February 4 - According to reports in the Danish media, shipping line Copenship AS, incorporating Copenship Bulkers, Copenship MPP and Copenship Singapore has filed for bankruptcy.
HLPFI's requests for a confirmation of the news have gone unanswered, whilst the reports indicate that the reasons for the filing are the extremely poor market, counterparty defaults and unsettled claims.
The company is an established name in the bulker market, having been founded in 1978, with a fleet of over 50 ships on charter.
Copenship MPP AS worked geared singledeckers and tweendeckers from 6,000 dwt up to 20,000 dwt concentrating on bulk cargoes and breakbulk/project cargoes.
Whilst the line operated worldwide, its emphasis was on the trades to and from East, West and South Africa including the East African islands.
Since 1996, Copenship been running a conventional liner service from Northern Europe and the Mediterranean to South and East African ports including regular calls at Madagascar and the Comoros islands, in close co-operation with its partner Heestership in Marseilles.
