Further container ship sales by German financier Gebab have propelled the tally of container ships sold by its associated ship manager this year into double figures.
The North German owner is selling the 6,078-teu Brussels (built 2000) and the 2,702-teu Najade (built 2007) for a combined price, reported to be about $45m.
The larger vessel has gone to a buyer from China for $26m — a strong price for the 24-year-old ship, say market sources.
The smaller Najade is said to have gone to German buyers for around $19m.
Both are being sold on a charter-free basis with delivery in the first four months of 2025.
The deals bring the total number of ships sold this year, previously under the technical management of Germany’s NSB Group, to around a dozen.
That includes seven ships of more than 6,000 teu sold since December 2023.
Most have been sold to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, which remains the most prolific buyer of vessels of this size.
The Swiss owner has been on a monumental secondhand purchasing spree that has seen it acquire close to 400 container ships since August 2020.
Embiricos trims fleet
MSC recently acquired one of the two remaining container ships in the fleet of Embiricos family-controlled International Maritime Enterprises.
The 5,908-teu Folegandros (built 2001) is reported to have been sold in August, just weeks after Embiricos sold to MSC the 5,576-teu post-panamax Ikaria (renamed MSC Ikaria VI, built 2002).
The vessel has been renamed MSC Folegandros VI and is set to join MSC’s Mexicas service in Shekou on 21 October, according to Alphaliner.
That leaves Embiricos with a single container vessel, the 6,881 teu Kea (built 2013). The ship operates as the Panda 006 and is chartered to Tailwind Shipping Lines, says Alphaliner.
MSC is showing no sign of ending its spending spree and has been lining up more purchases of classic panamax-size vessels.
Shipbroker Braemar links MSC to the purchase of the 4,300-teu baby panamax Baltic West (built 2009) from South Korean owner Sinokor for $36m.
MSC also recently purchased the 4,994-teu MSC Monterey (built 2007) — another vessel formerly managed by the NSB Group.
