隔壁的女高中生汉化:中远“租船费率调整”引发市场关切 双语

The head of the world’s largest shipping market has expressed concern over the behaviour of one of the world’s biggest shipping companies after China’s Cosco apparently reneged on contracts with several shipowners worldwide amid a sharp market downturn.

在市场剧烈下滑之际，中国中远(Cosco)看上去似乎违反了与全球几家船东的合同。针对这家世界最大航运公司之一的行为，世界最大航运市场的负责人表示了关切。

Jeremy Penn, chief executive of London’s Baltic Exchange, spoke after several Cosco ships were reportedly arrested – ordered not to leave port – when angry shipowners and other creditors won court orders to have ships seized as collateral against unpaid fees. Such ships are often quickly released, since insurers generally provide assurances to courts about shipping companies’ ability to pay any damages awarded.

伦敦波罗的海交易所(Baltic Exchange)首席执行官杰里米•佩恩(Jeremy Penn)发表讲话之前，愤怒的船东和其他债权人赢得法庭命令，扣押船舶作为未付款的抵押品，据报中远几艘货轮遭到扣押，不得离港。这些船舶往往很快会获得释放，因为保险公司通常会向法庭提供保证，担保航运公司有能力支付法庭判决的任何损害赔偿金。

Cosco is the first large participant in the world’s vital dry bulk markets to be accused of backing out of previously agreed contracts while solvent since late-2008 when Australia’s Fortescue Metals refused to honour contracts to ship goods at high prices after a collapse in shipping rates. Fortescue was suspended as a member of the Baltic Exchange over its tactics.

自2008年晚期以来，中远是世界首家被指控在仍有偿付能力的情况下、却不履行事先所达成协议的干散货市场主要参与者。2008年晚期，在航运费率大幅跳水之后，澳大利亚Fortescue Metals拒绝履行在运费较高时签订的合同。此举导致波罗的海交易所将Fortescue除名。

Short-term, spot-market charter rates for Capesize bulk carriers, the largest kind, which were as high as $46,284 a day in late October, stand at only $16,631, even after a sharp rally in rates last week. Rates, which were buoyed at the height of the pre-2008 boom by China’s growing demand for coal, iron ore and other dry bulk commodities, have been depressed by the delivery of large numbers of ships ordered during the boom.

即使上周出现了大幅的止跌回升，最大的干散货轮——好望角型(Capesize)货轮短期现货市场每日租船费仍仅为16631美元，远低于去年10月份的46284美元。受中国对煤炭、铁矿石和其他干散大宗商品需求不断增加的影响，租船费率曾在2008年以前的繁荣期飘高到顶点，但随着繁荣时期订购的大批船舶交付而大幅下跌。

In a statement, China Cosco, a Hong Kong-listed subsidiary of the sprawling, state-controlled group, said the “adjustment of hire rates” was part of its “normal operations” and consistent with its business philosophy. It stressed that its financial status and operational conditions were “sound and healthy”.

中国中远在一份声明中表示，“租船费率调整”是其“正常操作”的一部分，符合其经营理念。中远强调，其财政和经营状况“毫无问题”。在香港上市的中远隶属于一个庞大的国有集团。

Mr Penn said the Baltic was “concerned” about what was going on. “The Baltic takes the view that a deal agreed between two parties stands and that it’s simply not acceptable for one party alone to attempt to change the terms.”

佩恩表示，波罗的海交易所对事态感到“关切”。“波罗的海交易所认为，双方商定的协议必须得到履行，单方面试图变更条款是绝对不可接受的。”

Bloomberg reported that Switzerland’s Bunge, a large commodities trader, had won a court order in Louisiana last week for the arrest of a Cosco ship in a dispute over money it said it was owed – at least the third such reported arrest recently. Bunge did not respond to a request for comment.

据彭博报道，瑞士大型大宗商品贸易商邦吉(Bunge)上周在美国路易斯安纳州获得法庭命令，扣押一艘中远货轮，原因是邦吉称中远欠它的钱，双方为此争执不下。这至少是近期报道的第三起同类案件。邦吉没有回应记者的置评请求。