Shipping Report
TANKERS Quiet conditions in the Med. and Cont., with 80,000-ton cargoes fixed at W/S 160 and W/S 135 respectively. – Repsol in the Med. has fixed M/T «Vigour» for 80,000-ton cargo, loading April 24, discharging Spain, at W/S 160, while in the N. Sea Exxonmobil for same cargo, loading April 23 and for UKC round, has fixed M/T «Thornbury» at W/S 137.5. – Stable conditions in Caribs too, with 70,000-ton cargo liftings fixed at W/S 167-170. The 50,000-ton cargoes are fixed at W/S 197.5-200. – BP has fixed AET tonnage for 70,000-ton cargo, loading April 17 Colombia, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 170, while on smaller sizes Conoco has fixed M/T «Chemtrans Moon» for 50,000-ton cargo, loading April 26 EC Mexico, with same destination, at W/S 197.5. – Suezmaxes are in good demand out of W. Africa. Rates have moved up to W/S 115 levels with higher fixed / failed (W/S 122.5) with destination USAC. – Last out of N. Sea was at W/S 115 with transatlantic destination, while in the Med. rates are steady at W/S 110-115 for the ex-Black Sea cargoes. – VLCCs out of Arabian Gulf are firmer, with Chevtex having fixed M/T «Chelsea» for 265,000-ton cargo, loading April 30, discharging Far East, at W/S 97.5, while BP for 280,000-ton cargo, loading May 4, discharging USWC, has fixed M/T «Sea Energy» at W/S 100. – In the Cont. and on Aframaxes, Exxonmobil has fixed M/T «Thornbury» for 80,000-ton cargo, loading April 23, for UK round voyage at W/S 137.5. In Caribs, Stusco has fixed Skaugen tonnage for 70,000-ton cargo, loading April 22 EC Mexico, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 165. DRY CARGO Capesize rates remain firm in the Atlantic, with few early ships having been fixed in an increased inquiry of tonnage. – Good demand also for T/C periods. Coeclerici has fixed M/V «Mineral China,» 171,995 dwt, built 2003, delivery UK May 5-17, for 3-5 months’ trading at USD 73,000 daily. – A healthy Panamax market in the Atlantic also exists due to good level of grain inquiry apparent from EC S. America and the split of Capesize mineral cargoes to two stems. – Dreyfus has fixed M/V «Scythia Graeca,» 73,991 dwt, built 2002, (due to pass Richards Bay on April 14 having ballasted from Vietnam) delivery Retro, passing Singapore via EC S. America, redelivery Singapore/Japan, at USD 38,250 daily. – On Handy/Handymax the interest is still focused on short-period fixtures. Hamburg bulk carriers have fixed M/V «Attractive,» 41,000 dwt, built 1985, delivery Rotterdam mid-April, for 11-13 months’ trading at USD 22,500 daily. – On Panamax in the Far East, Sinochart has fixed M/V «Red Rose,» 76,629 dwt, built 2003, delivery April 23-26 China, for a round voyage via W. Australia at USD 31,000 daily. – In Atlantic M/V «Silver One,» 72,917 dwt, built 2000, delivery Portugal April 18-20, trip via EC S. America, redelivery Aden-Singapore, was fixed at USD 45,500 daily.