An aframax tanker missed out on a one-year charter to Mercuria after running late and will undertake a voyage for the commodity trader instead.
The 109,000-dwt tanker Sea Bay (built 2009) had previously been reported fixed for a year at a profitable $42,500 per day from US tanker operator Mjolner Shipping.
But this deal failed when the tanker could not be delivered to the charterer on time.
Instead the tanker has been fixed on a voyage charter for Mercuria at an undisclosed rate, TradeWinds is told.
The spot market for aframaxes is currently some $33,000 per day.
Last month, Mjolner fixed Sea Bay and its 110,000-dwt sistership Sea Hope (built 2009) from John Fredriksen’s Seatankers Management for two years at $28,000 per day.
Sea Bay has subsequently been relet by Mjolner for the single voyage.
Neither Seatankers nor Mjolner commented on the latest deal.
Mjolner has been very active in the aframax market and has also fixed the 114,000-dwt Sea Panther (built 2018) for two years, with an option for four more months from Pantheon Tankers of Greece. The rate is understood to be $28,500 per day to $29,000 per day.
In a third aframax period deal, ExxonMobil has fixed the 111,000-dwt King Phillipos (built 2012) for three years at a firm $26,000 per day from the Latsis company Latsco. Some, however, claim that BP fixed the tanker for one year at $40,000 per day.
