Greek owner Samos Steamship is fetching a strong rate for one of its LR1 tankers.
European brokers said trader Trafigura has fixed its 79,000-dwt Epicurus (built 2017) for a year at $18,750 per day.
The rate is well above Fearnleys $15,000-per-day assessment of a one-year LR1 charter.
However, a market source told TradeWinds that figure was low compared to his outfit's one-year charter assessment and that Trafigura had leased two other newer LR1s at similar rates.
The source said quality, modern LR1s are "hard to come by" and that Trafigura may have felt it got a good one and were willing to pay premium.
The charter is the latest evidence of a rising time charter market seen in both the crude and product markets as IMO 2020 approaches.
Trafigura could not be immediately reached for comment, and Samos did not respond to requests for comment.
The Greek tanker and bulker owner has two LR1 sisterships in its 29-ship fleet ordered in off-market deals in 2014 and 2015, reportedly for some $56m to $58m each.
