Handysize bulk carriers have been the stars of 2021, with rates hitting their highest levels since mid-2008.
Despite rates falling off a little in recent days, fleet employment remains high as demand in disrupted shipping markets remains strong.
Handysize utilisation peaked this year at around 98% and remains close to that level, according to Braemar ACM Shipbroking.
Employment of smaller bulkers is usually dragged up by rising utilisation of larger tonnage but — true to form for 2021 — this year it has been the other way around.
