Hong Kong-based Ausca Shipping has deepened its relationship with Diana Shipping with the chartering of a panamax bulker from the New York-listed company.
Ausca has fixed the 76,000-dwt Artemis (built 2006) from Diana, the shipowner says.
The vessel has been taken for 12 to 15 months at $12,600 per day, according to the Baltic Exchange and a statement from Diana.
In January this year Ausca hired the 75,000-dwt Dione (built 2001) from Diana for 14 to 17 months at $10,350 per day.
The Hong Kong company now has five bulkers on charter from the Simeon Palios-led company.
Today's deal continues a sequence of charters for Diana at higher rates in an improving market. The Artemis has been earning $9,000 per day on its present contract.
Diana is not the only shipowner to have secured time charter employment for a panamax bulker today.
Fountain Marine of Singapore is reported to have inked a five to seven month deal for the 82,000-dwt MSXT Athena (built 2018), following its delivery from Chengxi.
The Baltic Exchange places the charter at $13,900 per day.
It is one of two vessels set to be delivered to the company this year, reference sources show.
According to the Baltic Exchange dry cargo rates fell fractionally overall on Monday, with the Baltic Dry Index dipping to 1,357 points.
The article has been updated since first publication to correct the length of the Artemis time charter.
