John Fredriksen-controlled Golden Ocean Group has fixed three of its capesizes on one-year charters.
The bulker owner has traditionally favoured the spot market, but chief executive Ulrik Andersen confirmed that the units are fixed out for the longer term.
"It is not our ambition to be a pure spot play," he said.
The ships are the 182,000-dwt Golden Fulham (built 2016) at $28,500 per day, 185,000-dwt Golden Incus (built 2018) at $32,250 per day and 182,000-dwt Golden Bexley (built 2016) at $31,000 per day.
The current spot market rate for capesizes is about $29,000 per day.
Andersen declined to identify the charterer, but shipbroking sources said the trio has been taken by miner Anglo American.
Andersen said the three ships are on fixed charters that cover the first three months of 2022, which usually is the weakest quarter of the year.
"We constantly assess the market, looking for opportunities to lock in cash flows," he added.
"It is an integral part of our strategy to actively manage out spot exposure in order to protect the downside while maintaining significant exposure to increases in freight rates.
"In other words, we will continue to take money off the table when the market spikes."
In February, Golden Ocean Group acquired 18 bulkers that had been owned privately by Fredriksen in a $752m deal. It has now taken delivery of 12 of the vessels.
Last month, the US and Oslo-listed company announced its most profitable first quarter ever, logging net income of $23.6m. It then decided to pay a $0.25-per-share dividend.
With the addition of the former Fredriksen ships, Golden Ocean will have a fleet of close to 100 bulkers.
