D. Sigalas

Med. market active, with modern Aframaxes being fixed at W/S 115 and firming to W/S 120.

- Cont. relatively quieter, with the 80,000-ton cargoes still at W/S 105. Cargoes of 100,000 tons out of the Baltic are being fixed at W/S 92.5.

- Caribs remain quiet with Spi having fixed M/T “Genmar Ajax” for 70,000 tons of cargo, loading September 28, discharging USAC, at W/S 155.

- Suezmaxes very active out of West Africa with a number of fixtures, while rates have started to move upward. Irving for 130,000 tons of cargo, loading October 15, discharging Eccanada, has fixed M/T “Genmar Horn” at W/S 115.

- VLCCs at steady levels, with cargoes out of Arabian Gulf to Far East at W/S 130.

- In the Med., Petroplus for 80,000 tons of cargo, loading September 23 Algeria, discharging Med., has fixed M/T “Glenbuck” at W/S 115.

- In the Cont., Karran for 80,000 tons of cargo, loading September 28, discharging UKC, has fixed M/T “Olympic Sponsor” at W/S 117.5.

- In West Africa, Vitol has fixed M/T “Tromso Confidence” for 130,000 tons of cargo, loading October 15, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 103.75.

Activity on Panamaxes continues to drive the market upward, with charterers having to pay USD 17,000 daily for one year’s trade.

- Good demand also for two years, especially on Capers, with charterers now registing booking for three years.

- Same picture on smaller sizes too, with Sinochart having fixed M/V “Luhai,” 46,672 dwt, built 1998, delivery China end-September – beg-October for one year’s trading at USD 13,250 daily.

- Transfield on Capers has fixed M/V “Bartolomeu Dias,” 151,040 dwt, built 1990, delivery end-September Japan, trip via Australia, redelivery China, at USD 31,000 daily.

- In Pacific, NNC has fixed M/V “Ais Nikolas,” 68,405 dwt, built 1984, delivery end-September China, redelivery Passero, at USD 12,700 daily.

- In Atlantic, Daeyang has fixed M/V “Joy Sea,” 68,675 dwt, built 1990, delivery Netherlands end-September, trip via US Gulf, redelivery Far East, at USD 19,500 daily.

- On smaller sizes, Fayette has fixed M/V “Velebit,” 42,249 dwt, built 1990, delivery Russia end-September trip via Black Sea, redelivery Far East, at USD 15,500 daily.