News – Page 39

A Cyclone Of Coal !

7 de April de 2017

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

5 de April de 2017

AEC’s long term period chartered vessel MV Maritime Faith arrived at Port Sudan on 17^th 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)

More Steels Under AEC Wings

28 de March de 2017

As part of AEC’s steel program MV Lady Damla, a Japanese Imabari 28,749 Dwt Built 2008 4 x 30.5 mts cranes, loaded a cargo of steel coils in Itaguai, Brazil to Setubal, Portugal.

Each coil is carefully lowered by the vessel’s cranes into the holds and from there moved to the right spot by a specialized steel coil forklift. The steel coils loaded on MV Lady Damla had piece weights of between 12 mts and 23 mts.

Anderson Luiz da Silva – Chartering Manager – South America

A Cyclone Of Coal !

AEC Carries World Food Program Cargo to the Sudan

More Steels Under AEC Wings

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