Cosco Bulk Carrier has entered into
a loss—producing period charter for the 180,000—dwt capesize Cape Agamemnon (built 2010), which it has
relet to Rio Tinto for six to nine months at $23,500 per day. Cape size period rates have risen following the surge in the spot market but the Cape Agumemnon deal far from covers the costs of the ship
for Cosco.
MV Cape Agumemnon is owned by
US-listed Capital Product Partners,
which says Cosco has the ship on charter until 2020 at $42,200 per day. It is the only bulker in Capital Product Partners’ fleet.
M/S K Noble, which is a joint venture between K Line and the Noble group, has fixed the 175,000-dwt MV Abyo Audrey (built 2011) for 11 to 14 months at $20,500 per day. Last week, the 182,000-dwt Aquadivu (built 2010) was taken for another year by Classic Maritime at
$19,000 per day. MV Abyo Audrey is owned by investment company Heron Venture, which bought 12 bulkers from collapsed Italian owner Deiulemar
in January.
Ships were bought at very attractive prices, with the Abyo Audrey (ex-Maria Carmen Lembo) acquired for just $32m to $34m. Online platform VesselsValue.com
says the ship is worth $45.4m today.
The spot market for capesizes increased almost 50% over the week
to $16,400 per day on Wednesday.
Iron ore business connected to
China dominates and Vale, Rio Tin-
to, BHP and Fortesque have been active. Panamax spot rates rose by $1,400 per day to $6,600 per day, supramaxes climbed $800 per day to $9,500 per day.