Nordic American Tankers Save Fuel
In a letter to shareholders Nordic American Tankers Limited Chairman & CEO pointed (amongst other things) to the fleet's fuel-saving measures. NAT has made, and is continuing to make, important investments on our existing fleet to reduce fuel consumption. Depending on the speed we use on a specific voyage, a Suezmax vessel consumes on average about 30 tons to 65 tons per day in ballast and laden condition, respectively. A few years ago, for example, the price of bunker fuel that we use to power our ships cost about $200 per ton. Today, the price is $600 to $700 per ton. We are implementing measures that we think on average can save us minimum about five tons or more of fuel daily per vessel, adjusted for actual operating days.
Letter to Shareholders From NAT Chairman and CEO
Nordic American Tankers Limited CEO briefs shareholders on market conditions and invites input. I would like to update you on developments in the company and in our industry. Conditions remain challenging in the tanker business, and we are doing our utmost to safeguard shareholder interests. Over the recent past NAT's position compared with the rest of the industry has improved. While some other tanker companies are debt-laden, NAT is in a good situation because of our low debt -- about $5 million net debt per vessel. Our recent agreement with a subsidiary of ExxonMobil is an example of our proactive business attitude, covering transportation of oil both in the Atlantic basin and also in other places in the world.
Seaonal Surges Not Enough To Lift Rates From Depression
Sustained strong oil demand growth is required to lift product tanker freight rates out of their current depressed levels, shipbroker Simpson Spence & Young said in a new report. Temporary seasonal surges could be seen in rates but it would take until the northern hemisphere winter of 2000-2001 before the sector experienced a sustained rise in earnings, SSY said in its latest half yearly World Oil tanker Trends report. "The only factor that can lift the product trade out of the gloom is sustained and strong oil demand growth," SS&Y reported. Positive signs were seen in current global oil demand, SS&Y said, but a bloated vessel orderbook precluded near term recovery.
