Copenhagen: Despite a drop in bunker prices containerlines are unlikely to budge too much when it comes to rates negotiations, says Jan Timmerman, a partner and director of Penta Shipping.
Penta Shipping was established in 1987 in Copenhagen. In 1996, Penta Shipping entered a joint venture with Cosco Europe, and became a member of the Cosco Group, China’s top maritime conglomerate.
“This year (2015) seems again quite challenging since supply/demand is not in balance,” Timmerman tells Maritime CEO. “Meanwhile,” he adds, “I think carriers will try to maintain present levels by controlling actual available capacity by implementing blank sailings. The present low bunker costs could result in some pressure from clients to reduce rates, but as long as the majority of carriers lose money then I think carriers will be quite firm on their rate policy.”
