The vessels are under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries and are expected to be delivered to Capital Maritime in the first quarter of 2017.
As a result, the Partnership now has a right of first refusal on a total of eight newbuilding MRs, with expected deliveries from September, 2015 to February, 2017.
Meanwhile, Capital’s 2001-built Suezmax 'Amore Mio II' has been chartered to Shell for nine months at a gross daily rate of $33,000. She is currently employed with Capital Maritime at a gross rate of $27,000 per day. Capital Maritime has agreed to terminate its existing charter earlier, enabling the vessel to commence its employment with Shell.
Elsewhere, Concordia Maritime has renewed a contract with an international oil and gas company, believed to be Total, for 12 months for two vessels. The agreement also includes an additional vessel for six months.
These contracts relate to the three P-MAX vessels -’Stena Paris’, ‘Stena Provence’ and ‘Stena Polaris’. The rate was not revealed.
"It's obviously very positive to achieve the renewed confidence of this customer, which has specific transport requirements that suits the high cargo capacity of our P-MAX vessels, which results in a lower actual cost per unit. The contract is fully in line with our efforts to steer employment towards niche trades that can optimally utilise the P-MAX vessel's unique characteristics," said Kim Ullman, Concordia Maritime CEO.
On the company’s outlook for the third quarter, he said: "Just as previously predicted, we can now see a seasonal slowdown in the second half of the third quarter. This is from high levels, however, we do not think the decline will be as deep and prolonged as seen in recent years. Our basic market outlook as from the fourth quarter is therefore still positive," Ullman said.
Other fixtures reported by brokers included ConocoPhillips taking the near sister Aframaxes ‘NS Lotus’ and ‘NS Concord’ for two years at $25,000 per day each.
CPC was said to have fixed an AMCL VLCC for three years at $39,000 per day, while Koch was thought to have taken the 2001-built VLCC ‘Alter Ego’for six months at $37,500 per day and the LR2 ‘Front Panther’ for two years at $28,000 per day.
Petrobras was believed to have fixed the 1999-built Aframax ‘Vermilion Energy’ for three years at $22,000 per day.
Morgan Stanley was reported to have fixed the 2011-built Croatian-controlled MR ‘Velebit’ for 12 months at $18,500 per day.
In the newbuilding market, John Angelicoussis’ Maran Tankers (MTM) has returned to Daewoo to order another two VLCCs for $94 mill each, according to brokers’ reports. Delivery is expected in 2017.
Frontline has taken up options for another two VLCCs at STX for 2017 delivery at a reported $90 mill each, taking the company’s orderbook up to four VLCCs.
Gungen Denizcilik was also understood to have contracted two firm plus two optional Suezmaxes at HHI for delivery from mid 2017.
Elsewhere, the two new MRs for the New Zealand coastal trade reported last week will be built by SPP and managed by ASP Shipmanagement. They are to be delivered in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
In the LPG segment, Petredec was believed to have ordered two option two 78,700 cu m LPG carriers from HHI for 2017 delivery.
South Korean gas and chemicals shipping company KSS Line has also ordered a 84,000 cu m VLGC from HHI to serve a seven-year charter signed on 4th September with Japanese LPG importer Gyxis Corp.
This vessel was priced at KRW91.4 bill (USD 76.7m) and she is due for delivery by the end of March 2017.
In the S&P sector, the VLCCs ‘Energy R’ and ‘Power D’, both of 2003 vintage, were reportedly sold for $45 mill each to undisclosed interests.
Maran Tankers’1996-built ‘Astro Antares’ has been sold to Bakri Bunker Trading for $12.2 mill. She has been renamed ‘Balsam’.
In the MR segment, Turkish interests were said top have picked up the 2001-built ‘Latmar’ at auction for $4.2 mill. A newbuilding HMD MR (Hull No 2469) was thought committed to US buyers for $39 mill. She is to be delivered in January next year, according to brokers’ reports.
Maersk Tankers continued to shed tonnage, the latest being the 2010-built MR’ Maersk Malta’ reported sold to TORM for $27 mill and the 2001-built Handysize ‘Maersk Elisabeth’ sold to Nigerian interests for $13.2 mill.