Eagle Bulk Shipping's Gary Vogel is still upbeat on the market for smaller dry bulk vessels, despite the troubles fallen upon the capesize sector since the late January Vale dam disaster.

The chief executive says rates for his company's ultramaxes and supramaxes have actually rebounded to around $9,000 per day in recent months.

Capes, meanwhile, are fetching around $4,400 per day, down from $13,288 since the Brumadinho tailing dam break forced the Brazilian iron ore giant to close 50 tailing dams and reduce output by 40 million tonnes.