Over the weekend， brokers report two rare modern bulker deals， ships sold shortly after being circulated for sale. The price tag attached to the latest deals also shows an increased appetite for modern ships.

Ten days ago， Belgian Conti Lines tempted the market with the 61，000 DWT Iwagi-built Cl Ebisu. The Ultramax was quickly sold for just under $27m. The short time frame from initial marketing to it being sold shows that Japanese-built ships in this age group are far easier to sell than for other types and ages.

In a comparable deal， the same-aged Yangzhou Dayang， 63，000 DWT All Stars Atlas was sold for a few million less.

Another deal highlighted this weekend was concluded between Singapore-based Safargo Shipping and an unidentified taker. The seven-year-old， 82，000 DWT， Tsuneishi Zhoushan-built Valiant Spring was sold for $28.3 m.

One has to go back to November last year to find a sale of a similar vessel. Then Doun Kisen sold the 83，000 DWT Tsuneishi Cebu-built Lowlands Comfort for $26.5m to Johann MK Blumenthal.