The company Cetus Maritime, based in Hong Kong and known as a major consolidator within the niche of handy bulk carriers, has made another significant move. This time, Cetus Maritime is joining forces with Nachipa Corp, a shipowner and operator from Chile, to form a new entity boasting a combined fleet of 65 vessels, comprising approximately 40 owned and 25 chartered ships. This merger marks a notable achievement for Cetus Maritime, which itself was established through the union of Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP) and Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) just over a year ago. Although the financial details of this latest merger have not been disclosed, the transaction is anticipated to be finalized by March 2024. From the outset, the synergy between Cetus Maritime and Nachipa Corp was evident, according to Cetus Maritime’s CEO, Mark Young. He highlighted that for Nachipa, achieving a larger fleet is crucial for the execution of their business model. Meanwhile, Cetus Maritime views the integration of Nachipa’s team and vessels as a valuable enhancement to their operational capabilities and an expansion of their environmentally friendly fleet. Young pointed out that recent trends in the market underline the importance of consolidation as a strategy for enduring and successful expansion. Felipe Simian, the managing director of Nachipa, is set to become a part of the Cetus Maritime management team, further cementing the merger’s potential for collaborative success. Cetus Maritime has expressed its intention to continue expanding its fleet with a focus on larger, eco-designed bulk carriers that present a more uniform and appealing investment in the maritime industry’s future. 23-February-2024
Hong Kong-based bulker owner and operator, Cetus Maritime, has successfully finalized a new refinancing agreement with BNP Paribas for four of its eco-friendly handysize bulk carriers. SBI Leasing Services played a pivotal role as the equity arranger in this deal, which transitioned the financing of the Marshall Islands-flagged eco-friendly handysize bulk carriers from a term loan to JOLCOs (Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option). These four eco-friendly handysize bulk carriers will continue to operate internationally under the Cetus Maritime banner. This marks the second time this year that Cetus Maritime has utilized a JOLCO (Japanese Operating Lease with Call Option) facility. Cetus Maritime’s CEO, Mark Young, expressed enthusiasm about further expanding their presence in the Japanese financing market. Cetus Maritime, a product of the merger between Hamburg-based shipowner and operator Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG and Hong Kong-based shipowner and operator Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP), boasts ownership and operation of a fleet exceeding 50 bulk carriers. Cetus Maritime primarily focuses on larger handysize bulk carriers but also has operations extending to ultramax bulk carriers. Cetus Maritime emphasized its commitment to expanding its fleet with larger, eco-friendly bulk carriers that not only adhere to current environmental standards but also anticipate future fuel solutions. 9-October-2023
Hamburg-based shipowner and operator Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG and Hong Kong-based shipowner and operator Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP) merged into a new handysize giant named Cetus Maritime in 2022. Now, Hong Kong-based ship operator Cetus Maritime has forged an alliance with the esteemed Singapore-based Yangzijiang Financial, targeting the intricate nuances of the handysize realm. Together, Cetus Maritime and Yangzijiang Financial envisage the creation of an asset-holding consortium with an ambitious objective: the procurement of four (4) to eight (8) ecologically-conceived handysize bulk carriers destined for integration into Cetus Maritime’s sophisticated handysize ensemble. This collaborative venture birthed from the maritime fund under the stewardship of Yangzijiang Financial’s affiliate, GEM Asset Management, harbors aspirations of venturing into the acquisition of pre-existing seafarers. On the Cetus Maritime and Yangzijiang Financial alliance’s inception, the illustrious Yangzijiang Financial manager Vincent Toe stated that collaborating with revered counterparts like Cetus Maritime empowers Yangzijiang Financial to distill the quintessential essence of market value, encompassing asset transactions, fiscal solutions, and streamlined operations. Emerging from the strategic unification of Hong Kong’s Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP) and Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) in the preceding year, Cetus Maritime boasts dominion over a grand fleet exceeding forty (40) bulk carriers, complemented by chartered tonnage. Cetus Maritime CEO Mark Young illuminated Cetus Maritime’s recent trajectory, emphasizing a rejuvenation crusade. CEO Mark Young highlighted their judicious transition from relinquishing dated handysize bulk carriers to large bulk carriers when serendipity beckoned to refine their armada. Cetus Maritime CEO Mark Young elegantly articulated that this cooperative endeavour is an organic evolution of Cetus Maritime and Yangzijiang Financial’s blueprint, and further expounded that Cetus Maritime and Yangzijiang Financial jointly contend that the imminent era will usher in a propitious supply milieu and augmented demand for tertiary bulk goods. Cetus Maritime and Yangzijiang Financial will culminate in elevated mean dry bulk carriage tariffs, notwithstanding the ephemeral challenges currently clouding the dry bulk horizon. 8-August-2023
Hamburg-based shipowner and operator Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG and Hong Kong-based shipowner and operator Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP) merged into a new handysize giant named Cetus Maritime. Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) and Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP) merged to start one of the biggest privately owned handysize bulker players in the shipping market. Cetus Maritime will control a fleet of 65 handysize bulk carriers. Cetus Maritime will start its operations in January 2023. Cetus Maritime will have a more considerable and mixed fleet, with a more robust balance sheet and greater access to capital markets. Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) was established in Hamburg in 1999 by Jens von Husen and Georg Greilinger. Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) is a bulk ship operator for minor cargoes. Currently, Hong Kong-based shipowner and operator Asia Maritime Pacific (AMP) operates around 36 bulk carriers. 12-December-2022
HBC Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG will receive a $95 million loan from Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB). Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) will refinance seven (7) handymax bulk carriers. The agreement marks a step forward for Hamburg Commercial Bank’s (HCOB) new partnership with Philip Clausius-led investment brokerage Transport Capital. Transport Capital was established to represent the privatized German bank in Asia. Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB) is delighted to have received Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) as a new client with an office in both Hamburg and Singapore. In April 2021, Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB), the former HSH Nordbank, cooperated with Transport Capital. Hamburg Commercial Bank (HCOB) and Transport Capital target small and medium-sized maritime corporations with substantial operational track records. Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) was established in Hamburg in 1999 by Jens von Husen and Georg Greilinger. Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) is a bulk ship operator for minor cargoes. Currently, Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) operates a fleet of 15 bulk carriers. 7-July-2022
Gothenburg-based tanker and ro-ro giant Stena Group has entered a new market with a breakbulk chartering partnership with Poulsen HBC Line (PHL). In 2014, Glasværket-based J Poulsen Shipping and Hamburg-based Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) established PHL (Poulsen HBC Line). PHL’s (Poulsen HBC Line) aim is to get better utilisation out of Hamburg Bulk Carriers’ (HBC) dry bulk fleet by securing breakbulk backhaul freight traditionally carried by multipurpose (MPP) vessels. Stena Group and PHL (Poulsen HBC Line) joint venture put Stena’s Austen Maritime Services (AMS) in charge of breakbulk chartering in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan for the joint venture’s vessels. Stena Group and PHL (Poulsen HBC Line) joint venture signed the agreement at the Breakbulk China conference in Shanghai. 28-March-2018
German shipowner and operator HBC Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG warned that any move to bring forward the deadline for greenhouse emissions to 2020 instead of 2025 would be detrimental with safety considerations overshadowing any potential commercial benefits. MD (Managing Director) Stefan Bulow-led Hamburg Bulk Carriers (HBC) disregards early target date for emissions. HBC Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG has precautioned about the risks of bringing forward the deadline for more stringent controls on greenhouse gas emissions from shipping. Meanwhile, HBC Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG has been waiting for the delivery of the last in a series of handysize bulk carriers that already fulfill the green prerequisites. HBC Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. KG will take the delivery of the handysize bulk carrier new building 43K DWT MV Zephyr Venture. MV Zephyr Venture is the last of 10 geared handysize bulk carrier new buildings delivered to HBC Hamburg Bulk Carriers GmbH & Co. from Qingshan Shipyard. 12-June-2017