Malaysian tanker owner AET has locked one of its 12 VLCCs into a three-year charter with Total at a surprisingly low rate.

The French oil major has hired the 320,000-dwt Eagle Vancouver (built 2013) from the MISC Berhad subsidiary for $31,000 per day, according to European brokers.

Oslo shipbroker Fearnleys lists the three-year rate for a VLCC at $36,500 per day.