Nikolaos Vafias has locked one of his two newly acquired capesize bulkers into a period contract at what is one of the best rates seen in more than a year.

Vafias-led Eco Dry Ventures has fixed the 177,000-dwt Moneqasque Eclat (ex Spring Hydrangea, built 2006) to E.On on a five to eight month contract, sources say.

The rate is said to be $8,000 per day, which marks a 14-month high in the capesize time charter market and compares to a $5,000 per day average in the spot market this year.

Arctic