Asyad Group Outlines Plans to Sell 20% of Shipping Business via IPO

Oman's state-owned logistics firm Asyad Group plans to sell shares in its shipping subsidiary through an initial public offering, it said on Wednesday, as part of the Gulf country's privatization drive.The group, owned by Oman's sovereign wealth fund, plans to sell a stake of at least 20% in Asyad Shipping Co and float it on the Muscat stock exchange, it said in document detailing its intention to float."The intended listing would provide investors with the opportunity to invest in one of the world's largest diversified maritime shipping companies and a key player in the Omani economy…
Trafigura Co-Loads Ammonia and Propane

Trafigura and CF Industries, the world’s largest producer of ammonia, have completed the first co-loaded ammonia and propane shipment operation of its kind.In early January, the Green Power Medium Gas Carrier (MGC) completed a single voyage from the US to Europe loaded with ammonia from CF Industries and with LPG (propane) in separate tanks.The co-loaded vessel project was intended in part as a demonstration of capabilities needed for the efficient and economic transport of low…
Spire's Sale of Ship Tracking Arm alarms Users
French maritime data analytics platform Kpler wants to buy ship tracking company Spire Maritime, whose satellite data is a vital resource for oil traders and shipping companies, but some Spire customers fear Kpler will cut them off and have raised antitrust concerns to U.S. authorities, sources familiar with the matter say.The $241 million deal announced on Nov. 13 would give Kpler control over Spire's satellites and maritime Automatic Identification System (AIS) data stream, which tracks ships globally, particularly in the open ocean, with a refresh rate of every 15 minutes.This capability is unmatched by competitors, including Orbcomm…
Which Shipowners are Choosing Ammonia?

The shipping industry is looking into ammonia as an alternative fuel for powering ships, amid other ongoing plans to cut carbon emissions and achieve net-zero by 2050.Here is a list of companies with ammonia-fuelled ship projects:NIPPON YUSEN KAISHA (NYK)NYK, with IHI Power Systems and Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), completed the world's first ammonia-fuelled tugboat, Sakigake, on Aug. 23. The vessel will operate in Tokyo Bay for three months.NYK is also building the world's first ammonia-fuelled medium gas carrier…
Brent Oil Traders Use Little Known Rule to Reroute US Cargoes

Big energy merchants trading oil cargoes that form the basis of the Brent benchmark have used an obscure clause to reroute U.S. shipments from Europe, in a practice that raises doubts over whether reforms to the crude price marker have succeeded.Brent, the most significant benchmark across commodity markets, is used to price more than 60% of globally traded crude and underpins oil futures. Its value affects fuel prices paid by consumers and businesses.The 2023 addition of U.S.
Trafigura Names Richard Holtum CEO

Richard Holtum will take over as chief executive of global trading house Trafigura from Jan. 1 next year, the company said on Tuesday.Holtum will take over the helm at a time when trading firms are set to see reduced profits following windfall years after the COVID-19 pandemic, while sharp equity growth in recent years will also mean hefty expenses in paying out departing shareholders.Holtum becomes the group's third ever CEO after around 10 years at the company. He joined Trafigura in 2014 on the firm's Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) team…
TFG Marine to Charter Four Methanol Bunker Tankers

TFG Marine, the international marine fuel joint venture founded by Trafigura, Frontline and Golden Ocean, has announced the signing of a long-term time charter agreement with Singapore-headquartered Consort Bunkers for four newbuild methanol carriage-ready bunker tankers.The 6,500-dwt IMO type 2 tankers are being constructed by Merchants Jinling shipyard in Nanjing, China, and will be operated by Consort Bunkers for TFG Marine. Deliveries will commence in late 2024 and continue into 2025.The vessels will be capable of carrying TFG Marine's current range of marine fuels…
Trafigura Acquires Gearbulk's Share of JV Tanker Business

Trafigura Group has completed the acquisition of Gearbulk Holding 50% share in joint venture company High Heat Tankers (HHT) for an undisclosed sum.Aside from the acquisition, Trafigura has committed to a newbuild 17,500 dwt IMO II specialized high heat tanker to be delivered in the third quarter of 2026 from Chengxi Shipyard China to support the expansion of HHT’s services.HHT was established in 2018 between Gearbulk and Trafigura Group company Puma Energy Supply and Trading to provide access to the largest pool of modern IMO II high heat tankers in the world.Today…
Trafigura Wraps Up Ammonia Ship-to-Ship Bunkering in Gibraltar Strait

Commodities trader Trafigura has completed its first ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of ammonia in international waters close to the port of Ceuta in the Strait of Gibraltar.Approximately 6,000 metric tonnes of ammonia (NH3), supplied by CF Industries from their Donaldsonville, Louisiana-based manufacturing complex, was safely transferred between the Green Power Medium Gas Carrier (MGC), owned by ship owner/operator Purus on time charter to Trafigura, and small gas carrier the Gas…
Trafigura Charters Tanker from Performance Shipping

Greek shipowner Performance Shipping on Thursday announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Trafigura Maritime Logistics Pte Ltd for the 2010-built, 105,304 dwt LR2 Aframax tanker vessel P. Aliki.expected to commence on or around June 16, 2024, the charter is for a minimum period of 4.5) months up to a maximum period of 6 months and 25 days, at the option of the charterer.The gross charter rate will be $47,000 per day for the minimum period, and $48,500 per day for the remaining period up to the maximum redelivery date.
Ageing Fleet a Problem for the Crude Oil Tanker Market

The crude oil tanker market is grappling with an ageing fleet of vessels which need to be replaced, posing a challenge as shipyards are focused on building other types of ships, a top executive with commodity trader Trafigura said on Tuesday.The crude tanker market, including VLCC supertankers, has remained strong in recent months partly due to longer voyages made by some vessels sailing via southern Africa amid Red Sea attacks by the Houthis, which has tightened availability.In addition, up to 850 tankers are estimated to have left conventional trading to transport sanctioned oil including fr
Trafigura Orders Four Dual-Fuel Ammonia-Powered Vessels

Commodities trader Trafigura has placed an order to HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard for the construction of four Medium Gas Carriers (MGC) that will be capable of using low-carbon ammonia as a propulsion fuel.The vessels will carry LPG or ammonia will be built at HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in Ulsan, South Korea.The first ship will be delivered in 2027. Each vessel, when delivered, will be equipped with a dual-fuel low-carbon ammonia engine, supporting Trafigura’s commitment to reduce the…
Trafigura to Deploy GHG Emissions Measuring System on LNG Carrier

Daphne Technology has been selected by Trafigura for its first commercial deployment of PureMetrics™ emissions measuring system, scheduled for the summer of 2024.The system will be deployed aboard an LNG carrier chartered by Trafigura and managed by Latsco LNG LLC.PureMetrics directly measures and accurately reports real-time tonnes of GHG emissions to the environment, eliminating inaccurate reporting based on fuel consumption estimates. The system features a combination of an array of sensors…
Trafigura, Mercuria Switch Bunkering to Mauritius Amid Attacks

With more ships heading around the Cape of Good Hope due to attacks in the Red Sea region and a shutdown in their main South African bunkering operations, Mercuria and Trafigura have started refuelling services in Mauritius, four sources said.The two trading houses have opened operations in Port Louis to compensate for the shutdown at South Africa's Algoa Bay which stems from a tax dispute with authorities, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.Algoa Bay is South Africa's…
US, UK Ship Investors Hit by Soaring Red Sea Insurance

War underwriters have raised the premiums they charge to U.S., British and Israeli firms by as high as 50% for ships transiting the Red Sea and some providers are avoiding such business due to targeting of the vessels by Yemen's Houthis, sources said.Attacks by the Iran-aligned Houthis since November have slowed trade between Asia and Europe and alarmed major powers. The Houthis say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians as Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza…
Russian Oil Flows Through Red Sea Face Lower Risks

Tankers carrying Russian oil have continued sailing through the Red Sea largely uninterrupted by Houthi attacks on shipping and face lower risks than competitors, according to shipping executives, analysts and flows data.Russia has become more dependent on trade through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea since it invaded Ukraine, which led to Europe imposing sanctions on Russian imports and forced Moscow to export most of its crude to China and India. Before the war, Russia exported…
Trafigura Assesses Red Sea Risks after Tanker Attack by Houthis

Commodities trader Trafigura said on Saturday it was assessing the security risks of further Red Sea voyages after firefighters put out a blaze on a tanker attacked by Yemen's Houthi group a day earlier.The U.S. military said a U.S. Navy ship and other vessels provided assistance after the Marlin Luanda was hit by a Houthi anti-ship missile."No further vessels operating on behalf of Trafigura are currently transiting the Gulf of Aden and we continue to assess carefully the risks involved in any voyage…
Tanker Ablaze After Being Struck by Houthis in the Red Sea

Yemen's Houthi rebels on Friday stepped up attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea, including a hit on a fuel tanker operated on behalf of trading firm Trafigura that sparked a fire.Trafigura said that the fuel tanker Marlin Luanda, which was operating on its behalf, was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea.Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side, the company said in an emailed statement."We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully…
Equatorial, TFG and Sinopec are Singapore's Top Three Marine Bunker Suppliers in 2023

Equatorial Marine Fuel Management Services, TFG Marine and Sinopec Fuel Oil Singapore were the top three marine bunker suppliers in Singapore, the world's largest bunker hub, in 2023, latest data from the port authority showed.Equatorial maintained its top position for a second consecutive year, while Trafigura's TFG Marine rose one spot to become the second largest supplier, data from Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority showed.Sinopec Fuel Oil Singapore jumped 16 spots to become the third largest supplier, the data showed.
Supertanker Chartered by Polish Firm to Load Venezuelan Oil for China

Polish oil and gas firm Orlen has provisionally chartered a supertanker to load Venezuelan oil for China, according to a shipbroker and tracking data, following a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions on the South American country.The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) Olympic Trophy, chartered for $13 million, is scheduled to load in early December, according to a source and ship tracking data on Kpler.Vitol, the world's largest independent oil trader, chartered a supertanker earlier this month to load Venezuelan crude for China.
ZEI Raises $8.75 Million in Series A Funding

San Francisco-based hydrogen technology company Zero Emission Industries (ZEI) announced it has raised $8.75 million through the completion of a Series A financing round led by Chevron New Energies, with participation from commodity trading company Trafigura and shipping and logistics company Crowley.ZEI, formerly known as Golden Gate Zero Emission, is best known as the technology team behind the Sea Change ferry, the world’s first commercial hydrogen fuel cell vessel launched…
Obscure Traders Ship Half Russia's Oil Exports to India, China After Sanctions

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker set sail in May from Russia's Ust-Luga port carrying crude on behalf of a little-known trading company based in Hong Kong. Before the ship had even reached its destination in India, the cargo changed hands.The new owner of the 100,000 tonnes of Urals crude carried on the Leopard I was a similarly low-profile outfit, Guron Trading, also based in Hong Kong, according to two trading sources.The number of little-known trading firms relied on by Moscow to export large volumes of crude exports to Asia has mushroomed in recent months…
Performance Shipping Bags Charter for M/T P. Aliki Tanker
Performance Shipping, a shipping company specializing in the ownership of tanker vessels, has entered into a time charter contract with ST Shipping & Transport Pte Ltd., for the 2010-built, 105,304 dwt, LR2 Aframax oil product tanker, the M/T P. Aliki. The gross charter rate will be based on a fixed floor rate of US$45,000 per day for a period of minimum of four months to a maximum of five and a half months at the charterer's option, plus a 50/50 profit share provision above the floor rate. The charter started on June 26, 2023, and is expected to generate approximately a minimum of US$5.5 million to a maximum of US$7.5 million in gross revenue to Performance Shipping…