Late 2015 saw market swing from one extreme to another

摘要

It is fair to say that 2015 will not be remembered as a vintage year for operators of platform supply vessels (PS Vs) and anchor-handling tug/supply (AHTS) vessels. The drop in the price of oil gradually took its toll, with more than 100 vessels laid up in the North Sea by the end of the year. Day rates kept dropping further and further, with no let up seemingly in sight, but then December came along, providing the kind of incredible day rate returns that only the bravest industry analysts could have predicted. In late December - for the first time in several months - the balance between supply and demand fell very much in the favour of vessel operators as opposed to chartering companies. Week by week, the number of vessels in layup continued to increase with seemingly no positive effect, however, in terms of day rates. In fact, they dwindled to the lowest average in the last seven or so years in October.