Oil trader Gunvor has signed an $11.3m charter for two tankers from Sovcomflot (SCF Group) subsidiary Novoship amid a slight increase in rates for aframax period deals.

European shipbroking sources say Gunvor's Clearlake Shipping arm is taking two modern units on charters for up to two years.

The 109,000-dwt NS Captain (built 2006) and NS Columbus (built 2007) have been fixed for a year at $15,500 per day with an option for another 12 months.