Crude tanker rates not as bad as brokers say, owners argue

Tanker owners swear they are getting better rates than broker reports would suggest.

With the Baltic Exchange quoting VLCC rates a little over $5,500 per day, while suezmaxes have fallen below zero and aframaxes earn a paltry $679 per day, the owners on Capital Link's online New York Maritime Forum crude tanker panel said their actual fixtures were much better.