Banks: Vessel financing increasingly based on energy efficiency data

Eco-efficient vessels more likely to be chartered, have higher asset values and longer lifespans under emerging two-tier market

“Banks are beginning to recommend efficiency retrofits to shipowners, and are using energy-efficiency data in deciding which vessels they finance—and which they won’t. If this trend continues, efficiency retrofits will offer increasing wealth-creating opportunities and inefficient ships will become more and more unmarketable.”
José María Figueres, Chairman of the Board for Rocky Mountain Institute and Carbon War Room

00:01 BST, APRIL 22, 2015 – LONDON — Today, Carbon War Room announced that several leading banks in the shipping industry, including HSH Nordbank and KfW IPEX-Bank, use energy-efficiency data in making investment and financing decisions.HSH Nordbank, KfW IPEX-Bank, and other banks surveyed by global NGO Carbon War Room (CWR) have indicated that vessel efficiency rankings—such as the A to G GHG Emissions Rating developed by independent ship vetting company RightShip and CWR—now form an important part of assessing risk and return, with inefficient vessels now representing a higher-risk investment.Energy efficiency data is also being used in credit-approval processes for vessel purchases, loan assessments for retrofit projects, and re-sell or scrapping decisions, with banks citing efficiency as a key indicator for a vessel’s profitability.

The recent incorporation of efficiency data into financing decisions indicates that a dramatic market shift has occurred in recent years. Banks state they have seen the formation of a two-tier market comprising high- and low-efficiency vessels. Eco-efficient vessels demand a premium price at new build stage, are more likely to be chartered, maintain asset value over time, and have a longer lifespan.

Carsten Wiebers, Global Head of Maritime Industries, KfW IPEX-Bank, commented: “As a consequence of the correlation of energy efficiency and loan risk, we have analysed our shipping portfolio based on the methodology of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) and implemented design efficiency criteria in our credit approval process. In view of the beneficial risk profile and environmental benefits, we favour eco-ships over ships with poorer energy efficiency.“We see a clear trend towards a two-tier market of high- and low-efficiency vessels—more energy efficient vessels have an enhanced marketability as well as a higher revenue potential for the ship owner and thus a more favourable risk profile for financiers.”

KfW IPEX-Bank also revealed last year that efficient container vessels of comparable capacity consume 30% less bunker fuel than inefficient vessels at the same operating profile. This represents a significant cost advantage, particularly if competing vessels are switching to more-expensive distillate fuels in Emission Control Areas.

Ingmar Loges, Global Head, Shipping, HSH Nordbank commented: “HSH Nordbank recognizes the considerable influence energy efficiency can have on the profitability of ship operations and has integrated the evaluation of energy efficiency into its credit decision-making process. HSH uses efficiency rankings, such as the A to G GHG Emissions Rating, as a initial foundation for systematically analyzing the advantages of efficiency retrofits and additional risks stemming from poor efficiency. HSH can also supply financing for a retrofit, when its analysis of the A to G Rating and other vessel data finds retrofitting to be a viable and desirable option and if certain general conditions are fulfilled.”

The existence of a two-tier market is becoming increasingly evident: 25% of the non-container charter market vet potential vessels for efficiency before charter and recent RightShip data analysis shows that the average lifespan of an “A” rated vessel is likely to be up to eight years longer than that of a “G” rated vessel. In addition, in 2014, three ports—Port Metro Vancouver, Port of Prince Rupert, and Port of Barbados—began to use the A to G GHG Emissions Rating to offer financial incentives to the owners of more-efficient vessels entering their ports.Each individual vessel in the global shipping industry’s 90, 000+ fleet represents a multi-million-dollar investment. Ship owners and operators rely on the banking sector to ensure they can build, buy, upgrade, and maintain these assets. This means that leading shipping banks have a huge influence on the way the market moves and develops; each bank must carefully control its market exposure and efficiency is fast becoming a key measure.For more information, contact James Mitchell at jmitchell@carbonwarroom.com

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About Carbon War Room
Carbon War Room (CWR) is a global nonprofit organization, founded by Sir Richard Branson and a team of like-minded entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of business solutions that reduce carbon emissions at gigaton scale and advance the low-carbon economy. Carbon War Room has Operations in Shipping Efficiency, Trucking Efficiency, and Smart Island Economies.

Carbon War Room launched Shipping Efficiency in 2010. Since then it has worked with RightShip to develop the A to G GHG Emissions Rating and make it publicly available at ShippingEfficiency.org. In collaboration with UCL Energy Institute and other industry experts, CWR has created new financing models for efficiency retrofits and partnered with investor EfficientShip Finance to make $25 million available for these retrofits.

About HSH Nordbank
Primarily in northern and metropolitan areas of Germany HSH Nordbank focuses on business with corporate clients, real estate clients and clients in upmarket wealth management as well as savings banks. Internationally, the focus is on the energy and infrastructure as well as shipping sector. International ship finance is a core area of expertise of HSH Nordbank. With offices in Hamburg and Kiel, Singapore, Hong Kong, Athens and New York, HSH Nordbank provides structured finance together with short-, medium- and long-term ship mortgage loans to its clients from the maritime industry.

Media Enquiries
Kate Astley
BLUE Communications
T: +44 1865 514 214
E: kate@blue-comms.com

About KfW IPEX-Bank
Within the KfW Group, KfW IPEX-Bank is responsible for international project and export finance. Its function of providing financing to boost the German and European economy is derived from the legal mandate assigned to KfW. It offers medium- and long-term financing to support key export industries, to develop economic and social infrastructure and to fund environmental and climate protection projects. KfW IPEX-Bank operates as a legally independent group subsidiary and plays a major role in fulfilling KfW’s promotional mission. The Maritime Industries department of KfW IPEX-Bank provides financings for all maritime assets in cruise, offshore and shipping sectors. With its loan portfolio of 18.3 billion US dollars KfW IPEX-Bank is one of the leading financing institutions in the maritime sector worldwide.

About RightShip
With a comprehensive Ship Vetting Information System (SVIS™) coupled with the maritime expertise of our vetting team, we help our customers to manage marine risk by identifying and eliminating substandard ships from their supply chain. Today, RightShip also provides vetting services and OCIMF SIRE inspections to the petroleum, chemical, and gas sectors.

RightShip is focused on helping industry avoid preventable incidents, while reducing the carbon dioxide emissions emitted by the world marine fleet. We do this by condensing information, providing rapid and consistent analysis and advice, monitoring and complying with international standards, and bringing expert support and advice within the reach of even the smallest business.

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