Avin International is locking another of its new suezmax tankers into a period employment.
Vitol has chartered 158,000-dwt Kriti King (built 2021) for one year at $21,000 per day, European brokers reported. The Hyundai Heavy Industries-built ship is fitted with scrubbers.
The deal appears to show a premium for tankers with exhaust gas cleaning systems.
Oslo broker Fearnleys recently assessed the rate for a one-year charter of a suezmax tanker with no scrubber at $16,000 per day, while Infinity Shipbrokers puts a scrubber-equipped vessel at $19,000 per day.
Vitol did not respond to requests for comment, and Avin said the company has a policy not to comment on commercial matters.
In June 2019, Vardinoyannis family-controlled Avin ordered two suezmaxes at HHI, including the Kriti King, for $64m each.
The sistership Kriti Hero (built 2021) is on time charter to Trafigura until August at $18,000 per day, with an option for six more months at $24,000 per day.
Avin has been renewing its suezmax fleet and last year ordered one at China’s New Times Shipbuilding for delivery in 2022. This deal comes with options for two more suezmaxes.
The Greek shipowner is also been disposing of elderly tankers. Earlier in February, the company reportedly sold the 153,000-dwt tanker Kriti Episkopi (built 2001) to United Arab Emirates-based interests for $12.8m.
Prior sales
Last year, Avin also sold the 160,000-dwt Kriti Island and Kriti Sfakia (both built 2000) for $13.5m each, as well as the 150,000-dwt Kriti Spirit (built 2000) for an undisclosed price.
The company has a fleet of 30 tankers on the water, including five suezmaxes. It also has one bulker.
The Avin charter emerged as another Greek shipowner, NGM Energy, is in the process of concluding a three-year charter deal with Repsol for the scrubber-fitted, 159,000-dwt Bella Ciao (built 2020), brokers said. The deal is believed to be on subjects.
This tanker is one of three sisterships NGM ordered at New Times Shipbuilding in 2019.
