SK Shipping locked two of its capesize bulkers into three-year employment with Koch Logistics.
European brokers said the unit of US conglomerate Koch Industries took SK's 181,000-dwt K Victory (built 2012) and K Confidence (built 2013) for $18,000 per day.
The deal factors in scrubbers that are being installed in the vessels.
There have been very few period deals of this length being concluded this year, so it is difficult to find a deal to compare directly with. Brokers said the rate equates to about $15,000 per day without scrubbers, which is in line with expectations.
SK Shipping and Koch did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
South Korea-based SK had been a substantial operator of bulkers but has scaled back its fleet to just four bulkers and two newbuildings.
The 250,000-dwt ore carrier K Hope (built 2012) and two 325,000-dwt newbuildings at Dalian Shipbuilding are all believed to be tied up to domestic charterers.
SK also owns the 148,000-dwt K Phoenix (built 1996).
Koch and SK Shipping already have extensive collaboration on the tanker side , brokers said this may have prompted the capesize charter deal, which is believed to have been concluded directly with no brokers involved.
