Two bulker bookings have been cancelled due to the deadly ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Shipping sources told the Platts news agency that deals involving a supramax and an ultramax were scrapped from the port of Kamsar in Guinea at the last minute last week.
The ships were fixed to load bauxite between 7 and 13 September, for shipping to India.
The shipowners did not want to take a risk on the business, despite higher rates being on offer because of the epidemic, according to one source.
Owners are also worried that vessels may be barred if they have visited ebola-affected regions.