Greek owner Empire Bulkers has acquired the six-year-old, Korean-built Maverick Gunner kamsarmax bulker from compatriot owner Efploia Shipping. Brokers put the price for the 80,717dwt vessel at US$13.25m.

The sale is the latest in what has been a record year for secondhand bulker buys.

Clarkson Research is reporting a total of 567 bulkers of a combined 40m dwt were sold secondhand in January to November 2016, equivalent to 5% of bulker fleet capacity at the beginning of 2016. In terms of tonnage, sales were up 15% on full year 2015 and slightly above the previous annual record in 2007.

"The high level of bulkcarrier sale and purchase activity in the year to date is partly a product of continued depressed dry bulk market conditions. The duration of the downturn has exerted severe financial strain on bulkcarrier owners, and this has been exacerbated recently by increasing pressure from banks, leading to a greater share of secondhand transactions being accounted for by 'distressed' sales this year," reported Clarkson Research.

Japanese and Greek owners have accounted for the largest volumes of bulker sales in the year to date, with 103 units (7m dwt) and 93 units (5m dwt) sold respectively.