In spite of increased focus on new and modern tonnage, oil majors are still showing a willing to take on some older vessels on time charters, albeit at a somewhat lower rate.

European brokers reported this week that ExxonMobil has fixed a 16-year-old aframax from Sea World Management & Trading of Greece for a year.

The Texas energy major has reportedly taken the 106,000-dwt Sea Beech (built 2003) from the Laliotis family company Sea World, at a rate of $21,000 per day.