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The charter market for multipurpose/heavy lift ships appears to have bottomed out during the final weeks of 2016 following[ds_preview] an extremely tough year. The period rate ­assessment for 12,500 dwt ships (F class mpp type) for 6-12 month durations by Hamburg shipbroker Toepfer Transport remained stable at 6,366 $/day for November. It had reached its low of 6,280 $/day back in September. 

Clarkson Platou’s average rate for 17,000 dwt and for 12,000 dwt geared mpp vessels basis 12 months charter also remained steady 7,500 and at 6,500 $/day, respectively, in mid-December. With rates as low as they are and a continuing lack of high-value project cargoes, chartering activity continues to be dominated by single trips or ultra-short periods. This should be in the interests both of owners and charterers.

In Europe, a 12,700 dwt unit reportedly achieved a fairly firm 8,000 $/day for a trip from the continent to West Africa in late November, while a 17,000 dwt ship with a combined lifting capacity of 120 t fixed a trip out from Europe to the Persian Gulf at 8,500 $/day. Some other units of around 12,500 and 17,000 dwt capacity secured short trips within the Atlantic or from Europe to the far East at low 6,000’s or mid 5,000’s $/day. In Asia, a large 32,000 dwt vessel (geared, 4 x 60 t) delivering in the Pearl River Delta is said to have secured a trip to the US Gulf at a hire rate of 9,000 $/day.

The rare longer term fixtures towards the end of 2016 were rumoured to include two 12 month deals for 12,500 dwt tonnage owned by Singapore’s SE Shipping to Danish operator Thorco at around 7,000 $/day.