Shipping Report

TANKERS Firm rates in all areas, with Aframaxes in the Med. working around W/S 430, while on Suezmaxes the 140,000-tons cargoes are fixed at W/S 370. – Exxonmobil, for 80,000 tons of cargo, loading November 2 Tunisia, discharging Med., has fixed M/T «Trident Hope» at W/S 420, while Chevtex, for same cargo, loading beg. November, discharging Med., has fixed M/T «Aegean Pride» at W/S 450. – In the N. Sea, Petroval, for 100,000 tons of cargo, loading November 2, discharging UKC, has fixed M/T «Krasnodar» at W/S 310, while on Suezmax, Navion has fixed M/T «Knock Dun» for 135,000 tons of cargo, loading November 10 W. Coast Norway, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 285. – In Caribs, AOT has fixed M/T «Pink Sands» for 70,000 tons of cargo, loading end-October Colombia, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 395, while Valero has fixed M/T «Moscow River» for same cargo, loading October 24, discharging USAC, at same levels. – Suezmax rates in W. Africa have reached the W/S 300 mark for transatlantic voyages, although activity is slim. Tonnage availability between November 20-25 appears thin so rates are expected to stay firm. – N. Sea rates are also firm, with transatlantic voyages having been fixed at W/S 285. – Arabian Gulf rates for the same-sized vessels at W/S 240 with destination China. – In W. Africa, BP, for 130,000 tons of cargo, loading November 13, discharging US Gulf, has fixed M/T «Pecos» at W/S 300, while Sun, for same cargo, loading November 17, discharging USAC, has fixed Astro tonnage at W/S 282.5. – In Arabian Gulf and on VLCCs, Exxonmobil has fixed M/T «Episkopi» for 255,000 tons of cargo, loading November 18 discharging Japan, at W/S 230. DRY CARGO A firm market in the Atlantic for Capers with all indices rising. – In the Atlantic, North China Lines has fixed M/V «Azul Frontier,» 177,253 dwt, built 2003, delivery Rotterdam October 20-22, trip via Brazil, redelivery Far East, at USD 85,000 daily. – On T/C periods, Kleimar has fixed M/V «Channel Navigator,» 172,058 dwt, built 1997, delivery Far East, for 11-13 months’ trading at USD 65,000 daily. – On Panamax in the Far East, Fratelli d’Amato has fixed M/V «Nord Sun,» 76,500 dwt, built 2004, delivery end-October Japan, for 11-13 months’ trading at USD 35,500 daily. – In Atlantic, ABT has fixed M/V «Belo Horizonte,» 77,600 dwt, built 2004, delivery Germany October 20-22, for 2 legs, redelivery Far East, at USD 40,000 daily. – On smaller sizes, M/V «Nena M,» 43,176 dwt, built 1995, delivery end-October Baltic, trip via UKC, redelivery Far East, was fixed at USD 34,000 daily.