Shipping’s “Katrina” Effect
Among many generous displays of solidarity since the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina began to…
India Comes Clean
The opening of new refineries, and capacity additions at older refineries, has made…
Speed Up on Phase Out
This week we examine the VLCC fleet with regard to the impact of…
Crude Prices Climb While Spot VLCC Activity Falls Why?
The explanation for high oil prices often cites strained production. If so, we would expect VLCC fixture activity to…
U.S. Energy Act of 2005 Implications for Tanker Owners
On July 30th, the Senate passed the U.S. Energy Act of 2005 and it is expected to be signed…
Getting Back to (Inventory) Basics?
In the good ol’ days, the purpose of oil inventories was to cover contingencies and uncertainties. Greater amounts of…
The Cost of Bunkers, Do Owners Care?
The cost of bunkers is a major component of an owner’s voyage expense. In paying for the bunkers, the…
The Rise of Oil Empires
To complement last week’s “The Fall of Oil Empires”, we will consider the other side of the picture of…
The Fall of Oil Empires
Oil market commentators have been trying to figure out who is going to increase oil production to avert the…
The Bullwhip Effect
The bullwhip effect is a phenomenon noticed in supply chains where the failure…
Is Tanker Activity Telling Us Anything About Oil Exports?
Crude oil prices are hovering around $60 a barrel and the expectation is that $70 a barrel will be…
