Three Reasons to Bet on the Shipping Sector

She observes that in some cases, the yards that have taken orders have either yet to be built themselves or have failed to produce any ships.

In addition, there is the rising cost of steel, which has added cost pressures to the financing problem.

The result has been skyrocketing freight rates as demand has outstripped shipping capacity.

The cost of renting a Cape-class cruiser, the largest of all the dry-bulk ship categories, was recently around $200,000 -- up from $90,000 in the first quarter, she says -- and way above a more "normal" $8,000 back in 2004.

The financing problem also means that it's unlikely any new capacity will come on line soon, helping to keep a floor under freight rates at the very least, or more likely sending them even higher.

In fact, higher rates could be in the cards in the near future. Recently, rumors circulated that a day rate of over $300,000 was close to being inked, says Boyden.

Such a deal will get done, eventually, she says.

What better reason than that to climb aboard the shipping sector?

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