日本海事新聞ニュース Japan Maritime Daily Oct 10, 2025 (Fri)

BBC Chartering to Strengthen Ties with Japanese Owners on Dry Bulk Chartering

CEO Ulrichs (right) and Peter Roland, Japan Representative

　Ulrich Ulrichs, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of BBC Chartering, a major German multipurpose vessel ・・・ 続きはログインして下さいnext %E3%80%80Ulrich+Ulrichs%2C+CEO+%28Chief+Executive+Officer%29+of+%3Cb%3EBBC+Chartering%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+a+major+German+multipurpose+vessel+operator%2C+said+in+an+interview+with+the+Japan+Maritime+Daily%2C+%E2%80%9CThere+is+a+possibility+that+we+will+increase+the+number+of+bulker+charters+from+Japan.%E2%80%9C+The+company%E2%80%99s+main+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessels+are+mainly+chartered+from+German+shipowners.+However%2C+in+the+new+bulker+business+it+launched+in+response+to+the+coronavirus+pandemic%2C+it+is+considering+procuring+more+ships+owned+by+Japanese+shipowners+and+ships+built+in+Japan.+%3Cbr%3E+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Operating+140+vessels+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%3Cb%3EBBC+Chartering%3C%2Fb%3E+operates+the+world%E2%80%99s+largest+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessel+fleet+of+130-140+vessels%2C+plus+10+Handysize+bulkers.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80All+operations+are+on+a+charter+basis%2C+with+65-70%25+of+the+fleet+owned+and+managed+by+Briese%2C+%3Cb%3EBBC+Chartering%3C%2Fb%3E+shareholder.+The+remaining+30-35%25+are+chartered+from+third+party+ship+owners%2C+with+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessels+mainly+chartered+from+German+owners.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+company+is+currently+chartering+the+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessel+%E2%80%99BBC+Rainbow%E2%80%99+from+a+Japanese+shipowner.+It+is+also+chartering+three+Japanese-built+Handysize+bulkers.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ulrichs+said+of+chartering+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessels+from+Japan%2C+%E2%80%9CIt%E2%80%99s+a+little+difficult.+The+ship+types+we+are+looking+for+are+practically+nonexistent+among+the+multipurpose+vessels+under+Japanese+control+at+this+time.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+he+said+there+is+%E2%80%9Ca+good+chance%E2%80%9C+of+increasing+the+number+of+Japanese+bulker+charters.+During+his+visit+to+Japan+this+summer%2C+he+met+with+Japanese+shipowners+who+own+bulkers+to+explore+new+business+possibilities.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Awarded+contract+for+rice+bound+for+Japan+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80With+the+completion+of+two+new+Handysize+vessels+in+August+and+September+this+year%2C+BBC%E2%80%99s+bulker+fleet+has+expanded+to+10+vessels.+Of+these%2C+three+ships+were+built+in+Japan+and+seven+in+China.+In+addition%2C+the+company+has+added+10-15+vessels+on+medium-+to+short-term+charter+from+the+market%2C+depending+on+demand.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%80%9CThe+bulk+business+was+launched+when+the+coronavirus+pandemic+caused+a+shortage+of+multipurpose+vessels+without+specific+contracts+in+the+market.+This+is+a+new+segment+for+our+company%2C+but+it+is+generating+steady+profits%2C%E2%80%9C+said+Ulrichs.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Last+year%2C+the+company+opened+a+new+office+dedicated+to+the+bulk+business+in+Hamburg%2C+Germany.+The+Tokyo+office+also+plays+a+key+role+in+bulk+cargo+bookings.+Recently%2C+it+was+awarded+the+contract+for+the+tender+for+rice+and+grains+bound+for+Japan.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+20+new+ships+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80For+the+newbuilding+charter+program+for+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessels%2C+the+company+has+secured+approximately+20+vessels.+It+is+currently+building+a+series+of+its+next+flagship+vessels%2C+the+13%2C000-dwt+%E2%80%9CLakerMax%E2%80%9C+and+the+12%2C000-dwt+%E2%80%9CF500.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80With+the+uniquely+designed+full+flat+deck+and+three-tiered+deck+specification%2C+LakerMax+provides+expanded+loading+space.+In+addition%2C+the+bridge+is+positioned+forward+to+improve+visibility+while+sailing.+Construction+of+the+15-ship+series+began+at+a+Chinese+shipyard+last+year%2C+with+all+ships+due+to+be+completed+by+the+end+of+next+year.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Multipurpose+vessels+are+performing+well+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+multipurpose+vessel+market+has+recovered+from+the+shortage+of+available+tonnage+and+rising+market+prices+that+occurred+during+the+coronavirus+pandemic.+Freight+rates+remain+strong%2C+and+BBC+has+continued+to+be+in+the+black+since+2020.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ulrichs+said%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+supply+and+demand+balance+is+stable.+There+are+few+new+ships+being+completed%2C+and+major+customers+such+as+Japan+are+not+accepting+old+ships+that+are+over+25+years+old%2C+so+old+ships+are+being+weeded+out%2C%E2%80%9C+emphasizing+that+the+market+is+solid.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Concerns+about+future+tonnage+supply+include+competition+with+other+ship+types%2C+such+as+RORO+ships.+Chinese+EV+%28electric+vehicle%29+manufacturers+are+supporting+domestic+shipping+companies+in+developing+RORO+ships.+Therefore%2C+there+is+a+possibility+that+competition+with+multipurpose+vessels+will+intensify+on+the+return+voyage.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+Some+confusion+over+US+tariffs+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Regarding+the+tariff+policies+of+the+Trump+administration+in+the+U.S.%2C+he+said%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+situation+is+changing+constantly+and+rapidly%2C+and+some+shippers+of+steel+products+and+other+products+are+becoming+more+cautious.+However%2C+shipments+to+large+oil+and+gas+projects+in+the+United+States+continue%2C+so+demand+itself+has+not+disappeared.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80In+October%2C+the+Office+of+the+United+States+Trade+Representative+%28USTR%29+will+introduce+port+entry+fees+for+ships+with+ties+to+China%2C+which+may+force+Chinese+shipping+companies+to+withdraw+from+US+routes.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80However%2C+Chinese+multipurpose+vessel+companies+that+call+at+US+ports+mainly+operate+large+ships+in+the+30%2C000-60%2C000+dwt+class%2C+so+the+impact+on+%3Cb%3EBBC+Chartering%3C%2Fb%3E%2C+which+mainly+operates+ships+in+the+12%2C000-13%2C000+dwt+class%2C+is+unlikely+to+be+significant.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80BBC+also+charters+one+Handysize+bulker+owned+by+a+Chinese+shipowner%2C+but+it+plans+to+deploy+the+ship+on+routes+other+than+the+US+routes.+In+addition%2C+there+are+several+bare+boat+charter+vessels+from+Chinese+leasing+companies.+%E2%80%9CWe+will+confirm+the+details+of+the+port+entry+fee+system+with+the+U.S.+authorities+and+assess+the+impact.+However%2C+90-95%25+of+our+fleet+will+not+be+affected%2C%E2%80%9C+said+CEO+%EF%BC%9CChief+Executive+Officer%EF%BC%9E+Ulrich+Ulrichs.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80BBC+is+primarily+building+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessels%2C+including+LakerMax%2C+at+Chinese+shipyards.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ulrichs+said%2C+%E2%80%9CAt+present%2C+we+believe+there+are+few+alternatives+to+China+for+the+construction+of+our+multipurpose+heavy+lift+vessels.+Chinese+shipyards+are+flexible+in+responding+to+the+special+designs+we+require.+The+quality+is+good%2C+and+the+price+is+reasonable.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80%E2%96%A0+First+cargo%2C+then+ship+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80BBC%E2%80%99s+business+motto+is+%E2%80%99Any+port.+Any+cargo.%2C%E2%80%99+and+the+company+responds+to+all+transportation+needs+around+the+world.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Regarding+the+collection+process%2C+Ulrichs+said%2C+%E2%80%9CFirst%2C+we+pick+up+cargo.+We+decide+on+the+ship+after+that.%E2%80%9C+The+company+is+constantly+rearranging+its+ship+allocations%2C+depending+on+the+cargo.+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80Ulrichs+said%2C+%E2%80%9CFor+this+reason%2C+we+need+a+certain+fleet+size.+Currently%2C+there+are+around+60+ships+deployed+in+the+area+between+India+and+Japan+at+all+times.+This+is+the+secret+to+maintaining+high+flexibility.+When+there+is+a+surge+in+cargo%2C+we+sometimes+charter+ships+on+a+spot+basis+from+the+market.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E%E3%80%80The+number+of+port+calls+to+Japan+remains+stable+at+an+average+of+about+10+per+month.+Regarding+the+Japanese+market%2C+Ulrichs+offers+a+positive+outlook%2C+saying%2C+%E2%80%9CThe+medium-+to+long-term+outlook+is+bright.+Many+new+projects+are+planned+for+the+next+year+and+the+next+few+years.+We+will+also+see+activities+in+oil+and+gas-related+cargoes+from+wind+power+generation+and+EPC+%28Engineering%2C+Procurement%2C+and+Construction%29+business+companies+over+the+next+two+years.%E2%80%9C+%3Cbr%3E+%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%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BBCチャータリング、日本でBC用船増。船主・造船と関係強化

2025/10/10(金)

日本海事新聞 JMD

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