Following news that emerged few weeks ago, Rome-based Globeco seems to be very close to signing a deal to offload its handymax bulk carrier under construction at Chinese shipyard Avic Weihai.

Some ship brokers report Oldendorff Carriers as the potential buyer at a price of US$13.5m, but sources familiar with the matter said that the deal is not closed yet and that there is at least another buyer interested in the vessel.

Don Mariano, that's the name of the newly built 37,900dwt bulk carrier, was ordered in spring 2013 for some US$20m and is due for delivery imminently.

A few weeks ago, Globeco's chairman Mariano Pane confirmed that negotiations for the resale of this ship were underway.