmouth Bay, the 58,616 deadweight Bulk Carrier built 2014, alongside in North Brazil.

52,500 mts of Bulk Coal being discharged into shore ‘hoppers’ and on to trucks.

 

Naresh Khandelwal – Operations

 

A variety of Steel Products

AEC chartered the New Building MV Calypso.GR for calling the Port of Praia Mole (Espírito Santo state, Brazil) for loading five different types of steels: Billets, Rebars, WFB (wide flange beans) and Merchant Bars during her 3rd voyage after delivery from yard.  

 

Due to the complex of the operation, AEC was not only represented by our Supercargo – which is our “modus operanti” – but also by the staff from the back-office being Mr. José Cavalieri – Operations and Mr. Anderson Silva – Chartering. Everyone were present to follow the loading operation and certifying that everything would go smoothly and to ensure that the cargo would be loaded in good and secured manner to reach it’s destination as loaded.

 

AEC pursue many decades of vast steel business experience with very close relationships with the relevant Charterers, Shippers, Receivers, Agents and Surveyors.

This was indeed another great and successful operation.

José Cavalieri – Operations Americas

 

Ordem e Progresso !!

The words ‘Order and Progress’ on the Brazilian flag has often seemed misplaced. We follow up on the past Brazilian inputs from AEC’s website (latest https://aecarriers.com/the-brazilian-parliament-votes-in-favor-of-presidential-impeachment/ ).

The fact that ex-President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Lula), finally began his 12 years prison sentence is something exceptional for Brazil. For foreigners with little knowledge about the “real” Brazil, the ruling and sentencing could seem somewhat political and maybe unjust. The international media does not seem to use any effort or time to establish the facts. Instead the ex-President is often portrayed as a hero and as the saviour of the poor. There seem to be no stories about how Lula and his party faithful have undermined the safety net that should be under the less fortunate part of the Brazilian population. Yes so far the judges managed only to punish Lula for something that maybe does not seem like a big deal. However this is a bit like when the U.S. managed to take Al Capone down for tax fraud and not for the many people he ordered killed. However it is worth bearing in mind that Lula’s still has five additional corruption cases against him to be heard in court. One can also expect that more attention is brought to what has been channeled via his son. We could be talking about fortunes starting with a ‘B’ and not an ‘M’.

Many argue that the other political parties are also corrupt, which is likely correct but that is however no excuse. Brazil’s “Lava Jato” (Car wash), as the process has been called, is a fundamental process for Brazil to regain it’s status as a respected country and this time with significantly less corruption. Few know that before Lula’s Presidency, Brazil was on the right track in terms of corruption, the private sector was practically cleaned up and government corruption was improving. Lula’s “union like” organized corruption plans however took government corruption to a complete different level. The scheme was aimed at including as many political parties as possible, creating an environment where everyone were involved at some point and therefore no one could sell the others out. Obviously, the private sector was dragged in to fund the show, especially the huge construction companies that involved in Government lead infrastructure projects. It went so far that these schemes were exported to other countries where the Brazilian Development Fund (BNDS) would finance projects away from the spotlight. All this without the minimum consideration for Brazil’s own appalling infrastructure that so badly needed the funds. Petrobras was also an obvious source with international oil prices soaring at the time of Lula presidency.

The Car Wash process seem to be the most efficient attempt to tackle corruption that has ever happened in Brazil, however it is clear that the process is very tough and has taken its tolls on the country. However, without a thorough clean-up, Brazil’s future will continue to be negatively affected. You may wish to be reminded that Brazil is said to be “abencoado por deus” (blessed by God). This would seem to be at least close to factual when you consider the incredible wealth of natural resources that means that Brazil should be self-sufficient and one of the riches countries in the world. Corruption has taken the country on the wrong path for too long.

Lula’s imprisonment is fundamental for renewed hope for Brazil and a very important mile stone for the turnaround of the country.

AEC congratulate our many hard working and honest clients and friends in Brazil and wish the absolute best for the country.