Shipping Report
TANKERS Firmer conditions in the Med. with modern Aframaxes at W/S 130 and W/S 85 for Suezmax out of the Black Sea. – Stable conditions are reported in N. Sea, while less activity is occurring in Caribs. – Suezmax out of W. Africa in lower numbers, with Sun having fixed at W/S 62.5 with destination USAC. Valero has fixed also out of St Eustatius for 130,000 tons of cargo at W/S 75 with destination Philadelphia. – In the Med., Noc for 80,000 tons of cargo loading May 2 Libya, discharging Italy, has fixed M/T «Kapsali» at W/S 125. – In the Cont., BP has fixed M/T «Molda» for 80,000 tons of cargo loading May 4 Latvia, discharging UKC, at W/S 117.5. – In Caribs, Chevtex for 70,000 tons of cargo loading beg. May, discharging USAC, has fixed M/T «G. Constantine» at W/S 135. DRY CARGO The information that the Argentinean government has revoked its recently imposed export seems to have been misunderstood. The applicable taxation is 20 percent and there are even rumors that export taxes will be raised to 25 percent. – Panamax in the Atlantic still enjoys nearly USD 9,000 daily with destination Far East. Charterers are aware that they have to pay a premium to a market which does not pay more than USD 4,500 daily for trips in the opposite direction. – Capers is very quiet, except for a couple of Chinese charterers that need to cover their orders, but the suggested rate levels do not excite owners at all. – On Panamax in Far East M/V «Panormos Faith» 64,096 dwt, built 1984, delivery May 7-10 S. Korea for 3-5 months period has fixed at USD. 3,750 daily for the first 30 days and USD. 6,750 for the balance. – In Atlantic, Conagra has fixed M/V «Istria» 64,911 dwt, built 1982, delivery May 1-14 US Gulf, redelivery Japan at USD. 8,800 daily and USD. 190,000 ballast bonus. – On smaller sizes, Samsun has fixed M/V «Elena Topic» 45,333 dwt, built 1999, delivery S. Africa for 4-6 months period at USD. 8,750 daily. – On grain cargoes, Exxon for 110,000 tons of cargo loading May 10-30 USAC, discharging Rotterdam, has fixed at USD. 4.50 per ton with 35,000-ton load and 25,000 tons discharge. Tountas regards such concerns as exaggerated, since the «the person’s decision concerns his own life and is impossible to take without great deliberation.» He also feels that to safeguard against problems, «there must be two strict, and simultaneously applicable conditions: that the patient responsibly, and in writing, expresses the desire to embark on the euthanasia process, and that he should be ascertained to be lucid, calm and rational. Secondly, the doctor must agree that science can do no more.»
