A new price benchmark has been set for the acquisition of a modern Capesize as Clarksons Hellas reported the sale by Japanese owners of M/V ORIENT VEGA (181,433 dwt 2011 blt Imabari) to Greek interest at US$36.7m. "In the Panamax sector, the last week’s sale of M/V BRAVE WIND (71,333 dwt 1997 blt Namura) which was reported committed to German buyers for US$ 10.4m, It has now come to light that this sale failed and that the vessel is now sold to Chinese buyers at lower levels in the region of US$ 9.2m. The other Panamax sale is that of the M/V CSK UNITY (68,519 dwt 1995 blt Sasebo HI) at US$ 7.2m to undisclosed buyers, although worth noting drydocking is due in November this year. In the Handymaxes, NYK Global have sold M/V GLOBAL SANTOSH (45,572 dwt 1997 blt Tsuneishi Zosen) to Hong Kong based buyers at US$ 8.6m with SS and DD due, while the 12 years older Empremar’s M/V SAL DE AMERICA (42,129 dwt 1985 blt Koyo) is sold to Italian buyers for US$ 3.2m; a price reflecting a scrap value at region US$ 380/ldt.
In the Tanker S+P market we can report the sale of VLCC TITAN VENUS (298,306 dwt 1995 blt Daewoo) at US$ 25m to undisclosed buyers.
The Fal Bunkering Aframax M/T KHORFAKKAN (105,304 dwt 2010 blt Sumitomo) which has been detained in Singapore since early July at the behest of mortgagees, understand has now been sold to Greek buyers for US$ 33m.
The 15 years old Aframax M/T TAIYOH III (95,666 dwt 1997 blt Imabari) has been acquired by Middle East based buyers at US$ 8.5m basis ss/dd due.
In the products sector, Formosa Plastics have sold the methanol carrier M/T FORMOSA SEVEN
(35,657 dwt 1996 blt Shin Kurushima) for a firm price of US$ 9.35m. The level is slightly higher than most would have expected but being a zinc/epoxy coated Vessel the Chinese buyers may have had some very specific business in mind" said Clarksons Hellas.
Meanwhile, in a separate report from Lion Shipbrokers, in the dry bulk side, "prompt cape resale
BULK LOYALTY (HULL J0068) 176K EX JINHAI HEAVY SHIPYARD slated for delivery in January 2012, that was reported sold to Greek buyers for $37 mill couple of weeks ago is incorrect, as vessel remains for sale. Nineties vintage panamax CSK UNITY (68K BLT 1995 SASEBO/JAPAN) has been committed to undisclosed interests for the soft price of $7.5 mill. Last week’s sale of BRAVE WIND (71K BLT 1997 NAMURA/JAPAN) to German buyers for $10.5 mill has failed on subjects, and is now rumoured sold to Chinese buyers for a low $9.2 mill; remind you that similar unit GOLDEN GLORY (70K BLT 1996 SANOYAS/JAPAN) was sold end of July for $9.5 mill. Hong Kong buyers have purchased handymax GLOBAL SANTOSH (45.5K BLT 1997 TSUNEISHI/JAPAN CR 4X30T) for $8.6 mill. Older handymax SAL DE AMERICA (42K BLT 1985/JAPAN CR 4X25T LDT 8366) has found Italian buyers who paid the below scrap level of $3.2 mill basis delivery South America, which is equivalent to $385 per lt, while scrap value for bulkers in Subcontinent is circa $390-$400. Older three-generator handy logger OSIOS DAVID II (23.8K BLT 1982 IMABARI/JAPAN LDT 5947) was acquired by Egyptian buyer for $2.25 mill. At an auction in Durban, clients of CM Denizcilik of Turkey were the highest bidders with $865,000 for arrested singledecker BEHICE (8.7K BLT 1989/ROMANIA LDT 3412 MT).
On the container/mpp front, we heard just one further trading sale this week; Far Eastern buyers have purchased ice-class geared feeder CAPE SORELL (1058 TEUS BLT 1997/POLAND CR 2X40T LDT 5782) for $2.4 mill, slightly above her scrap value.
In the Tanker segment, clients of Thenamaris are reported as the buyers of modern aframax tanker KHORFAKKAN (105K BLT 2010 SUMITOMO/JAPAN) for $33 mill. Clients of Alma Maritime of Greece have splashed the cash ($146 mill for 7 vessels) and purchased en bloc three LR1 and four MR modern tankers" Lion concluded.