Hebei Mountain News

From January 2014 - October 2016 the crude oil tanker segment composing of VLCC, suexmax and aframax ships, had a net-fleet growth of 7.3 percent, which is equal to 24.3 million (m) DWT. The VLCC segment, with 20.7m DWT or a net fleet growth rate of 11 percent took the lion’s share, followed by the suezmax segment with 4.4m DWT or 5.5 percent. Whereas the aframax segment decreased by -0.8m DWT or 1 percent, in relation to the fleet size of the specific ship segment. The Baltic and International Maritime Council’s (BIMCO) Chief Shipping Analyst Peter Sand said…

Crude tanker rates from the Arabian Gulf to Asia on 2mn-barrel tankers fell to its lowest in more than six weeks as the ships available at the end of August outnumber cargoes, according to a Bloomberg report. In less than a month freight rates for VLCCs reportedly have dropped 40 percent as charterers held back from hiring vessels, allowing a surplus to build up. GS Caltex Corp, South Korea’s second-largest oil refiner, booked a VLCC, Hebei Mountain to load crude on August 23 at WS 62.5, as measured in Worldscale points, shipbrokers including Oslo-based PF Bassoe said in notes to clients. GS Caltex’s rate is 5.5 points, or 8 percent, down from yesterday on the benchmark route to Japan, Bloomberg data show. Transport costs on the route are $1.10 a barrel compared with $1.20.