Today Makes Tomorrow

Today Makes Tomorrow (TMT) is a Taiwanese maritime transportation group whose origins date to the Taiwan Maritime Transport Co. Ltd., founded in 1958 by Ching Wun Su. The company initially operated in the banana-export trade, using a vessel whose Chinese name referred to Taiwan Banana. It subsequently broadened its activities across several shipping segments and became associated with the ownership and operation of specialized commercial vessels. During its expansion, TMT entered a range of cargo categories, including dry bulk commodities, wood chips, crude petroleum, liquefied natural gas, automobiles and cement. The group is described as having held a particularly strong position in wood-chip carriers, at one point accounting for approximately 10 percent of worldwide capacity in that segment. Its fleet later included conventional dry bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-off automobile carriers, crude-oil supertankers, very large bulk carriers and an LNG carrier. By 2008, the company was reported to directly own roughly 60 ships, with additional vessels on order. At an earlier point in its expansion, the wider group was reported to have operated more than 130 ships. A major ownership transition followed the death of founder Ching Wun Su in 2002. His son, Nobu Su, took over the business and is identified in the available reference material as TMT's owner and chief executive. Under the subsequent leadership, the group pursued an aggressive fleet-expansion program that included new dry bulk vessels, vehicle carriers, crude tankers, very large bulk carriers and liquefied natural gas tonnage. In 2007, the company adopted the name Today Makes Tomorrow and reinterpreted the acronym TMT. The rebranding presented the business under a broader, forward-looking identity while retaining continuity with its earlier Taiwan Maritime Transport name. The group's activities were not limited to physical vessel ownership. In 2004, it entered the forward freight agreement market and invested significant resources in freight derivatives. The reference material states that TMT at one point represented almost 30 percent of global forward freight agreement trading, although the precise period and measurement basis are not specified. TMT's fleet has included the Whale series of crude-oil supertankers, with vessels named A Whale, B Whale and continuing through H Whale. The ships were registered separately in Monrovia and operated under the Liberian flag. In September 2013, TMT signed a contract with Chevron involving C Elephants, one of its large carriers, for crude-petroleum transportation. The available reference material documents TMT primarily as a shipping owner, operator and freight-market participant rather than as a consumer-facing product brand. It does not provide reliable current information about the group's present fleet, corporate structure, financial condition, website, public listing status or continued operating status. Those aspects therefore remain unconfirmed in this dossier.

Today Makes Tomorrow traces its history to Taiwan Maritime Transport Co. Ltd., established in 1958 by Ching Wun Su. Its earliest business was connected with Taiwan's banana-export trade. The company's first boat was identified as Taiwan Banana in Chinese, reflecting the commercial role from which the enterprise emerged. Over time, the business moved beyond that initial trade and developed into a diversified shipping organization. The company expanded into several maritime sectors, including dry bulk, wood chips, crude petroleum, liquefied natural gas, automobiles and cement. Its development included the acquisition or commissioning of specialized vessels suited to different cargoes. The company was once associated with approximately 10 percent of the world's wood-chip carrier capacity, illustrating the scale it reached in that niche. Later fleet growth included ten new dry bulk carriers, roll-on/roll-off ships for automobile freight, crude petroleum supertankers, very large bulk carriers and an LNG carrier. The wider TMT operation was reported at one point to have operated more than 130 ships. The death of founder Ching Wun Su in 2002 led to a change in family leadership. His son, Nobu Su, assumed control and is described in the available source as the group's owner and chief executive. The years following the succession were characterized by rapid expansion across vessel types and cargo markets. By 2008, TMT was reported to directly own around 60 ships and to have many more on order. The directly owned fleet was described as including dry bulk, crude, general cargo, LNG, automobile and cement carriers. TMT also developed a significant presence outside conventional ship ownership. In 2004, it entered the forward freight agreement market, where contracts are used to manage or trade freight-rate exposure. The reference account says the company invested substantial resources in this market and at one point was responsible for nearly 30 percent of global FFA trade. The source does not specify the exact year, definition of market share or whether the figure referred to executed volume, brokerage activity or another measure. In 2007, the group changed its public identity to Today Makes Tomorrow and retained the acronym TMT with a new interpretation. The rebranding marked the transition from the older Taiwan Maritime Transport name to a broader corporate identity. The group operated Whale-series crude supertankers, including vessels named A Whale through H Whale. These ships were separately registered in Monrovia and sailed under the Liberian flag. The documented later commercial activity includes a September 2013 contract with Chevron concerning C Elephants, one of TMT's largest carriers, for crude petroleum transportation. Beyond this contract, the supplied reference material does not establish a complete recent chronology. It also does not reliably establish TMT's current fleet size, ownership structure, financial position, listing status, headquarters address or whether all historical activities continue. The present-day status of the brand is therefore recorded as unknown pending stronger current sources.

• 2013

  Chevron crude-transport contract

  [1]Today Makes Tomorrowen.wikipedia.org

  TMT signs a contract with Chevron for C Elephants to carry crude petroleum.

• 2008

  Large multi-segment fleet documented

  [1]Today Makes Tomorrowen.wikipedia.org

  TMT is reported to directly own about 60 ships, with additional vessels on order across bulk, tanker, LNG, automobile and cement categories.

• 2007

  Rebranding as Today Makes Tomorrow

  [1]Today Makes Tomorrowen.wikipedia.org

  Taiwan Maritime Transport adopts the Today Makes Tomorrow name and redefines the TMT acronym.

• 2004

  Entry into forward freight agreements

  [1]Today Makes Tomorrowen.wikipedia.org

  TMT enters the forward freight agreement market and later becomes associated with a substantial share of reported global FFA trading.

• 2002

  Nobu Su succeeds the founder

  [1]Today Makes Tomorrowen.wikipedia.org

  Following the death of Ching Wun Su, his son Nobu Su takes over the company and is identified as its owner and chief executive.

• 1958

  Taiwan Maritime Transport is founded

  [1]Today Makes Tomorrowen.wikipedia.org

  Ching Wun Su establishes Taiwan Maritime Transport Co. Ltd., initially operating in the banana-export trade.

A diversified international shipping group built around vessel ownership, specialized maritime transportation and participation in freight derivatives markets.

• Bulk shipping

  Dry bulk carriers

  TMT expanded its fleet with conventional dry bulk carriers and very large bulk carriers for the movement of dry commodities. The available material identifies dry bulk as one of the group's principal vessel categories and notes a period of substantial newbuilding activity.

• Tanker shipping

  Crude-oil supertankers

  The group operated large crude petroleum tankers, including the Whale series. These vessels formed part of TMT's expansion into energy-related maritime transportation and included ships registered in Monrovia under the Liberian flag.

• Gas shipping

  LNG carrier

  TMT expanded into liquefied natural gas transportation with an LNG carrier. The supplied sources confirm the vessel category but do not identify the ship's name, capacity or current operating status.

• Vehicle shipping

  Automobile roll-on/roll-off ships

  The company added roll-on/roll-off ships designed for automobile freight, extending its portfolio beyond bulk commodities and liquid cargoes into specialized vehicle logistics.

• Freight derivatives · 2004

  Forward freight agreements

  Beginning in 2004, TMT participated in the forward freight agreement market. This activity complemented its physical shipping operations by providing exposure to, and a trading role in, freight-rate markets.

• 2013

  Crude-carriage agreement involving C ElephantsOther

  Background

  TMT operated large crude carriers as part of its diversified fleet.

  Action taken

  The group signed a contract with Chevron for C Elephants to transport crude petroleum.

  Aftermath

  The supplied reference confirms the contract but does not state its duration, value or subsequent operational outcome.

  Source

• 2007

  Corporate rebranding to Today Makes TomorrowStrategy

  Background

  The company had expanded well beyond its original Taiwan Maritime Transport identity and operated across multiple shipping segments.

  Action taken

  It adopted Today Makes Tomorrow as its name and assigned a new meaning to the TMT acronym.

  Aftermath

  The rebrand established the name under which the group is described in later references, although the available material does not document its measurable commercial effect.

  Source

1. 1Today Makes Tomorrowen.wikipedia.org