Shipping Report

TANKERS Steady conditions in all areas, with some ships for early cargoes succeeding in getting higher freight levels. – In the Med., 80,000-ton cargoes are being fixed near W/S 300, depending on dates and actual voyage/charterers. – In the N. Sea, 80,000-ton cargoes are still being fixed at W/S 165. CSSA has fixed M/T «Olympia» for 80,000 tons of cargo, loading Jan. 24, for UKC round-trip voyage at the abovesaid levels. – The 100,000-ton cargoes out of the Baltic are being fixed above W/S 400. Clearlake has fixed M/T «Mastera,» loading Feb. 16 Primorsk, discharging UKC, at W/S 405. – Caribs still at low levels with 70,000-ton round-trip voyages being fixed above W/S 165, while Suezmax in W. Africa, and especially those replacing tonnage running late, are being fixed at W/S 180 for 130,000-ton cargoes with destination USAC. – In the Med., Eni for 80,000 tons of cargo, loading Feb. 7 Egypt, discharging Med., has fixed M/T «Framura» at W/S 260. – On Suezmax, BP has fixed M/T «Catherine Knutsen» for 135,000 tons of cargo, loading Feb. 10, discharging UKC-Med., at W/S 230. – In Caribs, BP has fixed M/V «Pink Sands» for 70,000 tons of cargo, loading Feb. 2, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 155. – In W. Africa, Addax has fixed Alliance tonnage for 130,000 tons of cargo, loading Feb. 6, discharging US Gulf, at W/S 190. – In Arabian Gulf, Chevtex for 280,000 tons of cargo, loading Feb. 15, discharging USWC, has fixed M/T «Kos» at W/S 77.5. DRY CARGO Capesize rates in the East are moving upward, with several vessels being fixed and more cargoes to come, mostly out of Australia. – NCL has fixed M/V «Martzoukos A,» 161,425 dwt, built 1995, delivery Japan Feb. 5-7, trip via Australia, redelivery China, at USD 56,000 daily. – Atlantic market appears slower, with owners of prompt tonnage deciding to cut their ideas in order to fix. – Panamaxes remain flat in all areas, with fewer charterers showing signs of interest for short T/C periods. M/V «Seattle Trader,» 75,600 dwt, built 2000, delivery end January France, was for 3-5 months’ trading fixed at USD 39,000 daily. – In Far East, d’Amato has fixed M/V «Medi Genova,» built 2004, delivery Japan mid-Feb., for 11-13 months’ trading at USD 37,000 daily. – In Atlantic, Transfield has fixed M/V «Century Star,» 75,318 dwt, built 2003, delivery Immingham end Jan., trip via Venezuela, redelivery Far East, at USD 41,000 daily. – On smaller sizes, M/V «Clementine,» 50,238 dwt, built 2004, delivery Japan Feb. 1-5, was fixed for 3-5 months’ trading at USD 32,000 daily. – On grain cargoes, Hanjin has fixed «South Korean TBN» for 54,000 tons of cargo, loading US Gulf beg. March, discharging Japan, at USD 59.75 per ton with 11 days all purposes.