Hong Kong dry bulk shipowner, Pacific Basin, has added two supramaxes and two handysizes to its fleet, sealing four separate deals worth a total of $73.84m.

The four unidentified vessels are all constructed in Japan, and made up of two 2015-built (Shikoku) handysizes, a 2015-built (Tsuneishi) supramax and a 2012-built (Imabari) supramax.

Three of the vessels are currently on time charter to Pacific Basin, who is paying a mixture of cash and shares for each transaction. A total of $49,472,800 will be paid out in cash, with shares issued to settle the remaining $24,367,200.

Pacific Basin, which has a fleet of 115 bulkers at the moment, said the deal is in line with its strategic plan of acquiring quality secondhand Japanese-built ships.