The fallout from the Sanko Steamship financial crisis threatens to expose a large number of shipowners and shipyards.
A quick glance Sanko’s fleet list dated 1 January 2012 posted on its website reveal that the bulk of its fleet is chartered in.
The Tokyo-based shipowner has a fleet of around 200 ships with some reports putting the extent of its chartered in fleet as high as 80%.
Japanese owners and trading houses look the most exposed, particularly Nissen Kaiun, Daiichi Chuo Marine, Doun Kisen and Sumitomo Corp.
While domestic Japanese companies look to bare the brunt of the crisis, the list is sprinkled with several high-profile European shipowners.
Hellespont Group looks to be one of the most exposed owners with eleven tankers and a number of OSVs chartered to Sanko.
Fellow German shipowner ER Schiffahrts looks to have a series of four, virtually new, capesize bulkers fixed to the Japanese shipowner.
Robert Knutzen’s RK Offshore Management also looks to be particularly exposed with as many as sixteen anchor handlers on the Sanko fleet list.
Other major shipowners exposed to Sanko include Navios, U Ming, Konig & Cie, C Transport Maritime, Neda Maritime Agency and Liquimar.
Sanko also has twelve newbuildings on order including two VLGCs, as well bulkers, a chemical tanker, anchor handlers and PSVs.
The yards affected include Sasebo, Kawasaki, Hakodate, Usuki, Oshima, Keihin Shipyard and Universal Shipbuilding.
