Saudi Arabian state shipowner Bahri is reported to have swooped for three modern LR2 tankers in the period charter market.
Brokers said the 120,000-dwt Proteus Elsie (built 2023) was fixed out by China's Bank of Communications Financial for two years at $41,000 per day.
And Kuwait’s AMPTC has chartered out its 114,000-dwt newbuilding pair Ocean Blue (built 2023) and Saqr, due in February 2024.
Bahri paid the same rate for these ships over the same term.
The AMPTC duo come with one-year options.
The Ocean Blue and Saqr are part of a series of four ordered by AMPTC at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea.
The owner also has two VLGCs contracted at the same yard.
Bahri has 37 VLCCs and two MR2s in its owned fleet.
The company is not known to have LR2s on charter.
But in July 2022, the owner booked SKS Greentankers' 120,000-dwt SKS Dee (built 2010) for a year at $31,750 per day.
Rates stable
French shipbroker BRS Group rates LR2 one-year time charter rates as stable.
The Paris shop quotes deals for eco-scrubber tankers at $48,000 per day, with eco ships at $45,000 and non-eco vessels on $39,000.
In the aframax market, Swiss trader Trafigura has been busy securing tonnage.
Yasa Tankers has booked out the 110,000-dwt Golden Marmara and Golden Dardenelles (both built 2008) for 12 weeks to the company, the latter at $37,500 per day.
These are the only three aframaxes listed in the Yasa tanker fleet, which also comprises VLCCs and suezmaxes.
Yasa has not responded to TradeWinds' request for comment.
Trafigura also took Greek owner Ionic’s 112,000-dwt Ionic Ariadne (built 2020) at $35,000 per day for five years.
Another Yasa ship, meanwhile, the 115,000-dwt Golden Bosphorus (built 2007) went at $37,000 per day for 12 weeks to ExxonMobil.
BRS said aframax term rates were lower.
The broker cites one-year deals for eco-scrubber vessels at $46,000 per day, with eco tankers on $43,000, and non-eco units at $39,000.
