Greek shipowner Metrostar Management has secured two-year employment deals for its two aframax tanker newbuildings that are coming out of Daehan Shipbuilding next year.
European shipbrokers said the company has chartered the 114,000-dwt Prostar and Prosky (both built 2019) to trader Vitol for 24 months.
The charterer is believed to be paying $20,000 per day for each ship, which is line with brokers' expectations. The deal may include a profit-split element.
Metrostar could not be reached for comment on reports of the deal.
These ships are options connected to two aframaxes that Metrostar ordered at Daehan in April 2017. These tankers, Crudemed and Crudesun (both built 2018), are operating in the V8 pool.
They were reported ordered for around $42m to $43m each and are likely worth a similar price today.
The four tankers marked Metrostar’s return to shipowning. The company sold 22 ships between 2014 and 2017.
Meanwhile, Glencore's ST Shipping has reportedly chartered a smaller and older aframax, the 106,000-dwt Oberon (built 2006), from Greek shipowner LL Energy for a year at $16,500 per day.
LL bought this tanker for just $13.8m in October last year.
Harry Papachristou contributed to this story.
