In the summer of 2014, BBC Chartering CEO Svend Andersen stated that shipping remained a low return, high-risk business for owners. Moreover, he pointed out that the sector was in transition, recovering very slowly.

Fifteen months on when Maritime CEO comes calling again, Andersen says with a market finding itself in an extended surplus situation, BBC Chartering could sustain its market-leading position as a multipurpose and heavylift operator.

"There's still a visible capacity surplus in the market, which in turn leads to a [multipurpose/heavy lift] market where trading has become extremely short-term oriented," explains Andersen.

Andersen says owners are concerned about how much longer the current weak market may continue and when they can again expect dividend payments and earn their minimum returns on paid-in equity. Andersen claims on the other hand, that, as an operator not an owner, his main duty is to render engineered transport services which add high customer value, a value that nowadays unfortunately often gets undermined by low freight rates.