Scrubber-fitted crude tankers continue to be fixed at premium rates in the period charter market, with Diamond S Shipping the latest shipowner to benefit from such investments.
The US-based company has chartered out the New Times-built, 157,000-dwt Namsen and Loire (built 2016) to BP for three years at $27,000 per day each, according to some European shipbrokers. Some others claim the rates are higher.
The Namsen and Loire were ordered in 2014 for about $58m each.
TradeWinds is told that the two tankers are going to be fitted with scrubbers and that the time charters will not begin until 2019.
Diamond S declined to comment on the deal.
Healthy premiums
Based on the IMO's incoming regulations, scrubber-fitted ships can continue burning cheaper high-sulphur fuel after 2020, so charterers are generally willing to pay healthy premiums for them in the period market.
Braemar ACM assessed the three-year rate for a suezmax at $24,000 per day as of last Friday, but said a scrubber-fitted eco-suezmax can fetch $30,250 per day for the same period.
In August, Diamond S fixed out two other suezmaxes, the 159,000-dwt Red and San Saba (both built 2012), to Trafigura for a year at $16,000 per day.
Also in the suezmax segment, Koch Industries has secured the 164,000-dwt Silia T (built 2002) from US-listed Tsakos Energy Navigation. The tanker is fixed for a year at an undisclosed rate.
Greek owner Almi Tankers has fixed out up to five suezmaxes for three years in two different deals. Three of the 157,000-dwt tankers were chartered by Koch Logistics, and two by oil major Shell. The deals are based on a floor rate and a profit split, but the terms are unclear.
Some say the deals were done a few months ago when the market was low, and that the floor rate could be as low as $14,000 per day.
Joe Brady contributed to this article.
