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Exclusive Interview: BW plays the consolidation gameExclusive Interview: BW plays the consolidation game

The diversified BW Group has had an active last year or so including a foray into the dry bulk market with BW Dry, acquiring Aurora Tankers in the gas carriers sector, and a major VLCC deal with DHT Holdings. “For the past 12 months there’s been a lot of progress on most fronts in the group,” Andreas Sohmen-Pao, chairman of BW tells Seatrade Maritime.

Marcus Hand, Editor

April 21, 2017

2 Min Read
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As a large, but relatively conservative shipowner, the generally low markets and values seen across various sectors in the industry, would seem to have suited BW as an investor.

“We do try to be a bit more cautious when the market is high,” Sohmen-Pao says.

“It continues to be a difficult market to read accurately. Generally speaking we have preferred to buy when asset prices are cheaper and take the pain of low income for a while. In an ideal world one would be able to invest at 11-59 just before a market turns.”

A very good example of this strategy is BW Dry founded in April 2016 and targeting vessels in the 50,000 – 90,000 dwt range.

“We saw an opportunity to acquire vessels at attractive prices knowing that the returns would likely be subdued for some time, but feeling we were buying good quality assets with a long life and feeling we could benefit from a cyclical recovery at some stage,” he explains.

The choice of the 50,000 – 90,000 dwt delineates BW Dry from Berge Bulk run by Sohmen Pao’s brother-in-law James Marshall, which operates a fleet of over 50 bulkers mainly in the capesize and very large ore carrier sectors, although it also has some handysize vessels.

“Our ambitions are very modest in the sector and it is more of a opportunistic play,” Sohmen-Pao comments.

To read the full interview, download the Seatrade Maritime Singapore Report 2017:

Download the full interview

Andreas Sohmen-Pao will be chairing the Sea Asia Parliamentary Debate on ‘This House believes that the best days of the private independent shipowner are over’ at Sea Asia 2017

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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