日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Sep 20, 2024 (Fri)

MOL CHEMICAL TANKERS to pursue synergies with acquired Fairfield Chemical Carriers

Bongsik Han, Director and COO of MOL CHEMICAL TANKERS

　MOL CHEMICAL TANKERS (MOLCT, headquartered in Singapore), a wholly-owned subsidiary of MOL that pro ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80%3Cb%3EMOL+CHEMICAL+TANKERS%3C%2Fb%3E+%28MOLCT%2C+headquartered+in+Singapore%29%2C+a+wholly-owned+subsidiary+of+MOL+that+provides+services+transporting+petrochemical+products%2C+is+experiencing+strong+performance.+We+spoke+to+Director+Bongsik+Han%2C+the+company%E2%80%99s+Chief+Operating+Officer+%28COO%29%2C+about+sales+strategies.+%3Cbr%3E%28Interviewer%3A+Satoshi+Yamada%29+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Chemical+tankers+are+the+driving+force+behind+profits+in+MOL%E2%80%99s+energy+business.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+place+importance+on+the+stability+of+our+marine+transport+services+and+operate+our+business+based+on+COA+%28Contract+of+Affreightment%29.+COA+rates+are+based+on+annual+contracts%2C+so+it+takes+time+for+increases+in+spot+rates+to+be+reflected.+The+favorable+impact+of+two+years+of+high+spot+freight+rates+is+gradually+being+seen+in+earnings.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFollowing+Russia%E2%80%99s+invasion+of+Ukraine%2C+demand+for+product+carriers+transporting+petroleum+products+has+increased+dramatically.+As+a+result%2C+product+carriers+that+had+been+flowing+into+the+chemical+tanker+market+returned+to+their+original+purpose+of+transporting+petroleum+products%2C+and+the+supply+and+demand+for+chemical+tankers+became+tighter.+Spot+freight+rates+increased.+The+market+remained+high+for+2023%2C+although+it+softened+slightly+compared+to+2022.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+FCC+acquisition+also+contributed+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Is+Fairfield+Chemical+Carriers+%28FCC%2C+headquartered+in+Singapore%29%2C+in+which+you+acquired+all+of+the+shares%2C+also+contributing+to+profits%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+ratio+of+COA+to+spot+contracts+is+7%3A3+for+MOLCT%2C+while+FCC+has+a+ratio+of+3%3A7%2C+meaning+that+its+ratio+of+spot+contracts+is+higher.+High+spot+freight+rates+are+a+positive+boost+for+FCC%E2%80%99s+revenues.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CFCC%E2%80%99s+chemical+tanker+fleet+mainly+consists+of+vessels+of+19%2C000+to+25%2C000+dwt.+Because+it+is+smaller+than+MOLCT%E2%80%99s+main+vessel+size+of+35%2C000+dwt+and+has+greater+flexibility+in+vessel+allocation%2C+it+is+possible+to+operate+the+business+mainly+on+spot+contracts.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+current+market+environment+like%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+amount+of+transport+space+available+to+shippers+is+extremely+tight.+The+tightening+of+ship+supply+and+demand+and+the+recovery+of+spot+freight+rates+were+expected+to+some+extent.+Until+2019%2C+the+market+remained+sluggish+for+a+long+time%2C+making+it+difficult+for+chemical+tanker+companies+to+invest+in+ships.+With+the+supply+of+new+ships+limited%2C+it+was+expected+that+the+balance+between+supply+and+demand+would+tighten+if+tougher+environmental+regulations+forced+ships+to+operate+at+slower+speeds.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CRussia%E2%80%99s+invasion+of+Ukraine+has+completely+changed+the+market+environment.+Then+the+issue+of+restrictions+on+navigation+through+the+Panama+Canal+came+up.+The+conflict+between+Israel+and+the+Islamic+organization+Hamas+have+also+forced+the+shipping+companies+to+bypass+the+Red+Sea%2C+which+leads+to+the+Suez+Canal.+This+has+exacerbated+the+tight+supply-demand+situation+for+tonnage.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--With+freight+rates+expected+to+remain+high%2C+some+overseas+shipping+companies+are+increasing+the+ratio+of+spot+operations.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWith+the+acquisition+of+FCC%2C+our+fleet+has+expanded+to+120+vessels.+We+have+become+the+largest+shipping+company+providing+marine+transport+services+on+deep+sea+routes+using+chemical+tankers+equipped+with+corrosion-resistant+stainless+steel+tanks.+With+the+addition+of+routes+to+South+Africa%2C+Australia+and+South+America%2C+which+are+FCC%E2%80%99s+specialties%2C+our+global+service+network+has+been+further+enhanced.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9COne+issue+is+how+to+bring+out+the+synergy+coming+from+the+integration+of+MOLCT+and+FCC.+MOLCT%E2%80%99s+identity+is+based+on+reliability+and+stability.+FCC%E2%80%99s+identity+is+based+on+flexibility+and+challenge.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+considered+unifying+them+to+the+MOLCT+identity.+However%2C+there+is+a+risk+that+the+FCC%E2%80%99s+strengths+and+merits+will+be+lost.+For+now%2C+we+believe+it+is+best+for+us+to+recognize+each+other%E2%80%99s+strengths+and+continue+with+our+two+different+sales+models.+Overall%2C+the+spot+contract+ratio+will+increase.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--What+is+the+outlook+for+the+market%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThere+is+a+possibility+that+spot+freight+rates+will+remain+high+for+the+next+four+to+five+years.+There+are+few+remaining+orders+for+new+ships%2C+and+shipyards%E2%80%99+slipways+are+sold+out+until+around+2028%2C+so+growth+in+tonnage+will+be+limited+for+the+time+being.+On+the+other+hand%2C+demand+for+petrochemical+products+is+expected+to+grow+steadily+in+line+with+GDP+%28gross+domestic+product%29+growth.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CResearch+firms+forecast+that+seaborne+chemical+cargo+movements+will+grow+at+an+annual+rate+of+1.6%25.+Against+the+backdrop+of+the+trend+toward+decarbonization%2C+new+demand+for+cargo+transportation+is+also+being+created.+The+movement+of+waste+cooking+oil+and+palm+oil%2C+which+are+the+raw+materials+for+biodiesel%2C+to+Europe+and+the+US+is+becoming+more+active.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Ship+investment+is+an+issue+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80--Four+26%2C000-dwt+LNG+%28liquefied+natural+gas%29+dual-fuel+chemical+tankers+ordered+by+FCC+will+be+added+to+the+fleet.+What+about+environmental+friendliness%3F+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+biggest+issue+is+how+to+proceed+with+investment+in+new+ships+going+forward.+Because+chemical+tankers+are+small+and+have+space+constraints%2C+it+is+still+unclear+what+alternative+fuels+will+become+mainstream+to+replace+conventional+fuels.+There+is+also+no+guarantee+that+the+increased+ship+prices+and+fuel+costs+resulting+from+the+shift+to+dual-fuel+will+be+reflected+in+freight+rates.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CWe+are+looking+into+introducing+new+environmental+technologies+such+as+wind+propulsion+devices.+We+will+pursue+maximizing+energy+efficiency+by+adopting+the+%E2%80%98Wind+Challenger%E2%80%99+hard+sail+system+wind+propulsion+device+and+rotor+sails+that+have+been+introduced+on+dry+bulk+carriers+operated+by+the+MOL+Group.%E2%80%9D+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Bongsik+Han+graduated+from+Hankuk+University+of+Foreign+Studies+in+1994+and+joined+Tokyo+Marine+%28now+%3Cb%3EMOL+CHEMICAL+TANKERS%3C%2Fb%3E%29+in+April+2008.+After+working+at+Tokyo+Marine+Asia+and+serving+as+managing+director+of+%3Cb%3EMOL+CHEMICAL+TANKERS%3C%2Fb%3E+Middle+East%2C+he+was+appointed+to+his+current+position+in+April+2023.+Born+in+Seoul%2C+54+years+old.+%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EDisclaimer%3A+The+English+translations+provided+through+this+service+are+the+result+of+translations+made+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+or+automatically+and+mechanically+translated+by+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+using+an+automated+translation+system+provided+by+a+third+party+after+certain+processing+of+the+Japanese+content+licensed+by+the+third+party.+In+terms+of+the+English+translation%2C+The+Japan+Maritime+Daily+and+MarineNet+Co.%2C+Ltd.+make+no+warranty+or+burden+of+any+kind%2C+express+or+implied%2C+including+its+accuracy%2C+reliability%2C+validity+or+fitness+for+a+particular+purpose.+MarineNet+Users+should+fully+understand+that+this+service+uses+an+automated+translation+system+that+automatically+and+mechanically+recognizes+and+analyzes+information+and+produces+results.+The+users+should+understand+the+above+conditions+before+using+this+service.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%E5%85%8D%E8%B2%AC%E4%BA%8B%E9%A0%85%EF%BC%9A%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E4%BB%8B%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%95%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%BD%9C%E6%88%90%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%81%8B%E3%80%81%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8B%E3%82%89%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E8%A8%B1%E8%AB%BE%E3%82%92%E5%8F%97%E3%81%91%E3%81%9F%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E8%AA%9E%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B3%E3%83%B3%E3%83%86%E3%83%B3%E3%83%84%E3%82%92%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%81%8C%E4%B8%80%E5%AE%9A%E3%81%AE%E5%87%A6%E7%90%86%E3%82%92%E8%A1%8C%E3%81%A3%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%89%E8%80%85%E3%81%8C%E6%8F%90%E4%BE%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%83%BB%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8A%E3%80%81%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E6%B5%B7%E4%BA%8B%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E3%80%81%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E5%BD%93%E8%A9%B2%E8%8B%B1%E8%A8%B3%E3%81%AB%E9%96%A2%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E3%80%81%E3%81%9D%E3%81%AE%E6%AD%A3%E7%A2%BA%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E4%BF%A1%E9%A0%BC%E6%80%A7%E3%80%81%E5%A6%A5%E5%BD%93%E6%80%A7%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E7%89%B9%E5%AE%9A%E7%9B%AE%E7%9A%84%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E9%81%A9%E5%90%88%E6%80%A7%E3%82%92%E5%90%AB%E3%82%81%E3%80%81%E6%98%8E%E7%A4%BA%E5%8F%88%E3%81%AF%E9%BB%99%E7%A4%BA%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82%E3%80%81%E3%81%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%AA%E3%82%8B%E4%BF%9D%E8%A8%BC%E3%82%82%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%9B%E3%82%93%E3%80%82%E3%83%9E%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B3%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%A6%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B6%E3%83%BC%E3%81%AF%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%8C%E3%80%81%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%9A%84%E3%81%8B%E3%81%A4%E6%A9%9F%E6%A2%B0%E7%9A%84%E3%81%AB%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E3%82%92%E8%AA%8D%E8%AD%98%E3%83%BB%E5%88%86%E6%9E%90%E3%81%97%E3%81%A6%E7%B5%90%E6%9E%9C%E3%82%92%E5%87%BA%E5%8A%9B%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E8%87%AA%E5%8B%95%E7%BF%BB%E8%A8%B3%E3%82%B7%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%83%A0%E3%82%92%E4%BD%BF%E7%94%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%E3%81%93%E3%81%A8%E3%82%92%E5%8D%81%E5%88%86%E3%81%AB%E7%90%86%E8%A7%A3%E3%81%97%E3%81%9F%E4%B8%8A%E3%81%A7%E3%80%81%E3%81%93%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%93%E3%82%B9%E3%82%92%E5%88%A9%E7%94%A8%E3%81%99%E3%82%8B%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A8%E3%81%97%E3%81%BE%E3%81%99%E3%80%82%3Cbr%3E

【ケミカル船社の営業戦略】MOLケミカルタンカーズ取締役COO・韓鳳植氏、FCCとのシナジー追求

2024/09/20(金)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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