Spot rates for anchor-handlers in the North Sea have almost doubled after a spate of vessel bookings this week.
Broker Westshore reported Viking Supply Ships' 251-bp Magne Viking (built 2011) and 250-bp Brage Viking (built 2012) fixed at £50,000 ($64,600) per day for the MSS rig move by Taqa from 19 October.
Two Siem Offshore ships were also booked by the same charterer at £47,500.
The latter two have been fixed for three days, with options for another 18 days.
This is up from £27,500 on Tuesday.
Four more anchor-handlers had been fixed on Wednesday.
Only two of 16 working ships remained available in Norway on Thursday, and two of 13 were free in the UK.
A total of 30 units remain laid up.
Average rates for anchor-handlers hit their highest level this year during September in the North Sea.
Seabrokers said some companies were able to secure tonnage at rates of less than £15,000 per day, while several others found themselves exposed to a rapidly tightening market and were faced with day rates in excess of £60,000.
The total number of fixtures was not noticeably higher than for other months of the year, but the average fixture rate for September was the highest of 2019 thus far, it added.
Rates fell back last week to between £13,000 and £14,500 as utilisation dropped to 41%.
