John Faraclas
The BDI (Baltic Dry index) lost six points given that there was a contained loss for both the Capers and Panamaxes; geopolitics are worsening and Terrorism of ANY kind must be curbed. John Faraclas’ daily and weekly report:
The BDI was also down 44 points since last week’s closing when it stood at 956 points…
The Capers’ BCI 2014 were down four at 1,591 points, down 74 since last week’s 1,665 points…
The Panamaxes’ BPI down three at 845 and minus 25 since last week’s 870 points…
The Supras’ BSI down seven at 721 which is also down 38 points since last Friday’s 759…
So here we stand looking downwards; lets hope that on Tuesday the 30th of May things go on the reverse as any further losses, big or small, will create more mess in the dry markets!!!
The Container trade and development is in our view still in tatters. I guess the thoughtful Japanese are building up something very special as they have done on many post WWII projects. A mega Container giant is ante portas!
The Wets though …didn’t follow suit and the last published BDTI (DIRTIES) and BCTI (Cleans) stood at 814 – minus 11 and 540 – plus two respectively. On a weekly basis though the Dirties were up 49 points – from 765 and the Cleans at 540 – up 24 from the 516 of last week… Wonder” how OPEC operates and makes it difficult for tankers; this recent downturn is monumental… remind you our view and the result if we opt for the Alternative Sources of Energy: very simply big money will change hands… On the other hand shale oil and gas will create soon another momentum; some like it …from the rocks…
The Price of WTI this moment stands at US$ 49.18 – last week at closing time (more or less) stood at US$ 49,91 – good news for the poor as anything below the US$ 50 mark is more than welcomed!!! ”
Geopolitics as you understand goes from worse to worse and we advise CAUTION as for us things are extremely bad for all and all issues on Planet Ocean.
The MIGRANTS issue remains on top of all Geopolitical issues as same is the result of all the main news and chronic now events from Warring and areas of political turmoil as well as areas with financial problems and unemployment issues covered herebelow – Iraq, Syria, the entire Middle East, Northern Africa and the Sub-Saharan to name but a few… See what happens with Turkey for example blackmailing all – even its allies in NATO and letting already over a million people cross over to the Greek islands in the entire Eastern Aegean Sea and conversely lands of Europe!!! See the blind eye and hypocrisy (what another powerful Greek word) of Europeans too. See what happens now in Chios, the fifth largest Greek islands opposite the Anatolian coast of Turkey with MIGRANTS! Despicable situations! We advise and recommend CAUTION as things might go sour for the local, national and international authorities – civil, military and security on this particular issue igniting uprising there and everywhere…
The Wars in Syria and Iraq continue. In Syria still the situation remains unclear despite the fact that France for example has asked during the latest NATO meeting to intensify the war there until the ISIS and possible others are defeated. Obviously a very perplexed situation given that Putin’s Russia is heavily involved there and if Putin’s plan and dominance fails, it will be the end of the powerful Russian and ex Soviet presence in the Med and then another Cold War …err hot War will begin, given also the Ukrainian saga – add Crimea, the Baltic States et al… CAUTION! In Iraq, recapturing Mosul from ISIS by the Iraqi Army already supported also by the Western coalition …entails at least half a million displaced people… Messy messy messy inhumane situation… SHAME once again. The Architects of the entire Iraq – Iran War and its aftermath, the Gulf Wars and lately the ISIS mess in the Central to Northern parts of Iraq, the established Kurdistan in the north openly now over the last three years upsetting Turkey and others, but a reality for the effective establishment of Kurdistan in all for countries Kurds live – Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey, these architects must understand that the prolonged wars there at the end of the day destabilise the social cohesion of Europe and will make the entire Middle East a total mess in the years to come. We ask the responsible authorities to tell us: who arms ISIS?? We have strongly explained that these architects begun also the Arab Spring starting in North Africa from Gibraltar / Ceuta to Afghanistan – Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt. The other geographical region which they have created this upturn/revolt is from Caucuses to the Horn of Africa, “meeting” in the Middle East… You can see what is going on in Libya… The latest terrorist attack in Egypt few hours ago made it necessary for the Egyptians to make a swift operation against the jihadist elements there. Libya will continue to create havoc… Watch it! Shipping is affected and might be affected further…Ports / terminals there are in reality in the mercy of functions still at war…
Turkey continues the path that president Erdogan believes it suits him – above all, and then his countrymen. We might soon though see a reverse tide, even from many of his international backers and in total change of supporting Turkey for its geopolitical situation. We have extensively covered this in our interview with NOUSE in 2015… Once again we ask president Erdogan to abstain from pestering his neighbours and in particular Greece. There have been so many violations of Greece’s and Europe airspace and territorial waters than ever before, suggesting that he might strike to perform his evil plans; but…
Next door in Greece the situation remains unchanged. The negos with Greece’s European and International lenders including the stanch of the IMF seem not to secure the expected favourable deal for Greece as in our humble view – which we have in the past expressed, Greece’s negotiators luck negotiating skills, clarity and its seems to us that they are possibly under duress from the powerful German factor… Once again we provoke the negotiators and their backers as well as the lenders for a live TV debate on an A1 class international channel. Meantime and following the terrorist attack on former PM Lucas Papademos, the Pandora Box of revelations might open… A very shameful situation and period will follow. On a “cynical” level we all await the truth to come out as there isn’t smoke without fire. Indeed we reiterate our view that winners talk and losers don’t. We strongly condemn these actions from wherever they emanate.- Another issue is what Greece earned in the latest NATO meeting? What do Greece’s allies in NATO and EU as well as in G7 think of the Turkish provocations…
BREXIT continues as well as the resuming of the election campaign in the United Kingdom following the despicable terrorist attack in Manchester Arena early this week which also surfaced / highlighted many more issues. The Conservatives of Mrs. May lead is there and in less than a fortnight we will have a new government; Labour behind – considerably is outdated as they need a leader, a pragmatic Manifesto for 2017 to prepare for the next 25 years – the good long term needed. Good to see the Police and the Army safeguarding us in London – and elsewhere in the United Kingdom, as they do in Belgium, France, Italy and to a lesser extend in Germany and other European nations that as it happens and have witnessed in our visits there and mentioned in our live reports. It goes without saying that we must be vigilant and alerted, but also we MUST continue to go out and about – life goes on; no fear!!!
Our life MUST continue per norm. We reiterate though our views that we need to see top of the range security plans all over Planet Ocean. In our industry, that is Shipping we all move around; Crewmembers, technical people, officials, you name it and we urge the politicians for protection all over in the same way we have urged and continue to urge them for Piracy!!!
Germany’s PM Angela Merkel will do everything to get re-elected and hold on to power in any way she can. German Europe is what though annoys a lot. France in need – as friends in need, follows suits with Italy to up to a certain extend… The Mighty Continent has too many issues to solve; internal – who is the boss and external, what we do with trade…
President Tramp’s first exodus was a crucial one for all. The Middle East visit meeting the Saudis, the Israelis and Palestinians, The Vatican one with Pope Francis, The NATO summit in Brussels, The G7 in Sicily. History will one day refer to this extraordinary visit, a lesson for many. You see, we don’t give a damn on the media’s interest in focusing on the dress code or the manners of the new American leader and all that jazz taking away the real interest of what we needed to see, hear and see also conclusions. The COP21 and the Climate Change issue and ENVIRONMENT is the one that we must all focus on saving the Planet; the rest is hypocrisy by ALL! Let me remind you when the Sewage Treatment Plant come up in the early ‘80s – the Greeks had and still have a word for it (σκατιέρα) – excuse my French, we all complied with the USCG demands for all ships approaching, loading, discharging, repaired or whatever dealing with in all of the USA’s ports and terminals etc etc… The Americans where right. They should also become appropriately right now with the Climate Change and the Paris Accord no matter the costs for them and their industry and or the reduction of US$ 1,5 trillion of their GDP over a few years; end of the story and hype! Back at home president Tramp has a lot of homework to do given certain issues – the Russian saga above all which looks likely that too many have been involved; we shall see at the end of the day who is right and who is wrong! we will not be surprised from any outcome.-
In South America now; in Brazil president Temer asked for the Army to support him as the Police cannot cope with the situation and control the demonstrators… Embattled president Tener fights for his innocence and position given bribery accusations. Caution.
Venezuela in severe trouble too. South America might become a hot spot… CAUTION
In the Pacific basin now. In the Philippines president Rodigo Duterte has a lot to tackle there as Muslim militants’ uprising might cause more mess in a country which needs peace, a country with too many problems.
China has now, possibly, a new revolution by its students in need of more freedom of speech in particular. Tough times are coming fro the Beijing regime… China is trying hard for the trade and its New Silk Road, but… meantime a USA warship sailed very close to the Mischief reef which China has fortified in all respects…
Japan is closely watching development in all fronts…
North Korea continues to play with fire…
Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos at the podium delivering his speech – Picture credits: LILIEVG
On another tone and note, in Piraeus earlier on today the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry was the venue of one of the events under the title: “Days at Sea 2017” with respect the history and development of the shipping activities in Piraeus”. A very timely event which takes place at the most crucial time in Greece’s business history. On the third year the event with a multiple of themes in various locations around the Piraeus region must continue and develop further. Excellent to all participants, the authorities and sponsors.
Have a nice evening and a long weekend / Bank Holiday and be on guard for any eventuality wherever you are from Pirates and Terrorists all over on Planet Ocean!
P.S.: i guess it is about time you open your mobile and make an App so as to enable you listen two songs – one in the morning and one before going to bed: John Lennon’s “Gime Some Truth” and Leonard Coen’s “Everybody Knows”; you never know it might open your appetite for real Democracy. Having said that the completion would definitely entail studying and re-studying be Platos’ “Republic”…. You dead well know what I mean. For some Greeks, as same applies only them, Lily Zografou’s mastrepiece “Antignosis” will really wake you up and leave behind this unique oblivion shattering Greece and Greeks right now…
Uploaded 13:57 BST
Updated 23:55 BST
