VLCC “TINA 5” (built 2002 Hyundai, 316k dwt) was recently reported sold for demolition. She used to do lots of sanctioned Venezuelan cargoes. Surprise! She is now reported sold for onwards trade, for $55M. IMO # 9237761. Unsanctioned vessel.

VLC mocks Windows over a bizarre performance issue that can make MP3 files take up to 33 seconds to start. A user was criticising it, saying that the state of VLC “is in a truly embarrassing place now...” and said they were switching to the Microsoft player. VideoLAN says the slowdown appears to be linked to Microsoft Defender interfering with VLC’s plugin cache. Vlc reported on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.

BREAKING: Earnings for VLCC supertankers on the benchmark Middle East-to-China route are up to nearly $800,000 per day, an all-time high. Rates have more than doubled over the last 2 months. At the same time, the rate for a VLCC charter from the US Gulf to Asia is up to a record ~$29.5 million per voyage, before additional war-risk costs and fees for potential delays. The surge has been driven by fewer vessels willing to transit the Strait of Hormuz, sharply reducing available shipping capacity. As a result, alternative routes keep each tanker at sea for more time, further reducing the number of vessels available. Looking ahead, earnings for VLCCs are estimated to stay above $100,000 a day into next year, more than double historical levels, which rarely exceeded $45,000 a day, according to Kpler. Inflation is back.

Fearnley’s: “The VLCC positions list is now so tight that no one would be surprised if we see WS 400 breached for a Fujairah/East run off a prompt position.” WS 400 would be ~ $428,000/day for a round voyage.

BREAKING: A National Iranian VLCC supertanker is now loading 2 million barrels of crude oil at the Azarpad jetty on Iran's Kharg Island, Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from today shows, the first loading at Iran's most important oil island since end of July. This is Iran's first attempt to break the US blockade since it was reimposed in mid-July.