TMT seeks to hire more super tankers

Taiwan Maritime Transport, a Taipei-based shipper and trader of freight derivatives, hired three supertankers and wants more, expecting higher rental rates.

TMT hired the very large crude carriers, or VLCCs, Shinyo Navigator, Safwa and Maritime Jewel for 90 to 120 days at fixed daily rates, head of research T.C. Chang said. 'We think the VLCC market should be going up because demand is still there,' Chang said. Tanker rates have slumped 73 percent since November 13 as brokers judged there are too many vessels available and amid speculation, a US recession would curb demand for crude oil from refineries. Rental rates posted the biggest two-month gain in at least 16 years in November and December. TMT hired the vessels for about US$60,000 a day, from Nor Ocean Stockholm AB, Simpson.

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