Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) is being named as the buyer of a pair of 7,000-teu containerships.
The Swiss owner has reportedly bought the 6,966-teu Texas and Washington (both built 2009) in a deal estimated to be worth more than $50m.
MSC would not comment on the transaction, but European brokers reported the vessels as being sold for about $27m each, although they were estimated to be worth between $22m and $25m.
Premium price achieved
The premium suggests that any sale could include the balance of their charters to the Swiss liner operator.
MSC deploys the two vessels on services between the Eastern Mediterranean and the West Indies as well as on its Europe-Australasia-Middle East service.
The Texas and Washington are listed as controlled by Nautilus Holdings, which filed for bankruptcy protection in July 2014 after it could no longer service $770m in loans on 16 ships ranging between 2,500 teu and 7,000 teu.
Most of the vessels have since been sold, although the sale of the two MSC vessels would still leave Nautilus with up to four medium-size containerships, according to data from Clarksons.
The Hyundai Heavy Industries-built Texas and Washington are the last in a series of 28 units built between 2002 and 2009, according to Alphaliner.
Rare sales
Sales of this size of vessel have become rare in recent months, during which time asset values have appreciated significantly.
That may make it more difficult for owners to offload other vessels such as the 6,600-teu NYK Terra (built 2008), which brokers say is being marketed for sale.
