AEC attend to more US Aid/World Food Programme

The AEC vessel MV AEC Diligence loaded a cargo of bulk wheat on the US West Coast destined for the Yemen. The cargo was a US Aid/World Food Programme cargo and AEC are proud to once again support the efforts of such important organizations in providing food and relief to those in need.

The cargo was discharged in Hodeidah. After departure the AEC Diligence proceeded to load Fertilizer in Aqaba which she is currently on her way to discharge in India.

“Although it is by no means our usual trading pattern, we are none the less proud to be able to continue to serve organizations like US Aid and the World Food Programme in their endeavors to feed those in need throughout the world” says Jesper Lollesgaard, Chartering Manager AEC London

AEC take another Panamax to attend to it’s close Charterers needs

AEC charters yet another Panamax vessel to attend to close Charterers needs. This time it was the MV HONG YUAN 76,573MTS DWAT Built 2009 LOA/BEAM 225M/32.26M 90,099 m2 Grain Capacity.

The vessel will be loading a full cargo of coal from the Gulf of Mexico to South America.

‘We do everything possible to attend to our close client needs’ say Jesper Lollesgaard, Chartering Manager at AEC, London. ‘The company has the knowledge and capability to attend in all sizes despite our activity the past years have been mainly from Handysize up to Ultramaxes.’

What you got, we can load !

The AEC vessel MV AEC Belief loaded a project cargo being a mix of bulk cargo, cargo in big bags, containers and various Steel Structures both under and on deck.

The Vessel arrived for loading at Lianyungang and assisted by her box holds and open hatch configuration loaded the cargo in a record 5 days. The cargo will be discharged at anchorage into barges in Indonesia.

“We are proud to offer our clients efficient operation supported by our advanced ships and their skilled manpower on board” says Jesper Lollesgaard, Chartering Manager AEC London.

AEC controls above 1,000,000 mts Deadweight

AEC currently controls a fleet amounting to 1,042,239 mts Deadweight, with almost half of the vessels being max 3 years of age and the average age coming to 6 years.

‘We focus on quality performance for our clients’ says CEO Lars-Peter Madsen. ‘I believe that our reputation speaks for itself and we are comfortable that our fleet profile can attend our close Charterers very well’.

AEC average fleet vessel size is 45,314 Dwat currently consisting of the following vessel sizes:

71,081 Dwat

63,530 Dwat

61,097 Dwat

60,425 Dwat

56,732 Dwat

53,432 Dwat

52,987 Dwat

52,055 Dwat

39,202 Dwat

38,561 Dwat

37,811 Dwat

37,504 Dwat

37,200 Dwat

37,188 Dwat

35,897 Dwat

35,480 Dwat

35,186 Dwat

34,914 Dwat

34,905 Dwat

33,540 Dwat

33,200 Dwat

33,166 Dwat

32,189 Dwat

31,957 Dwat

 

AEC Charter Geared Panamax for Short Period

AEC has once again touched the Panamax market by chartering the geared Panamax MV Ocean Eagle for short period. The vessel will start lifting a cargo from AEC cargo book and thereby positioning it into the East Coast of South America where AEC always has high activity.

‘We always try to be creative’ Says Chartering manager Anderson Luiz da Silva. ‘ Our goal and purpose is always to be innovative and effective and thereby be a differentiated preferred carrier for our Charterers’

AEC Fleet vessel Drydocked

The MV AEC Diligence, the Japanese built 32,258dwt Open Hatch/Semi Boxshaped/Logs Fitted, was successfully drydocked in China and passed Special Survey.

The vessel is now in impeccable condition and ready for many more years of successful trading.

AEC continues its steel service from Brazil

AEC has vast experience in the steel trade and provides first class Charterers with impeccable service. Steel coils were loaded in Itaguai destined for northern Europe.

AEC is performing with a box-shaped vessel creating the perfect stowage.

This transatlantic voyage is expected to take about one month from load berth to completion of discharging.

 

 

AEC takes delivery of Japanese New Building

The Japanese New Building,  MV Ciara Enterprise, has been added to the AEC fleet.

‘We continue to focus on quality tonnage with the right specifications. Our client base is built on first class quality service, so we always make sure that our fleet correspond to that profile. The MV Ciara Enterprise was built at the Shin Kurushima Yard and is a sister vessel to MV AEC Belief’, says Lars-Peter Madsen – CEO.

The MV Ciara Enterprise is 32,200 dwat Open Hatch/Simi Box-shaped Built April 2017 179.95 m LOA/28.20 m Beam/4 x 30.5 mts Cranes/44,075 Cbm Grain Cubic.

A Cyclone Of Coal !

Assisting the Drybulk market is the recovering coal volumes. However, by the end of March Cyclone Debbie flooded much of the rail network between coal mines and ports in Queensland, Australia which is obstructing the Queensland coal export. This despite Hay Point port has reopened.

Aurizon operates four rail networks in Queensland: Goonyella, Blackwater, Newland and Moura.

Blackwater, Newland and Moura lines, connect mines to the ports of Gladstone and Abbott Point.

The three networks are expected to reopen between April 9 and April 14 2017.

The Goonyella coal rail system, which connects mines to Hay Point, is not expected to reopen until May.

This has meant that the Met coal prices surged 32% overnight on Wednesday the 5th of April 2017, as the world’s largest met coal producer declared force majeure due to logistical problems caused by Cyclone Debbie.

The declaration of force majeure by major met coal producers in Queensland has resulted in global steelmakers looking to source non-Queensland met coal supply. According to Macquarie, Queensland accounts for 48% of met coal exports, with New South Wales also in Australia accounting for 19% and the US accounting for 12%.

For shipping it means more Ton-Miles which could add heat to the recent Drybulk market rally. Coal exports from US Hampton Roads are up for sixth straight months with a total of 3.32 mts in March, up 19% from the prior month and up 112% year-on-year.

Fortunately, AEC had no coal shipments scheduled out of Queensland, Australia. In the meantime, during the first week of April, the fleet vessel, MV Spar Gemini 52,987 dwt with 4 x 36 mt cranes and 4 x 13 cmb grabs, discharged a full cargo of coal in Brazil.

 

AEC Carries World Food Program Cargo to the Sudan

AEC’s long term period chartered vessel MV Maritime Faith arrived at Port Sudan on 17th March to discharge a US Aid cargo of about 28,000 Sorghum in Bulk for the UN World Food Program. The cargo which was bagged on shore was discharged in good condition and ahead of schedule.

 

“It is nice when in the course of ordinary business you are able to feel that you make a difference when you carry sorely needed food aid to where it is needed most” says Jesper Lollesgaard, Chartering Manager of AEC in London. “We were especially pleased to be able to host the US Embassy, US Aid and the UN’s World Food Program with guests on board the vessel.”

 

“The World Food Program (WFP) Sudan is grateful to the owners and crew of the MV Maritime Faith, who have played a critical role in delivering food assistance to those in need,” said WFP Sudan Deputy Country Director Margaret Malu, “Our time on the vessel with the master and crew was a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to see the discharging of the commodities first-hand.”

(All photos were taken by Ala Kheir who kindly authorized the use of them for this article)