Tuesday, April 2, 2013

'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
 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

'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 |

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

"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


 

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

'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.)

Monday, December 17, 2012

'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.)

Thursday, November 1, 2012

        ‘ THE FREIGHT PHYSICAL MARKET VERSUS THE PAPER MARKET ’

                                                 By Anastasios Maraslis
                                      S.T.I.C /President/Director

Shipping business is cyclical, with periodic overcapacity, where the freight rates reflect the supply-demand balance.

The understanding of Shipping business particularities make it necessary to work collaboratively to achieve success by transfering knowledge and 'tangible' experience on a wide variety of shipping 'areas' of common interests.

One of which, is the current prevailing freight -existing- rates available for numerous shipping routes, type of cargoes, type of vessels and sizes!

Although the current freight 'PHYSICAL MARKET' is very low, within the next 8-10 years the emerging economies will contribute an outsized share of the world GDP growth. Overall the global economy is expected to expand at a 3.6 percent annual rate over the longer term, resulting in world GDP swelling to $90 trillion by 2020! That is 40 percent larger than what it is today.

Have you planned for these developments ahead and how?

One way to plan is through STRATEGIC ALLIANCES which is required now more than ever before and the creation a functional mode which will establish and promote THE FREIGHT MARKET TRANSPARENCY which has to be our main concern before the 'PAPER MARKET' overtakes in its entirety the PHYSICAL FREIGHT MARKET and drives it to complete chaos and ruins! In which case SHIPBROKERS EXISTANCE in the market will be at great risk, threatened to be REPLACED BY 'PAPER' TRADERS' and MEGA TRADING COMPANIES.

To remain indifferent in such a threat is not the solution and any good professional has to think it seriously and act now, before is too late.

The reluctance of banks to provide capital funds, the rise of shipping debt and the sharp fall of freight rates motivated stock - money market practitioners, stock , bond and CDO's traders to use the DERIVATIVES financial instruments for taking advantage the openning/opportunity given in the ONLY LEFT HEALTHY INDUSTRY, creating a parallel 'PAPER MARKET' with the purpose to speculate and profiteering based on caused SENTIMENTS and controlling OPINIONS by spreading ambiguous and non clear information among us, using various sources, ways and means.

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 failure, making wrong decisions based EFFORTLESSLY on OTHER PEOPLE OPINIONS OR BIAS.

RELYING YOUR DECISIONS POWER ON OPINIONS OR ON REPORTS ONLY (MOST OF THEM BASE ITS INFORMATION ON THE PAPER MARKET EXPECTATIONS) IS NOT PRODUCTIVE AT ALL.

-EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE is where we, here at S.T.I.C, base our work and decisions, ONLY.

-EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM THE PHYSICAL FREIGHT MARKET is what we provide to our loyal clientele and close supporting associates.

-EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE is what we seek in our research and observations.

-YOUR EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE is invited to be shared with OURS and OTHERS in an  
 ASSOCIATION for complimenting and updating the NEW, INDEPENDENT and RELIABLE












 MUTUAL SOURCE OF EMPIRICAL INFORMATION - THE IDBFIA!

-THE (IDBFIA) INTERNATIONAL DRY BULK FREIGHT INDEX ASSOCIATION is not based on bias or opinions but STRICTLY on EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE (cp fixts/fixture notes/recaps) harvested DAILY, from the International spot freight market, by associated brokers,owners and charterers .

-The IDBFIA is open ONLY to its ASSOCIATED MEMBERS, AS A MUTUAL POOL OF INFORMATION.

A critical part of enhancing the future planning process of our clientele is improving their overall decision-making capabilities.

Left unchecked, subconscious biases such as excessive optimism ('dictated' mainly by false unchecked data/info, or even influenced by so called 'authorities' which usually, if not always, undermine a manager’s routine or strategic decision-making capabilities.

-We, at S.T.I.C provide our exclusive or semi exclusive clientele with a decision making analysis and a perspective on - and a way to mitigate the

impact of - the biases that are often inherent in our clients’ decision - making processes.

-S.T.I.C’s information harvesting is resulted directly from the shipping PHYSICAL ‘battlefield’ through daily hard work and high standards technology

applied by our dedicated company’s executives in THE PHYSICAL FREIGHT MARKET by analysis and strategic planning.

Please share your thoughts, ideas, empirical evidence with us to co grow the IDBFIA for YOUR ‘peace of mind’, ‘confidence of what are the prevailing rates at each time’, ‘control of your work’,‘work is more enjoyable’, ‘better budget control and profitability’, ‘save time/less hustle’, ‘being cause’ and CONTRIBUTE TO THE SHIPRBOKER'S PROFESSION SURVIVAL..

Sincerely yours,

S.T.I.C
Anastasios Maraslis
President/Director.
P.S You may recirculate, forward or print.

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

chartering@eshipownerstrust.com   (Chartering Dept.)
Operations@eshipownerstrust.com  (Operations Dept.)
Dry@eshipownerstrust.com             (S&P/TRADING Dept.)
info@eshipownerstrust.com            (General/Admin.Dept.)
consultancy@eshipownerstrust.com (Consultancy Services)

Thursday, June 28, 2012

‘Decisions - Your Ruin or Your Prosperity? - ’

                   By Anastasios Maraslis

                        President/Director


 

Running a shipping company is difficult, especially in times of crisis.

Shipping can be very profitable. However, the business is cyclical, with periodic overcapacity, where the freight rates competition is cutting throat.

Over the long term, many companies cover their cost of capital but hardly earn a profit.

Our deep understanding of Shipping business, allows us to work collaboratively to achieve success and transfer knowledge on a wide variety of large, complex performance improvement initiatives.

In the next 8-10 years emerging economies will contribute an outsized share of the world GDP growth.

Although we will continue to see economic turbulences, overall the global economy is expected to expand at a 3.6 percent annual rate over the longer term, resulting in world GDP swelling to $90 trillion by 2020. That is 40 percent larger than it is today.

Have you planned for these developments ahead?

Straregic alliances is required now more than ever before!

 

S.T.I.C - COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

- Here, at S.T.I.C we understand the unique environment of shipping industry
  and its cyclicality.

- S.T.I.C is the optimum choice for clients seeking to achieve results, why we
  enable this success of organizational transformation through collaboration
- by working side by side with our clients - sharing accountability, transferring
  knowledge, ‘tangible’ information and helping transform the culture to
  embrace and sustain lasting change by diagnosing and eliminating weaknesses
  and non productive ‘working habits’.

-A critical part of enhancing the planning process of our clientele is improving
 their overall decision-making capabilities. Left unchecked, subconscious biases
 such as excessive optimism ('dictated' mainly by false unchecked data/info, or
 even influenced by so called 'authorities' and self imposing ‘big names’ - )
 which usually, if not always, undermine a manager’s routine or strategic
 decision-making capabilities.

-We, at S.T.I.C provide our exclusive or semi exclusive clientele with a decision
 making analysis and a perspective on - and a way to mitigate the impact of -
 the biases that are often inherent in our clients’ decision - making processes.

-S.T.I.C’s information harvesting is resulted directly from the shipping ‘battlefield’ through daily hard work and high standards technology applied by our dedicated company’s executives in market analysis and strategic planning.

S.T.I.C's crew is sailing towards new horizons by making new alliances, adding value to its clientele and shaping the future TODAY!

Sincerely yours,

S.T.I.C
Anastasios Maraslis
President/Director.

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) 30 6943 108283 MOBILE/Mrs.
+Sapfo. / 30 6945 590744 MOBILE/Capt.Andreas/ MSN:
+Capt.Andreas_S.T.I.C@hotmail.com
MSN/ sapfo_m@hotmail.gr /MSN/ Mrs. Sapfo Maraslis s.t.i.c.chartering-operations (SKYPE)
www.eshipownerstrust.com

chartering@eshipownerstrust.com (Chartering Dept.)

Operations@eshipownerstrust.com (Operations Dept.)

Dry@eshipownerstrust.com (S&P/TRADING Dept.)

info@eshipownerstrust.com (General/Admin.Dept.)