BERGESEN SLIDES INTO THE RED

BERGESEN SLIDES INTO THE RED    Bergesen, the Norwegian group active in gas shipping, tankers, dry bulk and offshore, made a net deficit of $18 million in the third quarter, as compared to a net profit of $67 million in the same quarter in 2001.
   Operating revenue for the quarter dropped to $133 million, from $167 million a year ago. The group’s operating result was a loss of $6 million, as compared to a profit of $70 million in the third quarter of 2001.
   Bergesen posted a third-quarter operating loss of $11 million on gas shipping activities, as compared to a profit of $9 million in the same quarter in 2001. Tankers earned an operating profit of $5 million, down from $56 million. Dry bulk made an operating gain of $2 million, down from $3 million. Offshore activities lost $1 million, as compared to an operating profit of $3 million in the third quarter of 2001.
   Bergesen said that it experienced substantially lower rates for large gas and crude carriers, higher bunker fuel prices and longer waiting times between cargoes.
   For the first nine months of this year, Bergesen reported a net profit of $8 million, down 96 percent from the $203-million profit earned in the same period last year.