Atlantica Shipping has bought a 14-year-old, German-controlled containership.

Johan Werner, managing director of the low-profile Norwegian shipowner, confirmed the purchase of the 3,091-teu JPO Leo (built 2005). Brokers said it is paying $6.8m for the ship.

Equasis lists the JPO Leo as controlled by a KG (limited partnership) backed by HanseContor Shipmanagement.

The deal for the Szczecin Shipyard-built vessel means Atlantica will have 11 boxships in its fleet of 19 vessels.

The opportunistic player has been selling and buying tonnage.

At the end of last year, it sold an 82,000-dwt kamsarmax newbuilding, Hull No 199, at Jiangsu Hantong Group, to Oldendorff ­Carriers for $26.5m, having ordered it for $24m.

Werner, who owns 60% of Atlantica, confirmed it had made a small profit on selling on the bulker.

Oldendorff is a shareholder in Atlantica, as are Greek owner AM Nomikos, the management and ­local investors.

Atlantica also owns five tankers after its March purchase of the 46,800-dwt MR Sirius (renamed Atlantica Breeze, built 2007) from Empire Navigation of Greece for $14m, plus a supramax bulker and two multipurpose vessels.

Atlantica was set up in 1997 as an operator, but has since become an owner and manager.

It employs its ships on long-term charters and on spot-related deals.