LNG

Shipyards compete with AI for engines

A familiar constraint from shipping’s last great shipbuilding boom is beginning to reappear: yards are short of engines. “We’ve certainly heard that the availability of engines is having an impact on some yards, in terms of output,” said Adam Kent, who heads up consultancy Maritime Strategies International (MSI). “However, I think this is ultimately leading … Continue reading Shipyards compete with AI for engines →

Has dual-fuel ambition stalled in the face of commercial reality?

Limited infrastructure, fuel availability and regulatory uncertainty have seen orders for alternative fuel-capable ships fall from their 2024 peak, writes MSI’s Mariam Tzannatos. Dual-fuel capable newbuilding activity has fallen consistently over the past two years and further and faster in the past five months. Data published by Maritime Strategies International suggests that investors are having … Continue reading Has dual-fuel ambition stalled in the face of commercial reality? →

Time for owners to evacuate crew stranded by Hormuz stalemate

With little obvious prospect of majority of vessels stuck in the Gulf managing to leave safely any time soon has the time lay-up come. The stalemate around the Strait of Hormuz is nearing the three-month mark with around 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers remaining stranded in the Arabian Gulf. MSI Managing Director Adam Kent believes … Continue reading Time for owners to evacuate crew stranded by Hormuz stalemate →

2020s: The Era of Extended Shipping Distances

Last year, trade conducted via sea reached a total of 68 trillion ton-miles, with the average distance covered per ton of cargo recorded at 5,262 nautical miles. This indicates a 10% increase compared to the beginning of the decade. Tim Smith, Director of Maritime Strategies International, noted in an assessment earlier in 2026, ‘Increased demand … Continue reading 2020s: The Era of Extended Shipping Distances →

What keeps shipping awake at night?

MSI Managing Director, Dr Adam Kent, contributes to the Lloyd’s List Shipping Podcast live from Singapore, as part of the Lloyds List Outlook Forum. Adam highlights the constantly shifting geopolitical backdrop the industry currently faces and how this can be an impediment to investors, given the start-stop nature of many directives. Listen to the podcast … Continue reading What keeps shipping awake at night? →

Shipping braces for prolonged turmoil as Hormuz crisis fuels inflation and supply strain

OPTIMISM is in short supply as geopolitical turmoil deepens and the Hormuz crisis adds fresh strain to global shipping. Experts warn the fallout will be long‑lasting, compounding the economic damage left by the pandemic. “Tonne-miles are increasing, but once we get to demand destruction, then the demand destruction will be greater than increasing tonne-mile input.” … Continue reading Shipping braces for prolonged turmoil as Hormuz crisis fuels inflation and supply strain →

What war reveals about energy security

Should the energy transition be reframed as a trade resilience strategy, asks Mariam Tzannatos, decarbonisation analyst at MSI. The conflict in the Middle East has once again exposed a structural feature of the global energy system: concentration risk. Read more at Splash247.com

MSI appoints North American director

MSI has appointed John Moulopoulos as director, North America, with responsibility for business development in the Americas. The company said Mr Moulopoulos joins from Boston-based maritime intelligence and data delivery service Marsoft Inc, and his role will include working with North American shipowners and maritime investors, while also drawing on his heritage and network to … Continue reading MSI appoints North American director →

LNG market facing years-long Qatari supply shortage following attacks

The world’s LNG supply outlook darkened sharply last night after Iran struck key gas infrastructure in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, escalating the regional conflict and raising the prospect of prolonged disruption to one of the market’s most critical production hubs. The impact on shipping could be mitigated by more long-haul LNG trade from the … Continue reading LNG market facing years-long Qatari supply shortage following attacks →

China’s demographic cliff: can shipping live without its golden growth engine?

The demographic sweetspot for China, the 21st century’s driving force of shipping profits, has long passed. This month, Beijing reported its steepest birth rate decline since the Communist Party took power in 1949. Splash Extra investigates what a dwindling population means for global shipping. Adam Kent, managing director at MSI, explains to Splash Extra that … Continue reading China’s demographic cliff: can shipping live without its golden growth engine? →

Shipyard capacity surges but relocation will increasingly take centre stage

Strategic and economic shifts by South Korean builders are designed to counter China’s orderbook dominance, writes Stuart Nicoll, director, MSI. Read more at Xinde Marine.

Shipping markets outlook for H1 2026 – Podcast

2025 was a year like no other for shipping buffeted by US tariffs, trade wars, and geopolitical conflicts but through it all markets across most major sectors performed remarkably well. Going into 2026 there seems to be no let up with the US military action in Venezuela with days of the New Year, so what does the rest of the coming 12 months have to offer the world of shipping? Find out the views of the experts from MSI Ltd by listening to the podcast at Seatrade Maritime.

How to spend it in 2026

According to a new report from Fitch Ratings, next year will still be challenging due to a myriad of geopolitical and policy risks. Shipping will also be hit by the lower GDP growth expected across most major economies in 2026 compared to 2025. Adam Kent, managing director at MSI, agrees with several aspects of this … Continue reading How to spend it in 2026 →

MSI’s Adam Kent: The Structural Shifts Redefining Global Shipping Markets

At the Xinde Marine Forum, Dr Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI, delivered a data-rich and forward-looking keynote that combined market analytics with deeper structural insights from MSI’s latest research. Read more at Xinde Marine News.

Has the US ceded the race for clean fuels to China?

China-led hydrogen and ammonia regional exports will curb the development of longhaul trades and limit large carrier fleet growth, argues MSI decarbonisation analyst Mariam Tzannatos. Read more at Riviera.

Trump officials go all out to block carbon tax on shipping

In the near term, the impact on freight costs will be relatively minimal, said Stuart Nicoll, a director at MSI, a London-based consultancy. The fees on high-emitting fuels like oil will start in 2028 and rise, but by 2035, some of the rewards for using low-carbon fuels may start to outweigh the penalties. Read more … Continue reading Trump officials go all out to block carbon tax on shipping →

Does the world have enough yard capacity for all the demand for retrofits?

So, what are the options? ABS and MSI have two possible scenarios, outlined in this year’s Outlook publication. Namely, their full conversion scenario assumes all eligible oil-fuelled vessels are converted due to escalating oil costs. It would require yard capacity expansion before 2030. Read more at Splash247.com

Coming out of the dark. How machine learning can drive smarter decisions in today’s shipping markets

From trade wars and military conflicts to pandemics and natural disasters, not to mention growing environmental regulations and government interventions, disruptions to supply chains and global shipping markets have had an enormous impact on freight costs and asset values in the last decade, writes MSI Director Will Fray. Read more at Baltic Transport Journal

What would $150bn investment in US shipbuilding look like?

US President Donald Trump likes to trumpet very large numbers and South Korea’s shipbuilding investment plans as part of its bilateral tariff deal is no exception. Now how much of these big numbers will ever see the light of day, especially when one considers Trump’s Presidency has less three and half years to run, is … Continue reading What would $150bn investment in US shipbuilding look like? →

All aboard the LNG FSRU merry-go-round

No new FSRUs (Floating Storage and Regasification Units) have been delivered to the fleet since Nov-21 and the next newbuild is not scheduled for delivery until mid-2026, but conversions and relocations to Egypt are keeping the market busy. The European scramble for LNG to replace lost pipeline gas from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine … Continue reading All aboard the LNG FSRU merry-go-round →

Does this data point suggest bulkers are overpriced?

MSI’s valuation estimates for ships based on a prediction of their future earnings show bulker buyers are paying the biggest premium in today’s sale-and-purchase market, according to data from the MSI Seascape platform. Read more at TradeWinds.

MSI Consultancy Case Study – Market Overview and Entry Strategy

The client, a sovereign wealth fund, wanted to evaluate the opportunity of supporting a new entrant into the LNG market. As part of their internal processes, it required a third-party market study on the LNG sector to help evaluate the project. MSI provided a detailed overview of LNG market fundamentals. This included detailed analysis of … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – Market Overview and Entry Strategy →

MSI Consultancy Case Study – Defining Shipping Strategy

The client was had an existing shipping arm which had been underinvested, was generating limited profits and was poorly aligned with the wider business. MSI was contracted to generate a business strategy based on assessing an optimal fleet configuration based on carrying domestic cargoes. MSI completed an accurate assessment of total cargoes being shipped by … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – Defining Shipping Strategy →

Shipping markets outlook for H2 2025 – Podcast

Geopolitical disruption in shipping has reached new heights in the first half of 2025 and MSI examine the impact on markets and the outlook ahead. In this latest shipping markets outlook episode, we are joined by analysts from MSI to take a look at the outlook for containers, tankers, dry bulk, and shipbuilding in the second … Continue reading Shipping markets outlook for H2 2025 – Podcast →

MSI Consultancy Case Study – LNG Carrier Investment

Timing  of investments – especially in complex and costly shipping markets like LNG – calls for a unique combination of expertise and experience. This energy shipping market is among the most dynamic, with booming infrastructure matched by growing interest from a wide range of investors. MSI was recently called upon to advise a leading international … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – LNG Carrier Investment →

Shipping lines go cool on Arctic Ocean route

Melting ice could make shorter transits between Asia and Europe a reality but there are economic and geopolitical risks. Daniel Richards, a director at London-based consultancy MSI, points to the risks of using the northern route. He says container shipping lines tend to be risk-averse, and their customers are similarly reluctant to have their goods … Continue reading Shipping lines go cool on Arctic Ocean route →

MSI Consultancy Case Study – Theoretical Emissions Analysis

MSI is increasingly commissioned to research and analyse the impact of environmental regulation and decarbonisation on vessel operations and fleet profiles. This can be supported with access to MSI SEASCAPE. Our expertise in understanding shipping markets extends to specialist analysis of the industry in the energy transition, including impact on vessel types, cargoes and supply … Continue reading MSI Consultancy Case Study – Theoretical Emissions Analysis →

What will be powering ships in the 2030s?

MSI has given an early indication of the impact that the Net Zero Framework will have on the bunker market, based on data from its new SEASCAPE platform. By extending the annual fuel consumption estimates calculated for 2024 through to 2035, and applying MSI’s forecasts for bunker prices, it is possible to project the future … Continue reading What will be powering ships in the 2030s? →

How machine learning can drive smarter decisions in today’s shipping markets

By joining the dots in global trade, it is possible to understand how ships perform and how owners deploy them, writes Will Fray, Director, MSI. Read more at Xinde Marine.

New IMO fuel penalties could raise $1trn over a decade, MSI says

Consultancy’s new MSI SEASCAPE platform calculates that carbon levies will add 82% to bunker costs by 2035. Its new SEASCAPE market analysis, vessel performance and asset valuation platform crunched the numbers on new carbon levies proposed in April. Read more at TradeWinds.

China’s Shipbuilding Dominance and Global Trade Competition in Context

With data for activity in the global shipbuilding industry now available for 2024, MSI’s Stuart Nicoll estimates that global newbuilding contracting for all ship types was 133m GT, with a more even spread among the main sectors than in recent years.  Collation of the latest data couldn’t have been better timed, given the recent release … Continue reading China’s Shipbuilding Dominance and Global Trade Competition in Context →

Six factors that enabled China to dominate global shipbuilding

The dominance of China in the newbuilding the market has come under intense scrutiny with the investigations by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) – but how did the country’s shipyards achieve such a leading position? Speaking on the ‘Shipbuilding – a macro view’ panel at Sea Asia 2025 Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI … Continue reading Six factors that enabled China to dominate global shipbuilding →

Which shipping sectors would be worst hit by USTR port fees?

Adam Kent, Managing Director of Maritime Strategies International (MSI) said, “I think the levels will be lower, but what it will do is cause people to shift what vessels are calling at US ports, if they can…”. Read more at Seatrade Maritime

Choose your risk: short term disruption or long-term transition

Shipping markets have profited from turbulence in this decade, but far bigger changes are coming in the years ahead, argues Tim Smith, a director at Maritime Strategies International. As we approach the mid-point of this decade, from a shipping market fundamentals perspective the most important factor of the 2020s so far has been disruption. Read … Continue reading Choose your risk: short term disruption or long-term transition →

Lay-ups and scrapping mulled as LNG rates hit record lows

Spot rates for LNG carriers are now at all-time lows, although some analysts believe the shipping sector is close to bottoming out. Speaking last week at Marine Money’s London gathering, Dr Adam Kent, who heads up British consultancy MSI, argued that LNG of all shipping segments is the one best poised for an uptick. Read more … Continue reading Lay-ups and scrapping mulled as LNG rates hit record lows →

Overcapacity fears stalk shipping as ordering at levels not seen since 2007

Shipping is facing overcapacity not seen since 2007, according to Adam Kent, managing director of MSI. Read more at TradeWinds

Shipping markets outlook for 2025

Following a rollercoaster ride of a year for shipping last year where are shipping markets headed in 2025? Get the view of the MSI experts in our 2025 markets outlook podcast episode. Listen to the podcast at Seatrade Maritime.

Can India reach its ambitious shipbuilding targets?

The story of India’s government, led by prime minister Narendra Modi, setting a goal to become a top 10 shipbuilder by 2030 and a top five one by 2047 has been doing the rounds for some time now, but how feasible is it and what must happen for that to become a reality.  “For India … Continue reading Can India reach its ambitious shipbuilding targets? →

Investigating the price ratio between newbuilds and five-year-old ships

“The stronger the earnings, the greater the premium buyers are willing to pay for secondhand tonnage compared to newbuilding prices,” explains Dr Adam Kent, the head of MSI. “Similarly,” he adds, “the higher the earnings the older the vessels owners are prepared to buy, that still attract a premium over the equivalent contract price.” Read … Continue reading Investigating the price ratio between newbuilds and five-year-old ships →

Is growth in Chinese yards leading to a glut in global shipbuilding capacity?

Stuart Nicoll, director at MSI, said that the growth of China’s shipbuilding capacity is expected to be balanced by capacity reductions in Japan and other regions. “The issue will be where to cut. Japan is likely to be the primary focus, but the biggest concerns must be within South Korea. Builders there seem to be … Continue reading Is growth in Chinese yards leading to a glut in global shipbuilding capacity? →

Maritime Market Views Podcast

MSI’s Adam Kent joins Jakub Walenkiewicz on the DNV – Maritime Market Views Podcast to discuss rates and prices, black swans, red flags and the impact of tonne-miles on shipping. Listen to the Podcast at DNV Maritime

How China has taken a generational grip on the global shipbuilding industry

A surge in newbuild orders and a global shortage of berths have created new opportunities for private yards to expand. Stuart Nicoll, director of MSI, believes capacity is set to grow by 5m cgt between 2023 and 2028, an increase of 31%. “Things are moving very quickly.” Read more at TradeWinds.

The roaring twenties and volatility

In an excellent recent presentation given in Singapore, Dr Adam Kent, who heads up UK consultancy MSI, discussed the accumulating black swans in recent years and their links to growing volatility. Read more at Splash247.com

Capacity across big three shipbuilding nations leaps 20% in a year

Across China, shipyards are expanding and churning out ships on a scale not seen since 2008. The shipyard sector has entered a new golden age after more than a decade’s slump following the global financial crisis. Chinese newbuild output has “rocketed” in 2024, Stuart Nicoll, a director at MSI commented. Read more at Splash247.com.

Geopolitical events push shipping earnings to 15 year high

Accelerating economic growth, improved demand, and the impact of Red Sea diversions have combined to boost shipping markets across the board in the first half of 2024, says Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI. Read more at Seatrade Maritime

Black swans and peak oil at the dawn of a golden age

Shipowners and analysts were in high spirits as they dissected the current market situation and its root causes at Marine Money in New York. Dr. Adam Kent, Managing Director of MSI kicked off the day’s proceedings by bringing the details into focus. Read more at Seatrade.

How the energy transition could create a fleet of ghost ships

MSI Director Tim Smith comments in this article “The long-run view for oil demand is not necessarily the same as the view for the international oil trade,” Read more at FT.com

More shipyard capacity needed to meet green targets

More shipyard capacity will be required in the coming decade, both for newbuilds and retrofits, according to an influential new magazine published at Posidonia in Athens today.  New shipbuilders are forecast to emerge from Vietnam, the Philippines and India as global shipyard capacity grows gradually through to 2035, according to the ABS forecast, which uses … Continue reading More shipyard capacity needed to meet green targets →

Joe Biden’s China probe throws lifeline to South Korean and Japanese shipyards

Chinese yards were gaining ground, said Adam Kent, Managing Director at MSI. “There’s still a market perception that the Chinese quality is not as good as in Korea but that quality is [moving] closer.” Read more at FT.com

All eyes are on the large LNG carrier orderbook

The large LNG carrier sector is about to experience an unprecedented level of deliveries, but not all will start work immediately in their respective projects. MSI’s LNG shipping analyst Andrew Buckland tackles some of the difficult questions the surge in large LNG carrier deliveries in 2025 will pose for the industry in Riviera.

Shipping industry turns to high-tech wings for faster decarbonisation

Stuart Nicoll, a director at MSI, a London-based consultancy, insisted that wind power had clear benefits given steady growth in taxes on shipping emissions. Since the start of the year, ships entering EU ports have had to pay for the emissions on their journey under the bloc’s emissions-trading scheme. Read more at FT.com.

How world shipping has transformed in the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine

Saturday marks two years since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a war that has dramatically changed the global seaborne map, some argue irrevocably. “Even if there were to be an overnight resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, we would not anticipate trade routes and volumes reverting to pre-invasion levels. Many importers are now seeking friendly … Continue reading How world shipping has transformed in the two years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine →

Spare $30m to spend? Here’s MSI’s best ship buy tips for 2024

Planets are aligned on the tanker side with a supply squeeze set to drive up asset prices. Read more at TradeWinds.

OPINION | What the global trade in hydrogen-derived clean ammonia and methanol will look like in the coming years

Demand for clean shipping fuels will supercharge these sectors, writes MSI Director Stuart Nicoll. Read more in Hydrogeninsight

The competition for a place in the shipyards is getting tougher

The slots in China and South Korea for 2026 are “counted on the fingers of the hand”, while those with scheduled delivery in 2027 are now drying up at high speed. “The situation regarding the availability of slots is always complicated until the orders are confirmed. “Orderbook data shows significant yard space for 2027 (about 75% … Continue reading The competition for a place in the shipyards is getting tougher →

Houthis fire their greatest barrage of weapons to date in the ongoing Red Sea shipping crisis

Rerouting vessels via the Cape of Good Hope clearly takes longer and consumes more fuel per unit of commodity transported than via the Suez Canal, but the costs associated with environmental regulations illustrate the perverse incentives in play, according to an investigation carried out by UK consultancy MSI. Read more at Splash247.com.

Shipping braces for long haul as Red Sea crisis escalates

The disruption would need to stretch into the first quarter of 2024 to impact either the boxship charter market or a wider set of freight markets in a major way, said UK analyst MSI. Read more at Tradewinds

Newbuilding market expected to slow down in 2024

The shipbuilding industry, which has enjoyed a boom in orders over the past few years, is expected to see relatively poor performance in the new year of 2024, and the main types of ships ordered are expected to consist of tankers and bulkers. Read more at Asiasis

China dominates shipbuilding amid slowdown as focus shifts to tankers and bulkers

Consultancy and research company Maritime Strategies International concluded that in 2022 and 2023, newbuilding contracting massively exceeded underlying replacement and incremental demand growth requirements. “After the container-boosted wonder year of 2021, we anticipated contracting would ease back in 2022 and 2023. It now looks like around 137m gross tonnes was ordered over the two years, … Continue reading China dominates shipbuilding amid slowdown as focus shifts to tankers and bulkers →

Will a reversal of fortunes position shipyards for the era of decarbonisation?

After three torrid years of low profitability, a combination of falling costs and rising prices put yards on a stronger footing, writes Stuart Nicoll from MSI. Read more at Splash247.com

Trajectory of soaring newbuild prices divides opinion

The trajectory of newbuild prices which have soared up by as much as 50% in less than three years is dividing experts with owners facing tricky decisions on when to kickstart fleet renewal programmes ahead of stricter 2030 green targets for shipping agreed at the International Maritime Organization this July. MSI believes that newbuild prices … Continue reading Trajectory of soaring newbuild prices divides opinion →

Podcast: Global Energy Outlook

Tim Smith of MSI considers how changes in global energy consumption out to 2050 might impact global shipping demand. He also addresses the oft-mooted issue of ‘stranded assets’ in the context of the energy transition. Could ships become obsolete – from a technological and regulatory standpoint – before their assumed 25-year lifespan? Listen at ship.energy

Thousands of ships could use LNG as fuel. Is that a good thing?

The shipping industry has placed a massive bet on liquefied natural gas as an alternative fuel — as a bridge between traditional fuel oil and whatever comes next, whether it’s methanol, ammonia, hydrogen or something else. Shipowners have spent billions of dollars fitting ships to burn LNG. MSI Managing Director, Adam Kent, contributes his thoughts … Continue reading Thousands of ships could use LNG as fuel. Is that a good thing? →

Shipyards dust off facilities to meet huge fleet renewal demand

Mothballed capacity is being brought back to life as contracting is forecast to rise. “Expansion in capacity will certainly be needed in the second half of the decade, when we expect a surge in contracting volumes in response to the twin requirements of fleet renewals and decarbonisation efforts,” says MSI director Stuart Nicoll. Read more … Continue reading Shipyards dust off facilities to meet huge fleet renewal demand →

Shipyard capacity expected to expand amid push for dual-fuel orders

Demand for alternative fuel newbuildings will spur expansion of shipbuilding capacity, including bringing some of the collapsed yards back to life. But the boom seen in the 2000s, which later led to severe overcapacity problems, is unlikely to be repeated. The bounceback will mainly be led by demand for fresh tonnage using alternative marine fuels, … Continue reading Shipyard capacity expected to expand amid push for dual-fuel orders →

Shipyards build up to the challenge of launching a zero-emission fleet

A huge part of the world fleet will have to be replaced with zero-emission vessels in little more than two decades if regulators set a goal of decarbonising shipping by 2050. “Based on the evidence to date, it seems likely that most shipyards will make the step up in capability to meet demand for new … Continue reading Shipyards build up to the challenge of launching a zero-emission fleet →

The challenges for shipping in the midst of a banking crisis

The shipping industry has faced new challenges over the past 12 months due to higher funding costs following the rise in interest rates. MSI’s Managing Director, Dr Adam Kent, contributes his thoughts on the topic in an article published by Naftemporiki

Demo volumes bounce back

“We expect to see the tide turn on scrapping volumes this year with 2023 already starting off at a steady pace,” predicted Dr Adam Kent, MSI’s managing director. This is primarily driven by containership and dry bulk removals. Read more at SplashExtra

Eco shock: green fuels will not beat fossil fuels on price until 2040, MSI warns

“Unfortunately, it is not until around the end of the next decade that it becomes more economically viable to run green fuels than conventional fuels, or conventional fuels with a scrubber.” said MSI’s Managing Director Adam Kent. Read more at Tradewinds.

Repair yards and offshore wind make for sound investments

The industry is set for one of the most dynamic periods it has ever witnessed during the remainder of the decade as it grapples with decarbonisation, the energy transition, geopolitical ramifications and the further maturing of the Chinese economy. Read more in TradeWinds

LNG: Tight market to support strong carrier rates

“After an extraordinary 2022, where we have seen record charter rates and record orders for new LNG ships (despite rapidly rising newbuilding prices), I’m expecting a calmer LNG shipping market in 2023,” said MSI’s senior analyst Andrew Buckland. Read more at LloydsList

Entering a recession in the LNG carrier market… “The volume of orders is likely to decrease over the next 10 years.”

A warning has been issued to the global shipbuilding industry that liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier orders will be sluggish in the next decade due to the rapid increase in newbuilding deliveries, based on MSI analysis. Read more at theguru

Warning of mid-decade LNG shipping slump from newbuild delivery surge

LNG shipping is booming and shipyard capacity is extremely tight, but as new tonnage hits the water mid-decade it could outstrip liquefaction capacity growth heading to a market slump warns MSI. Read more at Seatrade-maritime.com

UN warns of muted maritime trade growth through to 2027

UNCTAD’s latest seaborne review has some forecasts to shock shipowners. Adam Kent, MSI’s Managing Director, comments on UNCTAD’s latest numbers placing them in context. Read more at Splash247.com

LNG spot rates take a dive

Spot rates fall from unprecedented heights as more ships are being released into the market. Some of the floating storage off Europe is beginning to unwind, while the restart of the Freeport terminal in the US, which suffered an explosion and outage earlier in the year, has been pushed back, freeing up ships, said MSI’s … Continue reading LNG spot rates take a dive →

Shipyards look to plug the gap as two-horse newbuilding race runs its course

Shipyards banking on a decarbonisation-driven order boom must contend with present day realities, writes MSI Director Stuart Nicoll. Read more in Splash247.com

Oodles of new LNG carriers but where are the supply trains?

Concerns about insufficient shipbuilding capacity for LNG carriers would be better redirected to liquefaction capacity. More than 200 large LNG carriers have been ordered since April 2021 at increasingly expensive prices, but investment in new LNG supply is not keeping pace. Read MSI’s Senior Gas Analysts opinions of the LNG market in TradeWinds.

About Turn In Used LNG Carriers Fortunes

As the charter market for LNG carriers approaches record levels of $500,000 per day, shipowners are increasingly interested in second-hand vessels that can be chartered immediately. Read MSI’s Senior Gas Analyst Andrew Buckland’s contribution to the article at Energia.gr

Uncharted Waters or Familiar Territory – Which way next?

Watch Adam Kent’s presentation from the 21st Annual Marine Money Week Asia event in Singapore via YouTube, covering changing trade routes, supply side developments and how earnings and prices will develop.

Prepare for higher shipping costs but the EU ETS should be a manageable change

Carbon taxes will increase, favouring energy efficient ships and requiring closer co-operation between owners and charterers, says Will Fray, Director, Maritime Strategies International. Read more in Safety4sea.com

Why the FSRU market may not be as ‘sold out’ as it appears

Geopolitics has sent demand on divergent paths, but capacity can be secured if you search a little harder, writes Andrew Buckland, Senior Gas Shipping Analyst, at MSI. Read more at Energy Northern

How global fleet dynamics will change with EEXI and CII

MSI believes that in most cases, owners will opt for either EPL or shaft power limitation (ShaPoLi). “It is understood to be a cost-effective, quick, and unobtrusive process that should not impede a vessel’s usual maintenance schedule and therefore will not absorb tonnage for the installation process over the coming months.” Read more MSI views … Continue reading How global fleet dynamics will change with EEXI and CII →

Yards toy with adding capacity

Amid a record ordering boom – and with an eye on fleet renewal ahead of IMO 2050 – shipbuilders are looking at expansion for the first time in a decade. MSI Director Stuart Nicoll states that “physical capacity tends not to disappear as yards are either mothballed or put to work on other forms of … Continue reading Yards toy with adding capacity →

Shipyards face cancellations over weak freight market and interest rates

Yards have built up a large order backlog, with deliveries scheduled up until 2026. This means that construction of most vessels on order will start in the next two years, when buyers will start to pay the remaining ship price. MSI is currently expecting to see an increase in cancellations amid rising interest rates and … Continue reading Shipyards face cancellations over weak freight market and interest rates →

2020 was problematic for shipping!

In general, the markets have bounced back exceptionally well, with perhaps the exception of crude and chemical tankers outlines MSI’s MD Dr Adam Kent at MM NYC. Read more at gcaptain

MSI adds environmental benchmarking tool to HORIZON vessel data platform

MSI has added a new tool, Environmental Credentials, to its FMV output, enabling users to understand the performance of their vessels and fleets – and those of their competitors. The new service provides estimated ratings against the International Maritime Organization’s EEXI and CII regulations to 2026 and Annual Efficiency Ratios for 2020 and 2021 measured … Continue reading MSI adds environmental benchmarking tool to HORIZON vessel data platform →

Vessel efficiency will be key to employability

Speaking to an audience of shipping finance specialists, Dr Adam Kent, MSI’s Managing Director, noted the boom in the container ship sector has been mainly supported by inefficiencies such as port congestion. It has been a driving force in the container ship and to some extent, the dry bulk sectors, with trade and tonne-miles only … Continue reading Vessel efficiency will be key to employability →

Capes among the most exposed ship types with incoming EEXI legislation

Capesize owners are likely to be among the hardest hit when new Energy Efficiency Existing Index (EEXI) rules kick in on January 1 next year based on MSI’s new environmental benchmarking tool. Read more on Splash247.com

Podcast: In Focus – Shipping markets and shipbuilding impact

MSI Director, James Frew, talks to The Maritime Podcast and puts the spotlight on the outlook for the shipping markets and shipbuilding, including the developing orderbook, alternative fuels and new ship types. Listen to the podcast here Seatrade Maritime

Viability concerns: LNG bulker newbuild run may have peaked

LNG-fuelled bulker newbuildings may be falling out of favour as owners look to new zero-carbon alternatives. This is the view of London and Singapore-based research and forecasting company MSI. Read more here TradeWinds.

Korean shipbuilders bracing for fallout from Russia war

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has added to disruptions caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, has created increasing uncertainty for most industries, with shipbuilding one of them. Read more in the Korea Times

Russia-Ukraine crisis could create ‘double-edged’ situation for tankers

Higher prices would have a negative impact but could also create a short-term rate surge, MSI’s Tim Smith said. Read more in TradeWinds

Marine Money ‘Year in Review’

How Russian invasion of Ukraine could impact ocean shipping

“With the clear potential for an invasion of Ukraine, this would only further exacerbate any perceived squeeze on oil markets,” … Read more in Freight Waves

How EEXI and CII will impact the S&P market

Decarbonisation programmes set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), shipping’s regulatory body, will be one of the most difficult tasks for the industry in the coming years. This starts with the implementation of the EEXI, and CII criteria, all of which aim to reduce carbon intensity and will impact prices of the existing fleet. The … Continue reading How EEXI and CII will impact the S&P market →

Getting the balance right on shipping’s GHG emissions reductions

Complying with IMO’s short-term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy will not be easy, but non-mandatory measures will prove more challenging, write MSI’s David Jordan and Will Fray. Read more in Riviera

Regulation and market measures combine to reshape the shipping market- Foresight July 2021

As decarbonisation efforts, global regulation, along with the Poseidon Principles gather momentum after what has been a volatile year, even by the shipping industry’s standards, MSI thought it pertinent to publish some analysis looking at what we might achieve in the near-term.

MSI adds Annual Efficiency Ratio values to MSI HORIZON platform

‘ “The Poseidon Principles AER trajectories are a market measure not a regulation but their alignment with IMO goals makes them an important measure of success in shipping’s decarbonisation efforts,” says Dr Adam Kent, Managing Director, MSI. ‘ Read more in Hellenic Shipping News

MSI urges Poseidon Principles to adjust efficiency calculations

Shipping research company Maritime Strategies International (MSI) said there is a “pressing” need to adjust the ship energy efficiency calculations used by major banks under the Poseidon Principles. Read more in TradeWinds

Less than one in two ships comply with the annual efficiency ratio created by the Poseidon Principles

UK consultants Maritime Strategies International (MSI) has added annual efficiency ratio (AER) calculations used in the Poseidon Principles to its Horizon platform … Read more here