Clarkson highlights dearth of orders throughout 2016

The research arm of leading shipbroker Clarkson, Clarkson Research Services Limited (CRSL), says October marked yet another month in which there were no reported OSV newbuild orders.

“Ordering activity in 2016 so far has been extremely limited with just two OSV orders reported in the year to date,” said CRSL’s Offshore Intelligence Network. “These were placed by Atlantic Navigation back in June 2016. Overall, the number of OSV newbuild orders in 2016 is down by 96 per cent year-on-year on an annualised basis.”

Looking ahead, CRSL said contracting activity is expected to remain depressed over the next couple of years, or at least until market conditions start to improve.

“Unsurprisingly,” said CRSL in a note published in late November, “OSV newbuild price guidelines have continued to decline or remained at relatively low levels since the start of 2016, although these are difficult to assess given the lack of liquidity.

“At the start of November, newbuild price guidelines at both European and Asian yards were on average 16 per cent down when compared to the start of 2015 figures.” CRSL said price guidelines for European-built 18,000 bhp anchor handlers stood at US$45.2 million and US$19.6 million for 3,200 dwt platform supply vessels.