Indian owners have turned down the chance to match "low rates" offered by overseas rivals in a VLCC tender for Indian Oil Corp (IOC).
IOC is close to sealing a deal for Nissen Kaiun's 302,000-dwt Bright Pioneer (built 2017) over five years from January, with two years of options.
Reuters cited sources as saying the ship will be fixed for between $30,000 and $32,000 per day.
Indian companies have a right of first refusal to match rates offered by foreign owners.
SCI, Great Eastern, Seven Island Shipping and other Indian operators participated in the IOC tender, the sources said.
"We did not match the offer as the rates were not in line with market trends. Very low rates have been offered," said an official at SCI.
TradeWinds reported that Singapore-based Global United Shipping had chartered the ship from Nissen at $32,500 per day and relet it to IOC.
It has six months to fit a scrubber for the Indian business.
IOC and Global United have not commented.
