Dry bulk shipowner Thoresen Shipping Singapore has opened an office in South Africa in a move to expand its network and meet growing customer demand.

Paragon Shipping Inc has ordered three eco-design kamsarmax dry bulk carriers at a total price of $91.65m from Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China.

SFL has placed an NOK900m ($150m) five-year unsecured bond on the Norwegian market six hours after announcing it was contemplating the issue.

Ship Finance International Limited (SFL) is "contemplating" a minimum $100m bond issue on the Norwegian market, with the bonds maturing in March 2019.

Financially strapped Danish-shipowner Torm has reported a $162m loss for 2013, although this improves on 2012's $581m loss.

Though much of the Greek shipping community was bracing itself for Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) end of year report, revelation on 27 February of the bank’s steep increase in shipping-related impairment losses, was more than expected.

Investor favourite Scorpio Bulkers lost $6.3m in the first nine months of its existence.

Uni-Asia Holdings, an investment firm and integrated service provider of vessels, has entered into a contract with Japan's Imabari Shipbuilding to construct a 37,000-dwt handy bulk carrier.

Bangkok-based Precious Shipping has ordered ten 64,000 dwt dry bulk carriers worth a total of RMB1.7bn ($276.6m) from Chinese shipyard Sainty Marine.

After five months of negotiations with its banks First Ship Lease Trust (FSL Trust) has secured relaxation of its loan covenants until the end of 2014.