Oslo: Norwegian classification society DNV believes there have been five to six hundred newbuilding contract cancellations so far, but Deputy CEO Tor Svensen admits that accurate figures are hard to confirm.
About 6% of Chinese orders have been cancelled so far, DNV believes, including a significant number of bulk carriers. However, it is believed that many of these cancelled contracts have been substituted with domestic orders as China seeks to shore up its shipyards and carry more of its own cargoes in Chinese tonnage. Meanwhile delivery deferrals continue to be negotiated, leading to a more streamlined work flow for the classification society over the next three years or so.
Ship owners will find themselves under increasing pressure to provide energy-efficient ships, particularly where charterers are picking up the bill for bunkers, according to Svensen. But energy management is still not a focus for many shipping companies, he says. As corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies climb the agenda for many major charterers, energy efficiency is likely to feature as a key determinant in chartering policy in the future. The classification society is offering an Environmental and Energy Efficiency (EEE) Rating Scheme to its own ship owners and operators, as well as those whose ships are classed elsewhere. [15/06/09]
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