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The end of Hanjin Shipping - officially declared bankrupt

Hanjin Shipping has been officially declared bankrupt, closing the book on the world’s seventh largest container shipping line.

Marcus Hand, Editor

February 17, 2017

7 Min Read
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As had been expected on Friday the Seoul Central District Court said Hanjin would be liquidated and appointed attorney Kim Jin-han as its trustee.

Hanjin filed for receivership on 31 August 2016, one day after creditor banks pulled their support for the loss making shipping company which had some $5bn in debt.

While receivership gave Hanjin an opportunity to submit a rehabilitation plan Samil PwC concluded that the company was worth more in liquidation than as a going concern.

"We will make efforts to pay back debt to creditors, as much as possible, through the liquidation process," the court said. Creditors have until 1 May to make claims. By early January creditors had lodged claims worth $26bn against Hanjin by far outweighing the value of its assets.

The bankruptcy is the biggest ever to hit the container shipping sector in over 50 years of its existence and sent shockwaves through the industry and the wider supply. With a 2.9% share of the global container shipping market Hanjin’s 96 boxships were left stranded at sea and outside ports when it filed for receivership with some $14bn worth of cargo onboard.

For the full story of Hanjin’s road to receivership and bankruptcy read the timeline below -

2017

2 February - Seoul court says that Hanjin is to be declared bankrupt on 17 February: The end is nigh - Hanjin Shipping expected to be declared bankrupt on 17 Feb

1 February - OOCL gains big from Hanjin Shipping's demise: OOCL 'benefitted greatly' from Hanjin collapse: SeaIntel

30 January - Two-thirds of Hanjin's former fleet remains idle in late January: Maersk biggest operator of former Hanjin ships, but two-thirds of fleet remains idle

2016

21 December - Hanjin's US terminal stake in Long Beach to be sold to MSC: Hanjin Shipping to sell Long Beach terminal stake to MSC

13 December - Liquidation looms for Hanjin: Accountancy firm recommends liquidation of bankrupt Hanjin Shipping

22 November 2016 - Dry bulk shipping company Korea Line to buy Hanjin's Asia - US container business for $31.4m: Korea Line paying $31.4m for Hanjin Shipping's Asia - US business

21 November - The deadline for Hanjin to submit a rehabilitation plan to Seoul bankruptcy court extended to February 2017: Hanjin Shipping rehab plan deadline date extended to Feb 2017

9 November - PSA in Singapore is getting fed up with its terminals being clogged up with unclaimed Hanjin boxes: PSA Singapore gives shippers 28 November deadline to claim laden Hanjin containers

28 October - Six 13,100 teu vessels from Hanjin Shipping head for charters with Maersk Line: HSH Nordbank arranges for Maersk Line to charter six Hanjin boxships

24 October  - Hanjin Shipping is set to close down its 10 offices in Europe: Bankrupt Hanjin to close down European operations

13 October - Hanjin is set to put its transpacific business, including five containerships, up for sale: Hanjin Shipping's Asia - US network to be put up for sale by Friday

10 October - Two Hanjin Shipping vessels were allowed to call at China in Yangshan port for the first time since the shipowner's bankruptcy: Two Hanjin boxships allowed to berth at China's Yangshan port

7 October - Since the 22 September a steady stream of Hanjin vessels have berthed in Singapore, shippers have to a pay SGD5,000 deposit get import containers though: 14 Hanjin Shipping vessels have berthed in Singapore so far

5 October - Hanjin chairman likens container shipping rate war to a "game of chicken", which they lost: Hanjin Shipping lost 'game of chicken' with other container lines in price war

29 September - Cosco is eyeing Hanjin's container terminal business: Cosco Shipping may buy Hanjin Shipping’s port assets

20 September - Hanjin Shipping set to return all of its 65-chartered in vessels once the have manage to discharge cargo: Hanjin to return all chartered in vessels

16 September - Singapore courts join US and UK in recognising Hanjin's bankruptcy protection filing in Korea: Singapore courts grant interim stay order for Hanjin Shipping

13 September - Seaspan chief Gerry Wang sees the Hanjin bankruptcy as a Lehman Brothers moment for shipping and like a nuclear bomb going off: Seaspan chief Wang sees Hanjin bankruptcy as shipping's Lehman Brothers

10 September - A US bankruptcy judge grants a protection order that will allow Hanjin ships to dock at US ports without fear of arrest: Hanjin gets US protection order to allow vessels into port to unload

9 September - A report by the US Department of Agriculture warns of disruption to shippers for two - three months: Disruption at US ports due to Hanjin collapse to last two - three months

9 September - A report by the US Department of Agriculture warns of disruption to shippers for two - three months: Disruption at US ports due to Hanjin collapse to last twp - three months

7 September - Hanjin is granted interim bankruptcy protection in the US, has to return to the courts on Friday: Hanjin Shipping wins temporary bankruptcy protection order in the US

6 September – Hanjin to get $90m in emergency funding from parent to unload vessels stranded around the world: Hanjin gets $90m lifeline as it seeks to offload vessels at three ports

5 September – Hanjin moves to stop it vessels being arrested if they berth in the US: Hanjin Shipping files for US bankruptcy protection

2 September – Alliance and service partners move quickly to suspend or terminate joint services: Evergreen distances itself from distressed alliance member Hanjin Shipping and CMA CGM ditches Hanjin partnership on five services

1 September – In the wake of the receivership filing chaos ensues in the global supply chain as Hanjin vessels are stranded around the globe: Hanjin Shipping vessels and containers left stranded

31 August – One day after creditors pulls support Hanjin files for court receivership sending shockwaves through the industry: Hanjin Shipping to file for receivership in biggest ever boxshipping bankruptcy

30 August – The knell sounds as the Korean Development Bank pulls its funding support: Bankruptcy looms over Hanjin Shipping as creditors halt funding

16 August – Hanjin’s losses continue to mount in the second quarter: Hanjin Shipping loss widens to $433m in first half

11 August – More bad news for Hanjin as the state aid is not forthcoming: South Korean government rules out financial aid for Hanjin Shipping

27 July – Signs that all is not going well with Hanjin restructuring as shipowner Seaspan makes clear it won’t agree to cut charter rates: Seaspan stands firm on not cutting rates

16 May – Hanjin revealed a hefty first quarter loss: Hanjin hit loss of $222m in Q1

4 May - Things were looking promising with Hanjin receiving creditor approval for a voluntary restructuring: Hanjin Shipping gets creditors’ approval to restructure

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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