Lloyd’s Register (LR) chief executive Alastair Marsh said dry bulk operators had plenty of reasons to be cheerful about the coming year as he cut into the traditional Greek Vasilopita New Year’s cake.
Speaking to mainly Greek clients at the long-running event at the classification society’s London headquarters, Marsh said things were looking up for the bulker sector after a miserable two years.
“There’s been a reduction in the construction of containerships and bulk carriers, therefore meaning a reduction in the delivery of new ships. So charter rates are returning to healthier levels,” he said.
He was not so upbeat about the tanker market, however. “Charter rates are uncertain due to oil price volatility.”
