Charter rates for the largest oil tankers hauling Middle East crude to Asia rose the most in two weeks amid speculation demand to book vessels strengthened.

High contracting activity in the dry bulk segment continues also this week, with totally 18 ship orders. This includes the order from Eitzen Eco Bulk for up 9 handysize bulk carriers at the private owned Yangzhou shipyard in China. Also Oldendorff is taking advantage of low shipbuilding prices to build up its fleet, latest with declared options for further 2 handysize bulk carriers at Samjin.

Paragon Shipping has placed an order for two 4,800 TEU containerships with Zhejiang Ouhua, China to be delivered in 2014, according to the latest Intermodal Market Report. The price was not disclosed.

A surplus of the largest oil tankers expanded for a second week in the Persian Gulf, the world’s biggest crude-loading region, a Bloomberg News survey showed. There are 19 percent more very large crude carriers available for hire over the next 30 days than probable cargoes, according to the median in a Bloomberg survey of six shipbrokers.

Charter rates for the largest oil tankers hauling Middle East crude to Asia slumped for a fourth session as the surplus of available ships for loading cargoes expanded.

Greeks have been highly active in the secondhand market in weeks 19 and 20. Lion Shipbrokers report deals involving Navios, Swissmarine, Chartworld, A.M.Nomikos, Giavridis, LPL Shipping, Ionia Management, Paradise Navigation, Polembros and Lomar.

d’Amico Tankers Limited exercised its purchase options, as earlier disclosed last 12 of March, and entered into contracts for the construction of two additional new product/chemical tanker vessels with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd. – Korea, expected to be delivered in H2 2015, for a consideration of less than US$ 30.0 million each.

Navios has made a move in the secondhand market for two tanker vessels, according to latest broker reports. The KUROSHIO EXPRESS (dwt 47.999 blt 2005 Japan) and ORANGE EXPRESS (dwt 47.999 blt 2005 Japan) tanker vessels have been bought at a cost of USD 16.5 million.

Active on the bulker side. Dansish Norden today announced a total of 13 vessels. Two kamsarmaxes and four supramaxes will be built at different yards in Japan and at the same time another two kamsarmaxes and five supramaxes will be chartered in long term with purchase options.