Table of Contents
Dirty
A quiet week in terms of t/c fixtures reported, with Thanksgiving holidays slowing action from the US, the week is expected to end softly.
A bit of short-term activity in each of the crude sectors but longer term deals seem quite elusive although some rumours of longer term modern suez and afra remain unconfirmed. The lack of willing t/c candidates continues to limit volume of fixture activity achievable until higher levels are available from charterers.
Crude 1 Year TC Rates ($/day)
Clean
In what is a slightly curtailed trading week with the US Thanksgiving holidays the MR TC market has remained active. Atlantic earnings continue to dominate the headlines whilst the East lags somewhat. However, demand for both short and longer dated TC deals has not subsided. The East MR market has allowed some room for shorter min max deals whereby relative strength in recent months made these harder to execute. A lack of depth in the offer side of the LR1 and LR2 space ensures term pricing remains strong and clearly any tonnage willing to give DPP trading flexibility generates significant interest.
Clean 1 Year TC Rates ($/day)
Time Charter Rates
Non-Eco | Eco | Scrubber | FFA | 12M | ||||||
1 Year | 2 Year | 3 Year | 1 Year | 2 Year | 3 Year | 1 Year | Route | Spot | Avg.* | |
VLCC | 45,000 | 40,000 | 38,500 | 51,000 | 46,000 | 45,000 | 5,000 | TD3C VLCC – MEG/CHINA | 45,250 | 31,750 |
Suez | 45,000 | 37,500 | 35,000 | 50,000 | 42,000 | 39,000 | 3,000 | TD20 SUEZMAX – WAF/UKC | 39,500 | 31,250 |
Afra (West) | 45,000 | 38,000 | 35,000 | 50,000 | 43,000 | 38,000 | 2,500 | TD25 AFRAMAX – USG/UKC | 47,250 | 36,000 |
Afra (East) | 45,000 | 38,000 | 35,000 | 49,000 | 43,000 | 38,000 | 2,500 | TD8 AFRAMAX – MEG/SING | 45,500 | 27,500 |
LR2 | 39,000 | 36,000 | 35,000 | 43,000 | 42,000 | 38,000 | 2,500 | TC1 LR2 – MEG/JAPAN | 26,500 | n/a |
LR1 | 33,000 | 30,000 | 26,000 | 37,000 | 34,000 | 31,000 | 2,000 | TC5 LR1 – MEG/JAPAN | 14,750 | 23,000 |
MR (West) | 29,000 | 24,000 | 21,000 | 32,000 | 28,000 | 24,500 | 1,500 | TC2 + TC14 TRIANGULATION | 48,750 | 26,250 |
MR (East) | 26,000 | 24,000 | 21,000 | 28,500 | 28,000 | 24,500 | 1,500 | TC7 MR – SING/AUS | 12,250 | 19,000 |
Handy | 29,000 | 22,500 | 20,000 | 31,000 | 25,500 | 23,000 | 1,000 |
Crude Fixtures
Name | DWT | Blt | Builder | Cgo/Period | Charterer | Rate | Scrubber | Remarks |
ATHERINA | 319 | 2011 | Hyundai Ulsan | 6 Mos | Trafigura | $50,000 | Delivery East | |
MESDAR | 315 | 2007 | Nantong COSCO | 12 Mos | CNR | $29,000 | Delivery AG (Failed) | |
ESTEEM ASTRO | 312 | 2019 | JMU Ariake | PNR | Sinokor | RNR | Y | Delivery East |
MEGAN GLORY | 114 | 2023 | STX Jinhae | PNR | Cape Tankers | RNR | Y | Delivery USG |
Clean Fixtures
Name | DWT | Blt | Builder | Period | Charterer | Rate | Scrubber | Remarks |
SEA TIGER I | 51 | 2007 | STX Jinhae | PNR | Clearlake | RNR | Delivery Puerto Rico | |
NORD MAJESTIC | 49 | 2021 | Hyundai Mipo | 3 Yrs | ST Shipping | In 26’s | Delivery East (Subs) | |
ZOILO | 49 | 2015 | Hyundai Mipo | 2-4 Mos | Clearlake | $34,000 | Delivery East | |
PARTRIDGE PACIFIC | 49 | 2013 | STX Jinhae | 12 Mos | Total | $30,000 | Y | Delivery East |
ARDMORE | 34 | 2022 | Fujian Mawae | 12 Mos | Vitol | RNR | Delivery Med |
Tanker S&P
Glancing at sales this week you’d be forgiven for thinking the tanker S&P market was quiet and being confused by some of the pricing on the sparcely reported deals. For one, the sale of sister MRs “DEE4 ILEX” + “DEE4 MAHOGANY” (49,999 dwt / built 2022 Hyundai Mipo, S.Korea) at a rumoured US$ 54 m apiece looks colossal, given the pair are not scrubber fitted and broker benchmarks assess a prompt resale at around US$ 51-52 mill. However, the deal is tied up basis 3 months subjects, with the elevated price protecting sellers against potential missed upside/lost opportunity. The price also looks stark against the low US$ 45 m unit price paid by Sea Pioneer Shipping for two firm two option scrubber fitted newbuildings at Korea’s K-Shipbuilding, although a front heavy payment of 40% has been agreed providing context for the contract price when Korean MR berths are broadly quoted in the US$ 47-48 mill range.
In the background there is a growing tally of owners declaring purchase options on leased back vessels at previously set (and now sub-market) levels, offering hope for more modern sale candidate potential to come to market. Still waters also belie a shoal of sales swimming into the coming week with VLCCs both old and modern in particular close to conclusion.
Prices ($m) | Newbuild | 5 Year | 10 Year |
VLCC | 128 | 99 | 75 |
SUEZMAX | 85 | 78 | 61 |
AFRAMAX | 69.5 | 70.5 | 55 |
MR | 47.5 | 43.5 | 34 |
Recent Sales
Vessel | Dwt | Built | Yard | Buyers | Price | Notes |
AEGEAN MYTH | 115,838 | 2006 | Samsung (Korea) | Chinese buyer | 37.50 | DD due 9/24. BWTS. |
DEE4 ILEX + DEE4 MAHOGANY | 49,999 | both 2022 | Hyundai Mipo (Korea) | GNMTC | 54 each | Deepwell. DD due 1/25 + 9/25. BWTS. Tier III. 3 months subs. |
SHANDONG WEI HE | 49,898 | 2004 | Shin Kurushima (Japan) | Auction buyer | 14 (A) | Auction. Pump-room. SS due 10/24. BWTS. |
ALBATROSS TRADER + GION TRADER | 19,884 | both 2015 | Usuki (Japan) | Chinese buyer | reg 30 each | Stainless steel. DD due 4/24 + SS/DD due 3/25. BWTS. |
Tanker S&P Values ($m)
