Crowley Acquires Jones Act Tankers
Crowley Maritime Corp. took delivery of Ohio, the first of four new, Jones Act, product tankers this week from Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc. (APSI), the wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA. The delivery is momentous not only for Crowley, but also for the industry because it signifies the first time a product tanker has been constructed with consideration for the future use of LNG for propulsion. The remaining three product tankers being built by APSI for Crowley are currently under construction and have planned deliveries through 2016.
Aker ASA Equity Holdings Restructured
Aker ASA has on 30 September 2015 transferred its equity holdings in Converto Capital Fund AS to Aker Capital AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aker. As per 30 September 2015, Converto Capital Fund AS directly held 7,237,631 of the issued shares and votes in Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA, or 57.56 per cent of the share capital.
Røkke is CEO of Akastor ASA
Akastor ASA announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Kristian Røkke as its Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Røkke will succeed Frank O. Reite, who will take the position of Chief Financial Officer at Aker ASA. Kristian Røkke, who is currently Chairman of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA (AKPS), a leading U.S. commercial shipyard, and previously President & CEO of AKPS, will assume his new position in Akastor ASA on August 10, 2015. Aker ASA will propose to the nomination committee of Akastor ASA that Frank O. Reite takes the position as Chairman of the Board of Akastor ASA later this year.
Philly Tankers Step Closer to Its First Vessels
Following the announcement of 10 June 2014 by Aker Philadelphia Shipyard ASA (AKPS) Philly Tankers had successfully secured equity commitments necessary to finance the purchase of two product tankers from AKPS with deliveries in 2016 and 2017. As planned, the conditions precedent to the closing of the Transaction, including the execution and delivery of satisfactory definitive documentation and the approval by the general meeting of American Shipping Company of its participation in the Transaction, have been satisfied and the Transaction is now closed.
