The BDI@1,803; market correction? Volatility or what…?
The BDI (Baltic Dry Index) lost six points amid Geopolitical uncertainty and Environmental hype… John Faraclas’ brief market recap:
The Capes’ BCI was down just a point at 3,231 Hooray Hooray!
The Panamaxes’ fall continues with the BPI down 20 points at 1,725!!! CAUTION!!!
The Supras’ BSI down 14 points at 1,217…
The Handies’ BHSI down five at 679!!!
All Dry Indices in Red and ultra-caution should be observed!
The Wets on an upwards mode; the last published BDTI (Dirties) and BCTI (Cleans) stood at 1,033 – up 35, surpassing after a long time the 1,000 points threshold and 496 – up 22 points respectively!!!
The WTI dropped down to US$ 52.64 and that’s good news!
Geopolitics in total disarray!
The MIGRANTS issue monopolise the news with a surge the politicians and diplomats in Brussels for both NATO and the EU failed to undestand and predict – unless there is a big scam there with many now crossing the land borders between Greece and Turkey arriving en mass and many taken the risky sea-route even losing their lives. Some avoid the Greek Islands in the Aegean Sea and sail directly to the Greek mainland – Peloponnesse in particular!
Turkey continues to violate Cyprus’, Greece’s and conversely the European Union’s EEZ and territorial waters and we can smell gun powder… Erdogan’s blackmail has no limits…
BREXIT as we have predicted is turning upside down not just the British Isles, not just Europe but the entire World ! Caution!
At the other side of the Atlantic president Trump following the impeachment by the Democrats has a lot of ground to cover in addition to the main issues he tackles: Trade Wars mainly with China, The Iranian ongoing mess, North Korean tests and future tests…. Venezuela and in general the USDollar… The Tariffs begin to bite in Europe… CAUTION!
Syria continues to get worse and nobody gives Peace a chance there. Just think, not just imagine what will happen if Saudi Arabia retaliates following the Iranian attack at Aramco’s facilities…
On another tone and note the 9th Annual Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum focusing on Best Industry Practices and the Competitive Advantage, was more than a success at a full house in Athens’ Divani Caravel Hotel. Anastassios Papagianopoulos received from Panos Laskarides the Capital Link’s 2019 Maritime CSR Leadership Award. Panos Laskarides’ speech was one of the best ever over the last 25 years!
The Greek Minister of Shipping Yiannis Plakiotakis delivered some interesting points for the new era in Greek Shipping and its global leadership and we sincerely hope that this time New Democracy delivers what is best for the Business, the Workforce – Seafarares, Ports & Terminals as well as for Maritime Tourism.
All in all we had:
A)nine panels covering: New Techologies; The Big Picture – Managing Change in Shipping; Fleet Operations and Technical Management; Port State Controls – A global roadmap; Environmental Regulations & the Industry’s response including IMO 2020 – It is all about the fuel navigating the new world of marine fuels and many other issues such as IMO 2020 – Sulphur Cap – preparing for D-Day, reducing green house emissions – Decarbonization, Speed Limits – an optimal measure for the Environment & Shipping Industry….
We were lucky to manage and have live Gideon Lenkey, CISSP, technical director from EPSCO ship safety and security – he was a speaker on the first panel on New Technologies – how to reduce OPEX, improve Efficiency & Security:
B)The excellent kick-start welcome by Nicolas Bornozis,
C)An excellent presentation on 2020 and Port State Control Issues in China
D)Interpanel debates but not Q’s from the audience excpet a couple to ensure a timely end of the Forum’s deliberations and
E)An excellent networking drinks and dips reception.
We will bring you all that took place when the organisers forward same but we end this brief reporting with our usual live interview with Nicolas Bornozis:
Congratulations to Nicolas Bornozis and his team for this timely event! Watch this space.
Lastly we managed to make it on time down town Piraeus at the old Post Office listed building which now houses the Municipal Arts Gallery Centre of Piraeus and see the paintings work of Juana Page titled “North of the South” and the photographs of Nicolás Heredia, supported by the Embassy of Argentina in Athens…
The artist Juana Page in front a self portrait – 125 x 152 mixed media
H.E., Juan Jose Arcuri, Ambassador of the Republic of the Argentine Republic in Athens flanked by the artist Juana Page and Mrs Litsa Bafouni, director of Culture at the Municipality of Pireaus
An interesting statement of the artist’s work, was visible/hanged in a prominent place reads: “My inspiration has come from dreams, experiences and change. Extended processes of maturity in the images I have created have served in guiding me towards a more profound study of art. I paint primarily in acrylic and have been incorporating mixed media. I become interested in experimenting with materials and paint qualities in relationship to history and memory. All the exhibited paintings bring memories of a rustic land, where the tacile experience re-surface. I work with paint and pigments. The sewing process in some paintings connects the artwork with the idea of the raw and the primitive”.
Many Greeks and Greeks from Argentina were there including some from the shippiung industry as well as from the Argentine Embassy in Athens and we had an interetsing talk on Arts and Shipping as well as on the Greek Diaspora in Argentine! Excellent! The exhibition is opened until the 6th of October 2019.
Lastly tonight was the annual diner “Back-to-Business” organised by the British-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce at the gardens of the British Ambassador’s residence in Athens with keynote speaker the newly elected Mayor of Athens Costas Bakoyiannis; we will revert with more on this soon!
Have a nice evening and remain on guard from actions emanating from Pirates, Terrorists, Criminals and Business Hooligans whatsoever wherever you are on Planet Ocean!
