The new AQUITANIA

British ships on crest of a new wave
As Britain gets back into the Top Ten of shipping, we look at one company growing its UK flagged fleet


P&O gave up on bulk ships years ago and now the world is seeing an unprecedented surge in the dry bulk industry.

The Baltic Dry Bulk index stands now at more than double what it was a year ago, charter rates are phenomenal and shipyards find it hard to keep up with demand for new bulk carriers.

One wonders if P&O got it wrong.

The main driving force is of course China, which needs more and more raw materials, including coal and iron ore, to feed her ravenous economy as it sucks in ever greater quantities.

Other factors include the weather spoiling crops and some countries having to import wheat, but it is China that is fuelling the growth in the main (excuse pun!).

There would seem then to be little in it for Britain in this race dominated by the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans and others, and certainly as far as shipbuilding goes we have all but given up on commercial shipbuilding. It is exceedingly doubtful if a bulk carrier (of any size) will be built in the UK in the foreseeable future. In that respects, to use another pun, we have certainly missed the boat.

But ownership? Surprisingly there are a number of bulk carrier operators on these islands, and one of the largest is British Marine plc, formerly trading as Ocean Bulk Carriers. Now the company is very pleased to fly the British flag high, and at the stern of as many of it's vessels as possible.

Although it owns outright ten vessels, it charters in many, many more. Of the vessels it operates on the high seas some 24 have the red duster fluttering astern, and this is very much a policy drive by the company, who say that incentives to own and flag British vessels are so much better with new initiatives such as the tonnage tax from government in recent years.

Acquisitions have continued throughout this year and at the end of July the company ordered a new 56,000 dwt bulker from a Japanese shipyard.

The names of their own ships of the fleet reflect very much the 'Britishness' of the company. In 2001 they made a bit of stir when they named one of their newbuilds 'BRITANNIA', although at the time they did say if Her Majesty wanted the name back they'd be pleased to do so!

Another name that will stir memories is AQUITANIA, and although not anything like the original 'Ship Beautiful' she is nonetheless a handsome addition to the UK Merchant Navy.

British Marine also has a programme for training British cadets, who are give the opportunity to serve their apprenticeship at sea on British Marine ships.

If British Marine are anything to go by, then the future for British shipping is looking far healthier than in 2000 when P&O bowed out.