For the past couple of weeks the tanker market has been rife with speculation that Petobras locked in the 309,000-dwt Amantea (built 2002) for another three years.

Today a source with close ties to the operator, Neda Maritime Agency, confirmed the identity of the charterer and duration of the deal but declined to discuss the day rate.

Brokers claim the vessel commanded roughly $30,000 per day, however, which is well above the $19,875 Petrobras paid when it hired the same unit for two years in 2012.

While