NORTH SEA

摘要

The first month of 2010 brought some positive news for supply vessel owners and operators in Northwest Europe, with plenty of new term requirements issued, and short-term day rates on the increase. At various points during the month, PSV availability on the spot market was zero, or close to it, forcing charterers to pay higher rates to acquire quality tonnage. High utilisation rates for PSVs on the spot market have seen many recent GBP 11,000 fixtures for cargo runs, a big improvement on the GBP 3,000 rates seen at the end of 2009. Although such rates are still way down when compared with the peak period of October 2008, there is plenty to be positive about for owners at the start of 2010. Some vessels that had been laid up in the North Sea at the end of 2009 are also beginning to come back into service, as owners take advantage of the tightened market conditions.