D. Sigalas

Strong rates in all areas.

- VLCCs out of Arabian Gulf are being fixed at W/S 170 with destinations East. Stasco has fixed M/T “World Progress” for 270,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 10, discharging Far East, at W/S 171.25.

- High freight rates also are being paid for similar size cargoes out of W. Africa. Same charterers have fixed M/T “Welsh Venture” for 260,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 10, discharging US Gulf – Far East, at W/S 152.5 / W/S 130, respectively.

- Suezmax rates are also on the same course.

- In the Med., Arcadia has fixed M/T “Voyager” for 140,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 17 Russia, discharging UKC/Med., at W/S 220, while in W. Africa Eni has fixed M/T “Nuria Tapias” for 130,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 3, discharging Italy, at W/S 195.

- Aframaxes also in good demand in all areas.

- In the Med., Petroval for 80,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 3, Black Sea, discharging Med., has fixed Minerva Tonnage at W/S 280, while in the Cont., Stasco has fixed M/T “Nordlight” for same cargo, loading Dec. 26, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 260.

- In Caribs, Murphy has fixed M/T “Genmar Gabriel” for 70,000 tons of cargo, loading Dec. 31, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 270.

- In W. Africa, Eni for 130,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 3, discharging Italy, has fixed M/T “Nuria Tapias” at W/S 195.

- In Arabian Gulf, Valero for 280,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 8, discharging US Gulf, has fixed M/T “Radiant Jewel” at W/S 122.5.

Strong rates still apply for Capers. Transfield is linked with more than five ship fixtures for Australian round-trip voyages.

- M/V “Orient Brilliance,” 146,381 dwt, built 1986, delivery Indonesia Dec. 21-22, redelivery China, was fixed at USD 70,000 daily, while M/V “Fighting Lady,” 140,014 dwt, built 1982, delivery Jan. 1-5, was fixed at USD 68,000 daily.

- Panamax rates have also moved higher, especially in the Atlantic.

- Transfield has fixed M/V “Samjohn Captain,” 65,051 dwt, built 1985, delivery Italy Dec. 24-25 for 2 legs at USD 30,000 daily, while in Far East, BHP Billiton has fixed M/V “Raffaele Iuliano,” 75,473 dwt, built 1995, delivery Japan mid-Dec., trip via Australia, redelivery UKC, at USD 39,000 daily.

- Strong rates are rumored for period fixtures in Handy/Handymaxes. In the East, M/V “Medi Monaco,” 52,523 dwt, built 2001, with delivery China for 12 months’ trading, was fixed at USD 26,750 daily.

- In Atlantic, Bocimar has fixed M/V “Pacific Paradise,” 73,645 dwt, built 1993, delivery Ghent mid-Dec., trip via Venezuela, redelivery UKC/Med., at USD 35,000 daily.

- On smaller sizes, Fayette has fixed M/V “Muzeyyen Ana,” 42,069 dwt, built 1985, delivery Turkey Dec. 20-25, trip via Black Sea, redelivery Far East, at USD 21,700 daily.

- On coal cargoes, Swiss Marine has fixed M/V “Seamaid” for 70,000 tons of cargo, loading Dec. 28-31 USAC, discharging Antwerp, at USD 16.00 per ton with 2-day load and 25,000 tons discharge.