John Faraclas
The BDI (Baltic Dry Index) was down 20 points at 1,470 earlier on today – a contained fall so to speak… Geopolitics though and the issue of corruption remains the name of the game… For the sake of Art though the day ended more than harmoniously at the After Nyne Gallery in London’s Holland Park. John Faraclas’ brief recap:
The Capes’ BCI lost 66 points and now reads 2,530 points… the most volatile of all sizes and indices still bother us… Caution…
“Good” news as the Panamaxes’ BPI – clinched two points and now stand at 1,526…
A dozen points were lost from the Supras’ BSI now reading 1,061 points.
Minor losses for the Handies with the BHSI now at 668 – minus three…
All in all 777 points down from the end of December 2013 when the BDI clocked 2,247…
The Wets stood …“firm’’; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) now read 1,157 – plus seven and 569 – plus two respectively…
The WTI fell and as you read these lines same is just below the US$64.00 mark at US$ 63.68…
An interesting a valuable report on new ships delivery comes herebelow from VesselsValue:
44% of all 2018 schedule deliveries still at yards
Vessel deliveries typically slow down towards the end of the year. If shipowners wait a few weeks, allowing the delivery to slip into the new year, the vessel is considered a whole year younger. Many sectors can expect a higher proportion of the orderbook to hit the water in future years.
There are 1,966 vessels which have deliveries dates scheduled for 2018. However only 1,100 have hit the water so far this year, meaning 44% of the ’18 orderbook is outstanding.
Out of the three top shipbuilding countries, China still has 50% of their 2018 orders to deliver within the last two months of the year. Compared to Japan and South Korea, where 25% and 28% of their respective orderbooks is currently outstanding, Chinese yards could potentially slip 446 vessels into next year’s delivery schedule.
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On the Geopolitical front the issues remain, unfortunately the same, with dangerous escalations which can become detrimental to all of us all over Planet Ocean… As we have stressed in the past, we need to understand the distinction between the manager and the leader. We need leaders to go ahead and not the lot of the under the stairs people to rule upon us. Governance is different from ruling, hence the “titles” of many political figures: Prime Minister, President, Ruler, King, Governor and Tyrant to name but a few…
Corruption Rules the Waves, The Airwaves, you name it… AND it is only when by … “chance” or by a whistle-blower that we learn what’s up and when people “loose” their immunity from crime… i.e: when we don’t need them, we expose them… As the song says: everybody knows…
The MIGRANTS – in total mess and depriving people will backfire. It goes without saying that only a land and a naval blockage can stop this anathema and put things in place, end of the story; it is Democratic too!!! In both Land and Naval Blockades we need a Mandate and Rules of Engagement. It is NOT just the Med and the Middle East in a MMMM (MIGRANTS MESSY MERCY MESS), what about in Latin America and the Caribs? Remind you all, and in particular the politicians, diplomats, NGO’s et al of the dangers emanating from distorting the social cohesion – particularly in Europe!!
The Middle East inferno continues in all fronts – mainly the Gibraltar to Afghanistan and from the Caucuses to the Horn of Africa region – a dangerous “fault line” so to speak can give earthquakes and tsunamis of 8 of the Richter scale and waves up to 20 meters… Try to get the message metaphorically …
Turkey is stirring up the region – involving 1,000 miles around her borders; dangerous encounters will lead to despicable spill overs… Turkey stirs-up the Balkans too in an unprecedented way… A bankrupt country will try to become an on purpose liability for all using its traditional blackmail too…
Greece next door still faces internal issues, mainly financial ones and warn you that only Zeus ex-Machina can save the day. In the international front too there are many thorny issues: the Balkans with Albanian madness, the FyRoM issue still unresolved – let’s hope we are wrong, the EEZ and territorial waters issues…
Cyprus too faces financial and international issues particularly with the aggressiveness and bullying by Turkey…
In general, the entire East Med and the Balkans, if not tonight, … “tomorrow” will be on fire…
The continuation of the Syrian saga and President Putin’s policy defending Russia’s vested interest in the region must not be ignored. Add the INF issue with the US and see what you might get. Add the Saudi issue particularly now with the Khashoggi events and imagine the next things to surface… A very delicate environment for diplomats and leaders too!
Italy will fight its corner for its people; end of the story…
Seems that the BREXIT affair with its twists and turns might, repeat might end up for the benefit of all!!
At the other side of the Atlantic President Trump gears up for the midterm elections; lets see how the outcome affects its presidency and Planet Ocean at large…
In South America, the newly elected Brazilian president Bolsonaro might change entirely the political chart of the entire Latin America. Money Money Money though is the big issue accompanied by real Law and Order…. The Venezuelan saga must end. Millions are fleeing…
China tries to get its act together especially in its effort to mitigate damages from the Trade War. Japan is closely watching all… Silence (?) with the North Koreans…
Elias Tsigounis and his girlfriend Andriana Mylona in front of his exceptional black and white shots – with maritime interest too!
More news before midnight hopefully…
On another tone and note at the After Nyne Gallery in Holland Park the Cult House exhibition was a big woooow. Very early in the morning we uploaded a relevant article for Elias Tsigounis who was participating. Monumental in its kind with the multi arty works presentations from up and coming artists, painters, glass experts bringing life and promoting tranquility and imagination, photographers and constructionists made my day… Small world too.
Elias Tsigounis’ pictures where small in size but powerful within inviting the viewer / guest to approach as close as possible and see the details. You don’t have to be big to be beautiful fully applies here! The huge … microcosmos of the Peloponnese (south Greece) with the “Laconia”, Navarino” and “Cape Maleas” are fully depicted in Elias’ shots. All these exhibits come from his series “The journey of Light into darkness” printed in C type metallic paper 40x40cm and the images 17x12cm; the last two being also sea-wise themes! Having done photography from a very young age (12), and being a member of the AKSS’ (Anargyrios and Corgialenios School of Spetsae) photographic Club, I do know what entails with black and white photography, hence I fully endorse Elias’ detailed work!
Brian Parker’s “Venice Time to rise”
Also in our industry, photography is a good tool for evidence in maritime claims! Eh! AND, many world acclaimed photographers have their shots on board ships, mainly Cruise ships complementing its decoration; offshore too! Log on in allaboutshipping.co.uk and you will see what I mean.
Another excellent shipping theme was Brian Parker’s “Venice Time to Rise”. Acrylic on paper well and proportionally dimensioned 50 x 70cm with vibrant colours; a good way to wake you up in the morning!
Magenta Magenta Magenta : the colour to be for all intents and purposes! Power, imperial power so to speak but tranquillity too leading to peace of mind! Kira Phoenix K’inan‘s technique transforms and transfers the language of a two dimensional line drawing on paper into three-dimensional sculptures. Each drawing is created in the moment, allowing feeling to be expressed through gesture and form to emerge from material. Magenta qualifies as a rainbow colour as it lies at the very end of the spectrum just after violet and ultra violet and just before red and infra-red. It is the colour, a combination so to speak of red and purple; it is the colour of release; it helps us distance ourselves form mundane things and it enables us to release ourselves from the past. Because it is a composite colour of the physical red and the spiritual purple, magenta signifies the union of our earthy nature and our spiritual one. “What’s above, so below”. It is a spiritually uplifting colour with great feminine energy – this is what Kira posses!
l to r : world acclaimed photographer Elias Tsigounis with his friend Antigone, Kira K’Inan – the glassy classy queen, John Faraclas and Jeeta K’Inan
Her “Magenta Type” 3 Glass 32x32x0.2cm was the jewel in the crown in this exhibition. “Beautiful Fruits in red” Glass too; very detailed and imaginative. Lastly her third exhibit “Collateal Beauty in White” could have easily be Coral beauty in white; a very sea-wise object of desire!
More Glass from experts across the Channel; Eric Bonte, a master glass artist over four decades creates stained glass domes and sandblasted glass sculptures. Creator and director of France Vitrail International with Greek connections and work too! Supported by his expert in PR wife Claude, this duo has a bright future!
We have some interesting articles on Glass which you can all read and never forget: Glass is everywhere in the shipping industry; just imagine and let us have your observations!
The sea see she factor by Eric Bonte
All in all a unique exhibition with quite interesting works from all artists participating and definitely, if I have the time, will go back again!
A good start for the month – let’s hope November is a better month from the awful October – with the exemption of the WISTA International week in Tromsø, make the comparisons and you will see what we mean.
Have a nice evening and continue to be on guard from dangers emanating from Pirates, Terrorists and any Criminal whatsoever wherever you are on Planet Ocean!
P.S. Read the book The At of Colour Therapy by Theresa Sundt and you will verify the importance of colours!
