We welcome article submissions from experts in the areas of coal, mining,
shipping, etc.
To Submit your article please click here.
|
|
|
Thursday, 18 April 13
FEATURE: PREDICTING THE FUTURE - AND THE PAST - BIMCO
 It’s not predicting the future that is problematical, it’s the realisation that you have to relive the past again and again when you fail to learn from your mistakes. So much so in fact that, like a scientist studying the formation of the universe, it should become possible to predict the past too.
Shipping knows exactly how this feels, having ignored the simplest of supply/demand equations and instead put its faith in fanciful predictions that the world – and therefore business – had changed forever.
The trouble is that the more things change, the more they also stay the same. The belief that an industry could break completely free of the cycles which had marked its history for hundreds of years was in fact a departure from reality, the consequences of which we continue to live with.
At least we know now, in case we did not before, that the world will continue to be a difficult place in which to trade, and one need only attend one of the regular shipping industry trade shows to experience that feeling first hand.
Even in Asia, grounded more in trade and consumption rather than the optimism of capital markets, there is an expectation that the world which emerges from the industry’s longest downturn in a generation will be different to the one that went into it.
Classification Society Lloyd’s Register used the recent Singapore Maritime Week to launch its own piece of long range research, laying down competing scenarios of what the industry might have to be grappling with by 2030.
A thorough piece of work put together by LR, QinetiQ and Strathclyde University, it nonetheless can only really succeed in telling the reader what they might already suspect, particularly with regard to the economic/political backdrop.
It seems highly unlikely, for example, that the world will adopt anything but an aggressive posture to protection and preference, not simply for the length of the recession but subsequently, as the emerging nations that (again, we know) will come to dominate the industry flex their muscles.
The shipping industry gives thanks en masse for China’s rise but it must surely recognise that the trading partner with which it will have to deal is no US, no Europe, not even a Russia.
Shipping has traditionally enjoyed freedom of capital, movement of people, goods and services, all commodities it cannot be certain will be so readily available in future. The evidence of the tension emerging in Singapore last week over the need to balance immigration against the requirement to import skills to cement the city-state’s future growth is one clear example and far from being the only one.
Shipping also likes to be left alone and to do its own thing, rather in the same way as entrepreneurs enjoy conditions of privacy to found and grow businesses – unfettered by regulation and competitive constraints, served by relatively free-flowing debt financing.
Again, little to no hope there. Shipping’s dalliance with unreality has left it, if not high and dry, then in a new room with different lenders with very different ideas compared to its former ship finance partners.
Shipping is also highly regulated, but in some areas, less highly regulated than other comparable industries. The trouble is that the industry has done a bad job too often of arguing its case that the positives outweigh the negatives.
There are a number of reasons for that, not least that its main regulator has to juggle the demands of being a technical body on the one hand with being a political one on the other. The tidal wave of opprobrium heaped upon regulators during CMA was a little less obvious during Maritime Week but it is clear the costs of compliance, the need to demonstrate transparency and the requirement to operate under greater scrutiny will all be firm future requirements.
But can shipping change by enough to meet these needs? Of course it should – by practising restraint, by being more commercially adept, by making friends with regulators earlier in the rulemaking process, by recognising that market share without profit margin is a pointless metric and that it something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
To carve out a survival strategy that goes beyond merely putting off the inevitable for another seven years, shipping certainly has to get smarter, and not just in terms of the above commercial issues, however pressing they appear.
Shipping needs to cure itself of the affliction that it has suffered under for at least the last 20 years – you take care of providing sufficient growth, we’ll take care of the rest. The industry is being asked tough questions about its place in the world, just at the time when it has demonstrated the definition of commercial irresponsibility and lack of regulatory engagement. So, back to the future. There is a fine living to be made predicting even short term scenarios, but better cuttings and weblinks to be garnered by mopping up in the aftermath. Most of those doing the latter focus on how we failed to spot the emergence of various technologies and services in time to either make our fortunes or to adopt them to our competitive advantage, preferring to dismiss them as the short term fads driven by people who just want to sell us things before our current things have worn out.
But watch this space – there are two factors that will be decisive in marking out corporates for survival and perhaps the wider industry for adaptive evolution: attitudes to people and the use of technology. The entry into force of the MLC might not by itself guarantee better working conditions for all seafarers but it demonstrates a much clearer focus by regulators that owners will be unable to ignore and should turn to their advantage.
And as for technology? Well, without new approaches to designing, building and operating ships, incorporating not just some tried and trusted techniques but new – and as yet unproven – technologies, there is little hope of meeting future regulatory hurdles and energy efficiency requirements.
I said that predicting the past was possible and here is the history lesson. Owners will adapt and survive. Some will leave the stage and some big names disappear but long before 2030, we will see a new industry emerge. In fact this is not a prediction. It will have to happen.
Source: BIMCO / Hellenic Shipping
If you believe an article violates your rights or the rights of others, please contact us.
|
|
Tuesday, 04 June 13
NEWCASTLE PORT SHIPPED 2.56 MILLION TONS OF COAL IN A WEEK
COALspot.com - Newcastle port in Australia has loaded 2,563,596 tons of coal for week ended 0700 hours 3 June 2013, Newcastle Port Corp. said ...
Tuesday, 04 June 13
WOOD MACKENZIE SAYS THE CHINA'S THERMAL COAL DEMAND WILL REACH NEARLY 7BTPA BY 2030
COALspot.com - The Illusion of Peak Coal' says that despite efforts to limit coal consumption and seek alternative fuel options, China's strong ap ...
Saturday, 01 June 13
COAL PRICES STRUGGLE TO FIRM UP
COALspot.com - Sub-Bit Indonesia coal swaps (FOB ) for average July 2013 delivery have gained 0.18 percent week on week and 0.03 percent ...
Saturday, 01 June 13
THE FREIGHT MARKET FOR S7 AND S8 SECTORS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SOFT - VISTAAR
COALspot.com – The freights are remains weak week ended 31 May 2013, as BDI fell 2.05 pct and closed at 809 points on 31 May 2013.
The Cape ...
Friday, 31 May 13
US PRODUCED 18.5 MILLION SHORT TONS OF COAL W/E 25 MAY 2013
COALspot.com – United states the world’s second largest coal producer produced totalled approximately 18.50 million short tons (mmst) of ...
|
|
|
Showing 4261 to 4265 news of total 6871 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
- Coastal Gujarat Power Limited - India
- Ambuja Cements Ltd - India
- Gujarat Sidhee Cement - India
- IEA Clean Coal Centre - UK
- Sojitz Corporation - Japan
- McConnell Dowell - Australia
- Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd
- Price Waterhouse Coopers - Russia
- Africa Commodities Group - South Africa
- Bukit Baiduri Energy - Indonesia
- Standard Chartered Bank - UAE
- Central Java Power - Indonesia
- Kumho Petrochemical, South Korea
- Eastern Energy - Thailand
- Cement Manufacturers Association - India
- Kideco Jaya Agung - Indonesia
- Ministry of Finance - Indonesia
- Vijayanagar Sugar Pvt Ltd - India
- New Zealand Coal & Carbon
- GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd
- Mercuria Energy - Indonesia
- Chettinad Cement Corporation Ltd - India
- Medco Energi Mining Internasional
- Binh Thuan Hamico - Vietnam
- PNOC Exploration Corporation - Philippines
- LBH Netherlands Bv - Netherlands
- Bukit Makmur.PT - Indonesia
- Truba Alam Manunggal Engineering.Tbk - Indonesia
- Minerals Council of Australia
- Thiess Contractors Indonesia
- Ministry of Transport, Egypt
- IHS Mccloskey Coal Group - USA
- Central Electricity Authority - India
- Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Parry Sugars Refinery, India
- Meralco Power Generation, Philippines
- Vedanta Resources Plc - India
- Semirara Mining Corp, Philippines
- Miang Besar Coal Terminal - Indonesia
- VISA Power Limited - India
- Commonwealth Bank - Australia
- Baramulti Group, Indonesia
- Star Paper Mills Limited - India
- Rio Tinto Coal - Australia
- Cigading International Bulk Terminal - Indonesia
- Kepco SPC Power Corporation, Philippines
- Edison Trading Spa - Italy
- Chamber of Mines of South Africa
- Makarim & Taira - Indonesia
- Semirara Mining and Power Corporation, Philippines
- Bayan Resources Tbk. - Indonesia
- Sakthi Sugars Limited - India
- Australian Commodity Traders Exchange
- San Jose City I Power Corp, Philippines
- Global Business Power Corporation, Philippines
- Madhucon Powers Ltd - India
- Metalloyd Limited - United Kingdom
- Maheswari Brothers Coal Limited - India
- Timah Investasi Mineral - Indoneisa
- Dong Bac Coal Mineral Investment Coporation - Vietnam
- Gujarat Electricity Regulatory Commission - India
- Aditya Birla Group - India
- India Bulls Power Limited - India
- Iligan Light & Power Inc, Philippines
- Independent Power Producers Association of India
- Port Waratah Coal Services - Australia
- Kartika Selabumi Mining - Indonesia
- Bahari Cakrawala Sebuku - Indonesia
- Mercator Lines Limited - India
- Larsen & Toubro Limited - India
- The Treasury - Australian Government
- Anglo American - United Kingdom
- Altura Mining Limited, Indonesia
- Salva Resources Pvt Ltd - India
- Interocean Group of Companies - India
- PTC India Limited - India
- Tamil Nadu electricity Board
- SMG Consultants - Indonesia
- Videocon Industries ltd - India
- PetroVietnam Power Coal Import and Supply Company
- Indian Oil Corporation Limited
- Malabar Cements Ltd - India
- Oldendorff Carriers - Singapore
- MS Steel International - UAE
- GN Power Mariveles Coal Plant, Philippines
- Filglen & Citicon Mining (HK) Ltd - Hong Kong
- Sarangani Energy Corporation, Philippines
- London Commodity Brokers - England
- Energy Development Corp, Philippines
- Singapore Mercantile Exchange
- Latin American Coal - Colombia
- Kaltim Prima Coal - Indonesia
- Australian Coal Association
- Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Japan
- Bulk Trading Sa - Switzerland
- Thai Mozambique Logistica
- Power Finance Corporation Ltd., India
- Agrawal Coal Company - India
- Krishnapatnam Port Company Ltd. - India
- Essar Steel Hazira Ltd - India
- South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation
- CNBM International Corporation - China
- Grasim Industreis Ltd - India
- The State Trading Corporation of India Ltd
- Offshore Bulk Terminal Pte Ltd, Singapore
- Sree Jayajothi Cements Limited - India
- Gujarat Mineral Development Corp Ltd - India
- Mintek Dendrill Indonesia
- Orica Mining Services - Indonesia
- Uttam Galva Steels Limited - India
- Petrochimia International Co. Ltd.- Taiwan
- Karaikal Port Pvt Ltd - India
- Ministry of Mines - Canada
- Bhatia International Limited - India
- Coalindo Energy - Indonesia
- Asmin Koalindo Tuhup - Indonesia
- Kobexindo Tractors - Indoneisa
- Wood Mackenzie - Singapore
- Jorong Barutama Greston.PT - Indonesia
- Kapuas Tunggal Persada - Indonesia
- Energy Link Ltd, New Zealand
- SN Aboitiz Power Inc, Philippines
- Meenaskhi Energy Private Limited - India
- Coal and Oil Company - UAE
- Simpson Spence & Young - Indonesia
- Directorate Of Revenue Intelligence - India
- Sinarmas Energy and Mining - Indonesia
- Bharathi Cement Corporation - India
- Jindal Steel & Power Ltd - India
- Xindia Steels Limited - India
- Manunggal Multi Energi - Indonesia
- Alfred C Toepfer International GmbH - Germany
- Jaiprakash Power Ventures ltd
- Globalindo Alam Lestari - Indonesia
- AsiaOL BioFuels Corp., Philippines
- Savvy Resources Ltd - HongKong
- Goldman Sachs - Singapore
- Trasteel International SA, Italy
- Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand
- Economic Council, Georgia
- Parliament of New Zealand
- Petron Corporation, Philippines
- Posco Energy - South Korea
- Indogreen Group - Indonesia
- Directorate General of MIneral and Coal - Indonesia
- PowerSource Philippines DevCo
- Georgia Ports Authority, United States
- SMC Global Power, Philippines
- Merrill Lynch Commodities Europe
- CIMB Investment Bank - Malaysia
- Ceylon Electricity Board - Sri Lanka
- International Coal Ventures Pvt Ltd - India
- The University of Queensland
- Borneo Indobara - Indonesia
- Formosa Plastics Group - Taiwan
- Bangladesh Power Developement Board
- ICICI Bank Limited - India
- European Bulk Services B.V. - Netherlands
- Eastern Coal Council - USA
- Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd, - India
- Banpu Public Company Limited - Thailand
- Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd - Australia
- Wilmar Investment Holdings
- TeaM Sual Corporation - Philippines
- Indonesian Coal Mining Association
- Holcim Trading Pte Ltd - Singapore
- Orica Australia Pty. Ltd.
- ASAPP Information Group - India
- Riau Bara Harum - Indonesia
- Lanco Infratech Ltd - India
- Global Green Power PLC Corporation, Philippines
- Therma Luzon, Inc, Philippines
- Kohat Cement Company Ltd. - Pakistan
- Romanian Commodities Exchange
- Sindya Power Generating Company Private Ltd
- White Energy Company Limited
- Indika Energy - Indonesia
- Kalimantan Lumbung Energi - Indonesia
- Siam City Cement PLC, Thailand
- Billiton Holdings Pty Ltd - Australia
- Sical Logistics Limited - India
- Planning Commission, India
- Pendopo Energi Batubara - Indonesia
- Asia Pacific Energy Resources Ventures Inc, Philippines
- Siam City Cement - Thailand
- Deloitte Consulting - India
- TNB Fuel Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
- Electricity Authority, New Zealand
- Aboitiz Power Corporation - Philippines
- Antam Resourcindo - Indonesia
- Samtan Co., Ltd - South Korea
- Pipit Mutiara Jaya. PT, Indonesia
- Barasentosa Lestari - Indonesia
- Indo Tambangraya Megah - Indonesia
- GVK Power & Infra Limited - India
- Straits Asia Resources Limited - Singapore
- Renaissance Capital - South Africa
- Bhoruka Overseas - Indonesia
- Indian Energy Exchange, India
- Intertek Mineral Services - Indonesia
- Mjunction Services Limited - India
- Bukit Asam (Persero) Tbk - Indonesia
- Ind-Barath Power Infra Limited - India
- GMR Energy Limited - India
- Heidelberg Cement - Germany
- Marubeni Corporation - India
- Dr Ramakrishna Prasad Power Pvt Ltd - India
- Tata Chemicals Ltd - India
- Vizag Seaport Private Limited - India
- Carbofer General Trading SA - India
- Attock Cement Pakistan Limited
- Karbindo Abesyapradhi - Indoneisa
- Bhushan Steel Limited - India
- Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited - India
- Global Coal Blending Company Limited - Australia
- OPG Power Generation Pvt Ltd - India
- Dalmia Cement Bharat India
|
| |
| |
|
