Clipper Bulk

Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk has successfully completed the sale of a handy bulk carrier to ZBB Bulkers, a relatively unknown entity in the shipowning sector based in Turkey. ZBB Bulkers, which is still establishing its presence in the industry, operates out of Istanbul. ZBB Bulkers’ website is currently under development, and some of its employees have been on board for just over a year. Istanbul-based shipowner and operator ZBB Bulkers has acquired 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 37K DWT MV ZBB Serenity (ex MV Clipper Cosmo), built by Huatai Heavy, for a sum just shy of $11 million. 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 37K DWT MV ZBB Serenity (ex MV Clipper Cosmo) has already been transferred to its new shipowners ZBB Bulkers. This transaction marks the second vessel sale by Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk this year. In addition to selling, Clipper Bulk has also been active in acquisitions, having purchased an ultramax from Marine Capital, a UK-based marine asset management firm. This vessel, the 2014 built ultramax bulk carrier 63K DWT MV Cape Cross, was constructed at Yangzhou Dayang Shipbuilding. Following this latest sale, Clipper Bulk’s fleet in this segment now comprises five (5) bulk carriers, all of which are Chinese-built and have an average age of 12 years. 12-December-2023

 

Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk is poised to return to its previous levels of success. Clipper Group, led by CEO Amrit Peter Kalsi, has revealed plans to expand its fleet by adding 100 more ships. This ambitious move comes after successfully resolving the debt challenges that plagued the Clipper Bulk for years in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Clipper Group CEO Amrit Peter Kalsi’s vision is to substantially increase the fleet size from its current 80 to 90 bulk carriers to approximately 200 bulk carriers. Notably, Clipper Group CEO Amrit Peter Kalsi mentioned that about one-third of these 200 ships will be owned outright, indicating a vibrant period ahead in the ship S&P (Sale and Purchase) market. One of Denmark’s most renowned shipowning company Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk has dedicated considerable effort to refocusing on its core business in recent years, and this strategic shift has instilled confidence that the Clipper Bulk can grow without assuming undue risks. The company maintains a strong belief in the long-term potential of the dry bulk market and intends to stay true to its expertise. Therefore, Clipper Bulk believes it has the financial strength to support this expansion. In 2022, Clipper Group’s decision to sell Seatruck Ferries to roro operator CLdN allowed the company to concentrate exclusively on the dry bulk sector. Established in 1991 by Torben Jensen, Clipper Group originated as a spin-off from Armada Shipping. At its peak, Clipper Group held the position of being Denmark’s second-largest shipowner after Maersk, but it faced significant challenges during the challenging decade following the global financial crisis of 2008. 27-October-2023

 

Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk acquired 2009 built handysize bulk carrier 38K DWT MV Clipper Hong Kong (ex MV Rodina) for around $8 million from Navibulgar. MV Clipper Hong Kong (ex MV Rodina) is the third secondhand bulk carrier acquire of Danish shipowner and operator Clipper Bulk. In November 2020, Clipper Bulk acquired a 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 38K DWT MV Clipper Copenhagen (ex MV Rook) for around $6 million from Athens-based Access Shipping. Additionally, Clipper Bulk acquired a 2010 built handysize bulk carrier 38K DWT MV Clipper Houston (ex MV Bulgaria) from Bulgarian shipowner and operator Navibulgar. MV Clipper Hong Kong (ex MV Rodina), MV Clipper Copenhagen (ex MV Rook), and MV Clipper Houston (ex MV Bulgaria) were built at Jiangsu Eastern Shipyard. MV Clipper Hong Kong (ex MV Rodina), MV Clipper Copenhagen (ex MV Rook), and MV Clipper Houston (ex MV Bulgaria) have participated in Clipper Bulk’s Emerald Pool. Currently, Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk operates three (3) bulk carrier pools:

  • Clipper Handy Pool
  • Clipper Emerald Pool
  • Clipper Bulkhandling Pool

Clipper Bulk is going to seek growth opportunities for pools, chartered, and owned bulk carriers. Currently, Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk controls 76 bulk carriers. 24-February-2021

 

Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk axed 24 employees due to coronavirus post-recession. Danish shipowner and operator Clipper Bulk hopes that dry bulk shipping markets will normalize. Peter Norborg-led Clipper Bulk downsizing the company and reshaping its services to match the prevailing coronavirus-hit dry bulk shipping markets. Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk operates handysize, supramax, and ultramax bulk carriers. Clipper Bulk has been reducing overhead costs amid historically low freight levels prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk has been attempting numerous mitigating measures to the employees concerned. Clipper Bulk wants to adapt to the new dry bulk shipping market’s reality after coronavirus post-recession. Therefore, Clipper Bulk has been downsizing the number of employees in the depressed dry bulk shipping markets. Furthermore, Clipper Bulk has been strengthening the company’s long-term partnerships with charterers, technical and commercial managers. Clipper Group subsidiary Clipper Bulk will concentrate on niche services such as Clipper Steel. Clipper Bulk has Clipper Steel which is a service to the United States and Mexico with the part-owned IPA Steel Terminal, and Compass Rose. Additionally, Clipper Bulk has China Parcel, which is a service to China and strengthened with back-hauls into the Atlantic cargoes. Moreover, Clipper Bulk will proceed in the spot market thoughtfully. Currently, Clipper Bulk operates up to 85 bulk carriers. In recent years, Clipper Bulk opted asset-light shipping model and has been diminishing the company’s owned fleet. In March 2020, Clipper Bulk acquired the world’s oldest pool, Clipper Bulkhandling Pool, from Torvald Klaveness. Clipper Bulk operates supramax and ultramax bulk carriers in Clipper Bulkhandling Pool. 19-April-2020

 

Copenhagen based shipowner and operator Clipper sold three (3) handysize bulk carriers:

  • MV Clipper Target (30K DWT built 2005)
  • MV Clipper Tenacious (30K DWT built 2007)
  • MV Clipper Trust (30K DWT built 2007)

Three (3) handysize bulk carriers were built at Cochin Shipyard, India. Currently, Clipper Group continues to reorganize its owned fleet. According to shipbrokers, three (3) handysize bulk carriers were sold to Vietnamese shipowners for around $6 million each.

In September 2019, Danish shipowner and operator Clipper bought three (3) modern handysize bulk carriers from compatriot Lauritzen Bulkers:

  • MV Orchard Bulker (32K DWT built 2010)
  • MV Sentosa Bulker (32K DWT built 2010)
  • MV Emilie Bulker (32K DWT built 2010)

During acquisition, Clipper Bulk was operating around 85 handysize and supramax bulk carriers, including tonnage operated by the two Clipper Bulk-managed pools:

  • Clipper Handy Pool
  • Clipper Ultra Pool

Clipper Bulk has been scaling down the number of owned bulkers in its fleet. Before the Lauritzen Bulkers deal, Clipper had not bought any bulk carriers since 2016. Clipper Bulk has not acquired any bulk carrier as a wholly-owned basis. Clipper Bulk has a handful of bulk carriers under joint-venture structures. 28-December-2019

 

Copenhagen-based shipowner and operator Clipper Group subsidiary Seatruck Ferries bought four (4) Ro-Ro ships for $124 million in 2018. Furthermore, Seatruck Ferries reported an operating profit of $13 million. Currently, Seatruck Ferries controls around 20% of the total ro-ro shipping market on the Irish Sea. In 2018, Clipper Group sold off the ro-ro operation’s interest to Danish Ferries, while the bulk shipping operations were assigned to Clipper Bulk. Danish shipowner and operator Clipper Bulk has no longer owns any bulk carriers on a 100% basis however the company owns bulk carriers under joint-venture arrangements. 2-June-2019

 

Danish shipowner and operator Clipper Bulk is slashing 40 employees and terminating its Tokyo office as a business transformation. Clipper Bulk revealed a significant shift in business and infused capital into the business. Fresh funds and diminished costs will support the business to flourish again. Clipper Bulk will concentrate on operating rather than fully-owning tonnage. Previously, Clipper and V.Ships Ship Management had bulk carrier management deal. Clipper Bulk clarified that recapitalization and strategy transformation is partially driven by Clipper Bulk’s experience in Q1 2019 where the shipping market really collapsed. Clipper Bulk is decreasing size and costs. Clipper Bulk is slashing 40 employees. Jensen family would remain the controlling shareholder of Clipper Bulk with Frank Jensen as Chairman. Last month, Clipper Bulk revolutionize the company by selling all bulk carrier fleet. Before selling all the fleet, Clipper Bulk was listed with 15 bulk carriers from handysize up to panamax bulk carriers. Clipper Bulk has no longer fully-owned bulk carriers but does still own a handful of bulk carriers under joint-venture structures. Clipper Bulk emphasized that the dry bulk market is performing in an extra inconstant way. Clipper Bulk has been decreasing its fleet significantly over the last quarter. Clipper Bulk has an operating fleet of around 80 bulk carriers, including two pools. Clipper Bulk’s power in niche businesses and in modest joint ventures. 8-May-2019

 

Copenhagen based shipowner and operator Clipper Group sold all bulk carrier fleet. According to the annual report, Clipper Group will soon be an absolute ship operating company. Clipper Group has chartered-in dry bulk carriers and operates a fleet of 100 dry bulk carriers. Clipper Group anticipates a weak dry bulk market. Clipper Group had a fleet of 15 dry bulk carriers. Besides, Danish Clipper Group owns two cruise ships and ferry operator Seatruck. In October 2017, Clipper Group sold 16 dry bulk carriers including four (4) multipurpose carriers. In 2018, Clipper Group sold a 2004 built dry bulk carrier 28K DWT MV Clipper Lasco for around $7 million. Previously, Hong Kong-listed Asia Energy Logistics acquired 2 handysize dry bulk carriers 2011 built dry bulk carriers 32K DWT MV Clipper Selo and 32K DWT MV Clipper Panorama from Clipper Group for around $21 million. In 2018, Clipper Group sold its 50% share in Danish Ferries to Mols Linien. 26-March-2019

 

Resuming its position as a key player in the maritime market, Tan Binh Co. Ltd., a Vietnamese firm specializing in handysize bulk carriers, has made a notable comeback with a series of acquisitions after an 18-month break from an intense buying period in 2016. While 2017 saw the company in a more subdued role, the latest reports from shipbrokers highlight Tan Binh Co. Ltd.’s strategic moves in the current year, indicating a strong resurgence in its acquisition activities. The revival kicked off in March with the acquisition of the 19-year-old, 23K DWT MV Luxury SW handysize bulk carrier from Shih Wei Navigation of Taiwan, signifying the beginning of an aggressive procurement strategy. Shortly after, Tan Binh Co. Ltd. secured the 32K DWT handysize bulk carrier MV Conqueror for $8.2 million, marking the company’s first foray into purchasing ships less than ten years old. This transaction involved an eight-year-old Chinese-built vessel previously owned by Way East Shipping Agency of Taiwan, completed in a low-key manner. Additionally, Tan Binh has been recognized as the buyer of the 14-year-old MV Clipper Lasco bulker from Copenhagen based shipowner and operator for $6 million, though this deal awaits final confirmation. These recent purchases align with Tan Binh Co. Ltd.’s broader strategy, which included adding seven bulk carriers to its fleet during 2015 and 2016, contrasting with a quieter 2017 focused more on selling than buying. Presently, Tan Binh Co. Ltd. owns a fleet of 16 bulk carriers, averaging 16 years old, demonstrating the company’s proactive and strategic approach to fleet expansion and its dedication to reinforcing its presence in the global maritime sector. 23-June-2018

 

Copenhagen based shipowner and operator J Lauritzen has appointed Kristian Morch as BOD (Board of Director). Kristian Morch was previously Chief Executive Officer at Clipper Bulk, served as Odfjell BOD (Board of Director), and also worked for AP Moller-Maersk. 19-February-2018

 

Danish shipowner and operator Clipper Group sold 16 ships. In 2014, Clipper Group signed a financing agreement maturing early in 2018 and now has to decrease debt. Numerous remaining ships were guaranteed as collateral and others being sold as part of the agreement. Clipper Group has to dispose of more handysize bulkers which were ordered at Tsuji Heavy Industries. Formerly, Danish shipowner and operator Clipper Group ordered 42 handysize dry bulk carriers from Tsuji Heavy Industries. According to Clipper Group’s restructuring scheme, Clipper Bulk is shutting down 5 offices worldwide. Clipper Bulk is closing offices in Stamford USA, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, and Beijing. Clipper Bulk operates around 130 bulk carriers. Clipper Bulk operates from handysize up to panamax bulk carriers. 11-October-2017

 

Danish shipowner and operator Clipper Group has been trying to appoint a new CFO (Chief Finance Officer). Clipper Group published that current CFO Flemming Steen is quitting. Clipper Group is a major player in the dry bulk sector operating a fleet of around 130 handysize and supramax dry bulk carriers. 3-September-2017

 

Gary Lawrence appointed as the chartering manager of Clipper Bulk USA instead of quitting chartering manager Jesper Christensen. Jesper Christensen is appointed by New York-listed Genco Shipping & Trading as Vice President (VP). Copenhagen based Clipper Bulk is a ship operator in the dry bulk handysize segment. 9-April-2017