Ashok Sharma News

Anglo-Eastern has partnered with technology group Wärtsilä to further enhance its simulator training for crew, with the delivery and installation of state-of-the-art, customized LNGPac bunkering and liquid cargo handling simulators at the ship management group’s largest maritime training center in Mumbai this October.Developed by Wärtsilä Voyage, this is a new product for the marine market, reflecting the increasing adoption by fleet owners of LNG fuel and the consequential need…

Oil major BP has provisionally chartered a supertanker to store crude oil off Malaysia at this year's lowest rate yet, according to industry sources and data on Refinitiv Eikon.The charter is the latest in a flurry of ship bookings made by oil majors and trading houses after tanker rates plunged. A resurgence in coronavirus cases, poor weather and the end of the northern hemisphere's summer driving season have slowed global oil trade and shipping demand.BP chartered very large crude carrier (VLCC) Gene at $20,500 per day for three months and has the option to extend another three months at $22,000 per day, one of the sources said."It is the cheapest rate so far," he said.BP declined to comment.

Supertanker freight rates eased this week as surging demand for floating storage cooled and crude oil output is set to fall, but rates could jump again as fewer tankers become available and as traders take advantage of weak oil prices, sources said.Tanker rates jumped earlier in the week after U.S. WTI crude futures for May turned negative ahead of their expiry for the first time ever on Monday as desperate traders paid to get rid of oil, prompting a spike in demand for tankers…

Supertanker freight rates have fallen after last week's highs as industry participants await the outcome of a meeting of oil producers on Thursday before making further bookings, industry sources said.Freight rates could drop further if the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers decide to cut output sharply, reducing transport and storage demand for oil, they said. They could jump again if producers fail to reach an agreement."From a freight standpoint…

Supertanker freight rates are on the rise for a second time this month as producers, refiners and traders scramble to secure ships to transport crude or store a fast-growing global glut of oil, industry sources said.Freight rates for very large crude-oil carriers (VLCC) along the Middle East Gulf to China route were assessed at about $180,000 a day on Monday, up from some $125,000 on Friday and a weekly low of about $90,000 a day on Wednesday, according to several ship broking sources.Its difficult to say whether or not the rates will be sustained…

After a frantic week that sent crude oil freight rates to record highs amid a bookings bonanza to ship Saudi oil to the world, rates are now easing as charterers balk at the nosebleed charges and await Saudi volume plans for April, shipping sources said."Sentiment remained softer today," said one ship broker while pointing to another day of limited chartering activity.At least nine very large crude oil carrier (VLCC) provisional charters failed this week along with another five for Suezmax tankers…

Freight rates to ship U.S. crude to Asia continued to surge, with costs to charter a supertanker rising to a record $12 million on Thursday, shipping sources familiar with the matter said.South Korea's top refiner, SK Energy, tentatively chartered the supertanker Maxim to ship U.S. crude to South Korea in November for a record $10 million earlier in the week but that fixture has since failed, the sources said.The company now has conditionally booked the Pacific M at a new record of $12.35 million…

Indonesia will not enforce new global rules mandating low-sulphur marine fuels on its domestic shipping fleet because of the high cost of cleaner fuel, an official from the country's Ministry of Transportation said this week.Under International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules that come into effect in 2020, ships will have to use fuel with a maximum 0.5% sulphur content, down from 3.5% now, unless they are equipped with so-called scrubbers to remove the sulphur from the vessel's emissions.But because of the high cost of complying with new rules…

Key Middle East oil terminal bans open-loop scrubbersFujairah in the United Arab Emirates has become the latest major port to ban a type of fuel exhaust cleaning system to comply with a coming tightening in rules regarding global sulphur emissions, mirroring similar moves in Singapore and China.Under International Maritime Organization (IMO) rules that come into effect from 2020, ships will have to reduce the sulphur content in their fuel to less than 0.5 percent, compared with 3.5 percent now, forcing huge changes upon global shippers and also oil refiners.Fujairah's harbour master said in a faxed document seen by Reuters that the port "has decided to ban the use of open-loop scrubbers in its waters ...

VLCC rates from MidEast to Asia gain around $3,000; higher chartering volumes for peak winter season could lift rates. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on Asian routes may have found a floor this week as a combination of increased chartering activity and some tankers sailing at slower speeds pushed rates slightly higher from the Middle East. "Rates are at a bottom, they have kind of found a floor," said Ashok Sharma, managing director of BRS Baxi Far East in Singapore, on Friday. "But the recovery is a very shallow one - the market is really rubbish," he added. Charter rates from the Middle East to Asia gained about 3 Worldscale points on the week to Thursday equivalent to an extra $3,500 in daily earnings.

Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on Asian routes show little sign of reviving although Hurricane Harvey, which threatens to ravage the U.S. Gulf coast oil refining industry over the weekend, could provide a fillip, brokers said. That came as average weighted VLCC freight rates on all routes sank to their lowest in four years this week to around $9,000 per day. Rates are even lower on some routes after CPC fixed a VLCC late Thursday for a trip from the Middle East to Taiwan at 36.75 on the Worldscale measure and S-Oil fixed a VLCC to South Korea at W36.

Around 90 ships charter free for early September loading. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on Asian routes will remain under pressure for at least the next month, facing strong headwinds from a glut of tonnage, brokers said. "There are around 80 to 90 ships available for charter in the first 10 days in September - that's about three ships for every cargo," a Singapore-based supertanker broker said on Friday. "There are about six or seven VLCCs free for charter now, but the earliest they'll see any cargo is early September," he said. That came as owners were attempting to resist moves by Chinese oil trading house Unipec to push rates lower on its latest charter.

About 20 MidEast VLCC still to be fixed for August. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) on Asian routes may have finally bottomed as owners attempt to resist moves by charterers to push rates still lower, brokers said. "This is a really bad market now. The floor keeps getting lower but I think there's now resistance by owners," said a Singapore-based supertanker broker on Friday. That came as VLCC rates from the Middle East averaged around 42 on the Worldscale measure this week, a new low for this year and lower in equivalent earnings than 2016. "VLCC owners now only have one quarter left to make it up but even if average global VLCC rates go up to $30…

Rate correction likely after low S-Oil charter drags market. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) could see a small respite next week, building on the slight improvement seen in the last two days although sentiment is likely to remain pessimistic of any real recovery, brokers said on Friday. "There was a large drop on Tuesday when South Korea's S-Oil fixed at 45.50 (on the Worldscale measure). But rates are now correcting," a Singapore-based supertanker broker said. Hong Kong tanker owner Associated Maritime is thought to have fixed 10 VLCCs to Unipec for contracts of affreigtment in the middle of August. "That might signal Unipec doesn't have any vessels and it expects rates to rise," the broker added. "I feel we're not too far off the bottom.

Charterers set to split VLCC cargoes if owners push rates higher. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are coming under pressure from a build up in ships waiting for new charters and depressed rates in smaller tanker sizes, brokers said on Friday. "At the slightest attempt by owners to push rates higher, charterers can split the cargo into Suezmax cargoes for the same rate," an European supertanker broker said on Friday. A VLCC can carry around 2 million barrels of oil while a Suezmax tanker can transport about 1 million barrels. "I am surprised VLCC owners have kept the rates up for so long. Last week I would have predicted rates to drop. There is no sign of an improvement," the broker added.

Middle East rates helped by fewer old vessels; about 96 MidEast cargoes fixed, 25 to come. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) could rise next week on firm sentiment in the Middle East and West Africa markets but higher oil prices and fewer floating storage opportunities could cap increases, brokers said on Friday. "Middle East rates to the east have crept up one or two points (on the Worldscale measure)," said Ashok Sharma, managing director of BRS Baxi in Singapore. "Rates are up to W52.50 today. There is a slightly firm undertone," he added. Rates from the Middle East are being partly supported by fewer older vessels that would otherwise discount charter rates due to age and plenty of cargoes from West Africa, brokers said. "Rates from West Africa are showing resilience.

Trafigura hires five VLCCs to store oil; short-term storage a profitable play. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) could creep higher as more ships are chartered for floating storage and crude oil shipments increase ahead of the northern winter, brokers said. "There might be a slow creep up towards 60 (on the Worldscale measure)," said Ashok Sharma, managing director of ship broker BRS Baxi in Singapore on Friday. "W60 is at least on the horizon. Rates from West Africa to China are already at W56," he added. That came as VLCC rates from the Middle East to Asia gained around 3 Worldscale points since last Thursday, buoyed by growing interest from traders seeking to charter vessels to store oil for one to three months. "The storage play has gained traction.

Floating storage, West Africa cargoes support rates; further storage charters may push rates to W60. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs), which were supported this week by a shift to using older vessels for floating oil storage, have plateaued at current levels but could nudge higher on further storage plays, brokers said on Friday. Rates from the Middle East to Asia are currently around 50 on the Worldscale measure and W55 from West Africa to Asia depending on vessel age and actual destination, brokers said. "Rates haven't peaked, they have plateaued," said Ashok Sharma, managing director of shipbroker BRS Baxi in Singapore. "Depending how the storage play plays out rates could touch W60 - not next week.

Gulf tensions fail to ignite VLCC market; owners waiting for July MidEast cargoes that could buoy rates. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) face an uncertain week, possibly coming under pressure from a dearth of new Middle East cargoes but they could also find support from geopolitical tensions over Qatar, brokers said on Friday. There is also continuing unpredictability over whether tankers could co-load Qatari crude with other grades and the impact on future trading activities if tankers did load Qatar crude. "No one is really sure what is going on. Everyone is waiting to see what might happen," a Singapore-based supertanker broker said on Friday.

Five/six charterers are making storage inquiries; near-term pressure on tanker rates to continue - Frontline CEO. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are set to hold around the current levels ahead of a possible bounce later this month on renewed crude buying from China, and more interest from charterers taking ships on short-term charter for floating storage, brokers said on Friday. That came as VLCC rates from the Middle East recovered slightly on Thursday from a near two-month low hit on Wednesday. "Rates are recovering to high 40s and touching 50s levels on the Worldscale measure," said Ashok Sharma, managing director of ship broker BRS Baxi in Singapore.

VLCC's likely to struggle to break even for next two months; three-tier VLCC market weighs on sentiment. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are likely to become steady around the current levels as owners resist charterers' attempts to pull down hire rates with the emergence of a three-tier market, brokers said on Friday. That came as brokers said South Korean charterers GS Caltex/S-Oil failed to charter a VLCC at below 40 points on the Worldscale measure for a voyage from the Middle East to Korea as owners balk at hiring out their ships at a price equivalent to operating costs. That is equivalent to earnings of around $8,000 per day compared with daily operating costs of $7,500 for a 300,000 deadweight tonne VLCC.

Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are set to slide further next week, falling below tanker break even costs on routes from the Middle East, as too many ships chase too few cargoes, brokers said on Friday. "In today's market Middle East charter rates are around $15,000 a day. Charter rates are still falling, still sliding. I'm not sure where the bottom is," a European supertanker broker said on Friday. Break even costs for a VLCC are around $22,000 a day, according to leading tanker owner Frontline.

Rates to climb to around W65 from MidEast to Asia; W70 from West Africa. Freight rates for very large crude carriers (VLCCs) are set to rise further as Asian refiners rebuild inventories after plants were reactivated following maintenance outages, brokers said on Friday. However, gains are likely to be capped due to the availability of additional ship capacity and charterers' holding back cargoes if they think rates are too frothy, broker added. "Worldscale 70 of West Africa is on the cards, with W60 out of the Middle East," said a European supertanker broker on Friday. Rates on both trade routes have climbed by about 10 Worldscale points in the previous week.