As the dust starts to settle on the first shareholder battle over the future of Euronav, what comes next? Plus, details of Sovcomflot’s fleet sell-off have come to light this week with various sales revealed and big names snapping up the Russian tanker firm’s ships. Elsewhere, shipping will be part of the emissions trading scheme after a successful vote in an EU parliamentary committee. And last but not least, TradeWinds celebrated International Women in Maritime day this week.
First up, we look at what the Saverys might do to block the Euronav-Frontline merger following yesterday’s shareholder vote. A bid by Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB) to add three of its choice of directors to the board was beaten by a two-to-one ratio and paves the way for the eventual merger. The Saverys will still believe there is all to play for in the final merger vote, with only 117m out of 220m votes cast on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Sovcomflot (SCF Group) fleet selloff continues, with Evangelos Marinakis’ Capital Maritime & Trading swooping in to grab ships from the Russian tanker and LNG carrier owner. The ships have also attracted the attention of ambitious newcomer Al Seer Marine. The Abu Dhabi-based manager and owner snapped up two VLCCs and a pair of LPG carriers, according to brokers. Fourteen ships have been sold to meet its commitments to banks, Sovcomflot confirmed to TradeWinds.
This week shipping looked set to join the EU’s emissions trading scheme following a successful EU parliamentary vote on the Fit for 55 decarbonisation package. Further proposals to reduce all greenhouse gas emissions are also expected to be passed at the EU Parliament’s plenary session early next month.
Wednesday was the inaugural International Women in Maritime day, and to mark the event TradeWinds canvassed the views of leading female figures in the industry on how to make shipping a fairer place to work in.
The freight rate boom following the Covid-19 blues has made those involved in container shipping extremely rich and propelled others into the stratosphere normally occupied by tech moguls and the like. MSC Group’s Aponte family has been particularly successful in this vein, rapidly expanding its fleet to benefit from the bonanza. Founder and chairman Gianluigi Aponte is now reportedly worth $19bn, making him the 77th richest person on the planet.
And finally, shipbroker Braemar Shipping Serviceshas beaten rivals to pick up a gold-plated new client — the UK’s Ministry of Defence. The seven-year deal is worth £9.9m ($12.2) and will see the broker provide chartering and sale-and-purchase services to the government ministry’s salvage and marine operations team.
