'TO SET THE RECORDS STRAIGHT'

                                              " TO SET THE RECORDS STRAIGHT"
                                              by Mr. Anastasios Maraslis
                                             S.T.I.C-President/Director.

I am sorry to state the obvious but, sometimes, it seems we forget the basics or we take for granted what should be always checked first;

 

-A fixture which never came through, since charts failed to lift the subjs, is not to be

 considered a fixture, at all!
 Therefore the hire/freight of such failed biz can't and shouldn't be a guidance to what

 the freight market levels are!
-(Since when a failed fixture can be a guidance for owners or brokers? Is an athlete's  

 failed try to high jump 2.50 m a guide that men jump 2.50 m?).
-There are few, (happily), charterers who have no firm biz in their hands, (L/C is not

 opened/sales contract under negos), who indicate high rates to attract/secure the vessel

 and they even start firm negos with owners but failed to lift the subjs, left vessels in spot

 position, (something we all experience in large scale recently), and instigated the false r

 ate as a guide!
- A Charter fixture is considered to have been realised ONLY when is CLEAN OF SUBJS and

  when the FREIGHT or at least the first HIRE is being PAID, cleared in owners bank a/c!
-Reported, fictitious hire or freight numbers, derriving from Freight Derivatives, 'paper'

 market, or RECORD FIXTURES - who knows how done -as source of info/guidance is not

 pragmatic/true FOR US!

-There are men who make high jumps over 2.40 meters (Javier Sotomayor /WR since

 1993) but this doesn't reflect what the average athlete can do or the average ordinary

 man!

 

Please ppose to us any firm business (L/C is in place) and preferrably, cargo at port ready for loading, and when quoting a vessel kindly check what is the physical market paying empirically and not what the 'paper' market is expecting to make or the reports/promote as a guidance.

 

Freight Rates are determined by the doctrine of supply and demand ONLY and not by feeding owners expectations with ideas based on speculation. To set ones records straight, more effort is required, in real time, in the physical market, instead parrot /quoting what is published/read. Owners and Chrts alike need useful advise/consultancy from WHAT ONE HAS PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED/TOUCHED- NOT READ!

 

Wishing successful fixtures to all!

 

Sincerely yours

Shipowners Trust International Corporation (S.T.I.C)

Anastasios Maraslis
President/Director.

www.eshipownerstrust.com

chartering@eshipownerstrust.com

SHIPOWNERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION                              S.T.I.C                    
Shipping & Trading
SHIP OPERATION/CHARTERING /S&P / TRADING.

" SHIPPING- DRY BULK MARKET DYNAMICS NEXT 3/10 YEARS

           " SHIPPING- DRY BULK MARKET DYNAMICS NEXT 3/10 YEARS."

 

'Randomity is making life interesting, though too much randomity brings confusion & despair'                                  

 

                                   by Mr. Anastasios Maraslis
                                   S.T.I.C-President/Director

-Looking into the future is a physical human compulsion. Man needs to make a future 
 prognosis.
-Future prognosis goes far back in ancient Greece history, around 550 BC when there was
 the Oracle Pythia, at the Apollo Temple at Delphi ,which was famous for her enigmatic
 prophesies.
-Peering into the future is a risky business and anyone who endeavours giving a prognosis
 is doomed to failure as future is subject to changes, human intervention, force majure or
 unforseeable events.
-However there are some dynamics which can guide our vision in aid to minimize risks and
 with confidence organize the future.

Although, almost all, recent reports published by official recognisable world organisations and institutions similarly, like the Oracle Pythia, issued their 'forecasts' for the next 20-30 years (something you will get right in 20-30 years), I will focus in the dynamics of the next 3-10 years, since for the next two years I don't see, personally (today 24th July 2013), any market changes, unless something extraordinary takes place.

We, here at S.T.I.C, have vested multiple interests in Shipping Industry, since 1997, and have an urgent compulsion  to analyse the information available prior organising our strategies for the future.
Sharing our thoughts and ideas is an open invitation for counter thinking, constructive criticism, betterment and change! Therefore do not hesitate to share your thoughts with us.

The last decade, until today, a decisive protagonistic role, in the shipping dry bulk market, and world trade is played by the BRIIC'S countries. (Brazil, Russia,India, Indonesia, China).
Today, BRIIC'S countries are the driving force of global economy and for this reason only we will focus on their dynamics to their role playing the next decade (3-10 years actually) as they are and will maintain their protagonistic position in the freight market -  particularly in dry bulk commodities transportation by sea- we are interested in.

Their GROWTH SUSTAINABILITY is the key of our brief research and quick, but not hasty, peer into the future.

The BRIIC countries have proved, consistently year by year, an increasing productivity, increasing investments, increasing savings rates and DOMINANCE in contribution to the global GDP. Our reliable sources, from the WORLD BANK, indicate that the two thirds of the global investment growth over the last decade has originated in the BRIC countries.
However these dynamics have shown declining trends, although still high, and will remain high, although to a lower degree, compared to last decade. This assumption is based on the BRIIC's countries population growth, population which will get better education, will save more money and will invest more - WILL CONSUME MORE -

It is worth to mention that these countries were the least affected by the financial crisis of 2008 due to their minor exposure in the International Financial/Stock Exhange Markets (particularly in DERRIVATIVES AND JUNK BONDS).
{Their slower pace of growth though was mainly attributed to their western world exports sudden decline.}

Once again, according to the World Bank information reliable sources, the contribution of developing countries to global growth will rise from 73% around 2015 to 87% by 2030.
Therefore we may dare to assume that the world's investment and saving rates and yields on capital will stabilize within the next decade with key protagonists the developing countries.
Developing countries growth is 1,5-2 points below what it was during the pre crisis period, that is four years ago.
Despite the positive insights accrued from our above dynamics analysis it would have been a gross ommission to disregard the Euro Area crisis which already has impacted the developing countries economies to slower progress as above analysed. Unless Euro countries governments cut spending to reduce gargantuan deficits, lighten heavy taxation, households need to reduce debt levels and the banks need to unfreeze lending, we will not see the anticipated recovery and a positive % growth soon (western countries consumers have not enough for maintenance, mereover for spending or saving).

What is necessary for euro economies recovery is a combination of all the above mentioned, however if NOTHING makes the banks lend money, people and companies borrow, we will be facing a deeper depression which in turn will further slow BRIIC's countries growth ratio and will prolongue the poor freight market which has more capacity in tonnage than the physical market can digest.

Hoping also that same mistakes of the past - in derrivatives investments/options/futures/junk bonds  - will not be repeated in the following years risking a second tragety like Lehman brothers, and that Euro economies will stabilize
IN CONJUCTION WITH  BRIIC'S COUNTRIES GROWTH SUSTAINABILITY is the key market dynamics for freight rates rebound slowly, as any recovery process.
I would be delighted to share and hear your comments and thoughts in our effort  to understand the world tendencies and the future insights better.

In case you wish to add you or add a new e mail address to our lists please advise by return.
Sincerely yours,
Shipowners Trust International Corporation.Anastasios Maraslis
President
SHIPOWNERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                 S.T.I.C                     Shipping & Trading
SHIP OPERATION/CHARTERING /S&P / TRADING.
S.T.I.C BUILDING - 3, VOUDOURI STR.,- PIRAEUS 185 37 -GREECE.
+30 210 4529500 (TEL), +30 210 4529505 (FAX)www.eshipownerstrust.com

'THE ASIAN TIGERS TRIUMPH'

Today, the Shipping World is undergoing, once again, the downturn trend of a shipping cycle.

Usually, In a shipping crisis the freight prevailing rate levels are far too low, for many ship owners, to pay their bank loans and their vessels’ daily running expenses.

Historically, in every shipping crisis, the average shipping company is struggling to survive, by lowering its running expenses and cutting its elastic costs to the bear minimum.

Additionally, in a shipping crisis like this, there are not enough cargoes for the sheer number of vessels, which have been ‘flooding’ the market in the previous good shipping years - new built vessels’ deliveries are still taking place, until today -

It is noteworthy that, the key region which is still ‘alive’ with dry bulk cargo movements, is the Asian region (PG-INDIA-SE ASIA and of course CHINA), the remaining part of the shipping world is sluggish, with very few DRY BULK commodities shipments, not even worth to mention.

Thus, prior we see an improvement in the freight rate levels, there is a need for tonnage capacity correction (many shipping professionals support the idea that the excess tonnage capacity should be laid up and older tonnage to take its toll for scrapping).

In such a critical period, we are experiencing these days, S.T.I.C , with global recognition, for superior dry bulk chartering and ship management services is an ally recognized and chosen by many small - medium size owners (in the number of vessels) for enhancing their presence and access to a qualitative and larger, cargo market share.

S.T.I.C has built an expertise and loyal clientele - the last 16 years- with direct access to more that 200 first class charterers and firm shipments, ranging from 22,000 mts up to 160,000 mts and a fleet of more than 60 modern dry bulk vessels, of similar size.

The list of services offered W/W include: Dry Bulk Chartering (exclusive or competitive), Ship Management, Ship Operation, Ship Finance and Hull & Machinery, P&I Insurance via S.T.I.C group of companies; Marasco Marine Ltd (www.marasco-marine.com), S&P brokerage, Bunkering, Crew Manning, Demolition and Iron Ore Trading.

We, here at S.T.I.C aspire to add value to YOUR company with responibility and professionalism.

Please contact us at; chartering@eshipownerstrust.com   for;Chartering Dept.
                                snp@eshipownerstrust.com              for;   S& P/Demolition Dept.
                                operations@eshipownerstrust.com   for;   Ship Operation/Ship 
                                                                                   Management & Post Fixtures Dept.
                                info@eshipownerstrust.com            for;   General/Admin.Dept.

S - Seeks Transparency.T - Takes Responsibility. I - Inspires. C - Communicates.

In case you wish to add you or add a new e mail address to our lists please advise by return.
Sincerely yours,
S.T.I.C
Promotion & Marketing Department.
SHIPOWNERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION                  
SHIP OPERATION/CHARTERING /S&P / TRADING.
S.T.I.C BUILDING - 3, VOUDOURI STR.,- PIRAEUS 185 37 -GREECE.
+30 210 4529500 (TEL), +30 210 4529505 (FAX)www.eshipownerstrust.com
 

'WHAT CONSTITUTES CARGO DELIVERY’.

                       
                                 by Mr. Anastasios Maraslis
                                 S.T.I.C-President/Director

It should be common knowledge - regretfully it isn't for this reason I wrote this article -  in shipping business and practice that the carrier’s responsibility, for safe custody of the goods, comes to an end /cease as soon as the goods are discharged from the ship, AND OR ARE DELIVERED TO THE CONSIGNEE!  The Consignee, in turn, to take delivery of the goods must present the bill of lading.

The moment consignee presents the bill of lading, and the cargo is discharged, the carrier ceases to have responsibility to the cargo and ‘goods are so completely under the control of the consignee that he may do what he likes with them’ (British Shipowners v. Grimond (1876) 3 Rett.968,972).

In practice , upon the discharge of the goods from the ship they are frequently in the custody of agents or contractors rather than the shipowner.

Therefore owners and ship managers should bear the above always in mind and make quick decisions to avoid lost fixtures while waiting the obvious answer..... from their P&I legal department!
Sincerely yours,

S.T.I.C
Anastasios Maraslis
President/Director.
Contact us at:
SHIPOWNERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
         S.T.I.C
Shipping & Trading
OPERATION / DRY CARGO CHARTERING / S&P / TRADING
Phone: +30 210 4529500 - Fax: +30 210 4529505.
Mobiles: +30 6943 108283, +30 6932 201053, +30 6945 590744.
E-mail: chartering@eshipownerstrust.com (Chartering Dept.)
E-mail: operations@eshipownerstrust.com (Operations / Post Fixtures Depts.)
E-mail: dry@eshipownerstrust.com (Trading/S&P Depts.)
E-mail: info@eshipownerstrust.com (Admin Dept. /General)
S.T.I.C BUILDING | 3, VOUDOURI STR., | PIRAEUS 185 37 |

"EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE" VS FFA'S"

                                       "EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE" VS FFA'S"
           (IDBMFI) INTERNATIONAL DRY BULK MUTUAL FREIGHT INDEX

Under the prevailing adversities (tonnage over capacity, world trade and economy in crisis, instability and political upheaval) one has to observe more carefully, to think and base his DECISIONS EMPIRICALLY and NOT ON OPINIONS AND BIAS.
To succeed, one has to re adjust his ‘ideas’ in changes quickly, by constant updating, renewing, re thinking, ANALYTICALLY, prior a decision is made. The rules of the game have changed. 
Taking the analytical process is, too often, time consuming but the result is worthwhile the effort, like anything which adds value to your company and your personal ‘assets’ or resources.

There are no quick fixes to succeed, especially in adverse business environments, like the one we are experiencing today!

In good, prosperous freight markets it is easy almost for anyone to make easy money and incur profits. A bad decision is easily forgotten and any losses derived from it are set off by the next voyage’s profitable income returns.
Having said that, as an example, to compare with a highly competitive market, where one bad decision might result in great losses, weakening the company’s cash flow stability and survival.
To make the right decisions one has to be prepared to run the extra mile and get what is required through private research and empirical evidence; otherwise he is risking making bad decisions and being surpassed by his competitors and fail.

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE is where we, here at S.T.I.C, base our work and decisions, ONLY.
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE is what we provide to our loyal shipowners clientele.
EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE is what we seek to acquire and require in our researches and observations.
S.T.I.C builds a reliable MUTUAL SOURCE OF EMPIRICAL INFORMATION. The (IDBMFI) INTERNATIONAL DRY BULK MUTUAL FREIGHT INDEX which is not based on bias or opinions but on empirical evidence (cp fixtures) harvested weekly, from the International spot freight market. S.T.I.C information data is not influenced by the paper market of Freight Forward Agreements (Derivatives market) or on expectations.

For more information and how to co participate send your messages at; consultancy@eshipownerstrust.com and we will guide you accordingly.

S.T.I.C
Shipowners Trust International Corporation.
Tel; +30 210 4529500
Fax; +30 210 4529505

 

'STIC'S ARTICLES PURPOSE'

                       'STIC'S ARTICLES PURPOSE’.
              by  S.T.I.C - Promotion & Marketing Dept.

We would hereby like to thank you all for subscribing to our articles and your encouraging and kind messages.
In fact, the articles are distributed to all of our lists and have been welcomed and read by most of you, despite their length, which sometimes is rather long, depending the subject. In view of the sheer number of messages we all receive daily we will try to keep the articles
length short for your easier and quickest reading.
For the new readers we here by outline briefly the purpose of our articles which, most of the times, are written by the President and founder of our organisation; Mr. A. Maraslis who's experience in Shipping goes back to the early '80's and his articles have been pubished in many local
and international magazines and news papers.

STIC’S ARTICLES PURPOSE;
a) To bring forth market transparency.
b) To reveal and confine false or manipulating and mischievous information/data and their sources.
c) To fight ignorance and bias.
d) To re establish full trust amongst industry professionals, competing ethically - and unrestrained- 
     serving the world trade and the global sea transports effectively and efficiently.
e) To provide useful and practical ideas and tested empirical information.
f)  To Organize empirical data to a practical - market useful - impartial source of information.
>S  -  Seeks Transparency.
>T -  Takes Responsibility.
>I  -  Inspires.
>C -  Communicates.
In case you wish to add you or add a new e mail address to our lists please advise by return. In case you wish to be deleted from our articles please reply by stating in the subject; ARTICLES-UNSUBSCRIBE and the e mail address you wish us to delete.
Sincerely yours,
S.T.I.C
Promotion & Marketing Department.
SHIPOWNERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                                 S.T.I.C
                     Shipping & Trading
SHIP OPERATION/MANAGEMENT/CHARTERING /S&P / TRADING.

www.eshipownerstrust.com
chartering@eshipownerstrust.com     (Chartering Dept.)Operations@eshipownerstrust.com   (Operations Dept.)dry@eshipownerstrust.com                (Trading Dept.)SnP@eshipownerstrust.com               (Sale & Purchase/Demolition)info@eshipownerstrust.com               (General/Admin.Dept.)

'CARGO IS THE VARIABLE'

                                                           'CARGO IS THE VARIABLE'
                                                                  by Mr. Anastasios Maraslis
                                                                     S.T.I.C /President/Director

We are all experiencing, quite often, business/fixtures faltering due to cargo readiness and chrts’ failure to lift the subjs.
This is rather frustrating, for all, and not cost effective either, as a great deal of working hours have been spent, by all parties concerned, without producing the anticipated outcome, at the end of the day.
In sea transportations service, especially these days, the only steady and reliable datum is the vessel, as she has a position, physically, and can be monitored, even via satellites. There is no doubt about a vessel’s physical position.
A cargo, on the other hand, is a variable which is subject of questioning, if such cargo is ready at port to be loaded, or whether it is still subject of a sales contract negotiations, which, depending the incoterms, the exporters or importers are checking the transportation’s costs/freight in the market via their brokers. In which case, the cargo is not firm, yet, and thus it is possible the sales contract
to fail, for various reasons.  In the first case, cargo can be traced, via loading port agents and shippers. In the second case though cargo simply is nothing else but an idea, a business/trading deal under discussions and its anticipated to succeed or fail. Owners and brokers alike
would rather to know, before they decide to enter into such  ‘venture' -availing their time and efforts- if this cargo is a sold cargo or not, or, if sold, a corresponding letter of credit has been issued, by the buyer’s bank.
We live in communications era, thus, any such information should and could be verified within few minutes or an hour, simply by asking the right questions to the right people, avoiding thus frustration, waste of time and money by identifying and securing the variable....the cargo!
Thanking you kindly for your encouraging messages and co operation so far!
Sincerely yours,
S.T.I.C
Anastasios Maraslis
President/Director.
SHIPOWNERS TRUST INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
                              S.T.I.C
                     Shipping & Trading
SHIP OPERATION/MANAGEMENT/CHARTERING /S&P / TRADING.
www.eshipownerstrust.com
chartering@eshipownerstrust.com     (Chartering Dept.)Operations@eshipownerstrust.com   (Operations Dept.)dry@eshipownerstrust.com                (Trading Dept.)SnP@eshipownerstrust.com               Sale & Purchase/Demolition)info@eshipownerstrust.com               (General/Admin.Dept.)