The unnamed charterer of the NewLead Granadino (5,887 dwt, built 2009) has extended the contract for a second time for a further six months.
The original charter was agreed in September 2015 for up to a maximum of 18 months at a rate of $10,750 daily.
The contract was extended by six months in December and the new extension period will commence at the end of July, the company said.
The Newlead Granadino is currently trading in North America and the Caribbean, and transported 456,128 and 424,098 barrels of bitumen in 2014 and 2015, respectively, NewLead said.
“The second extension of the current contract of Newlead Granadino reflects the satisfaction of the charterer by the operational performance of the vessel amongst some of the most demanding trade routes and petroleum refineries of the world, as well as by NewLead’s competitive and efficient management of its bitumen tanker vessels,” Michael Zolotas, chairman and CEO of NewLead, said in a release.
Zolotas said his company intends to add new bitumen tanker vessels to its fleet “soon”.
“We are currently exploring joint venture opportunities with major oil refineries and traders in order to be able to develop further in the bitumen tanker sector,” he said.