In the debt-heavy oil transportation industry, lower transportation rates can seriously jeopardize a company's solvency. We're now seeing rates at $21,000 per day for the average very large crude carrier (VLCC), compared to Suezmax shipping rates of more than $70,000 per day in 2010. The rates are down 5.5% so far this year compared to previous estimates and they look to still be turning lower in the near future. The firms in this industry will have to become a bit more creative with financing to remain going concerns.