Hisashige Kisen Co, Wan Hai Lines and Salam Pacific Indonesia Lines are pruning their fleets as the intra-Asian trades show no signs of immediate improvement.
Cash buying sources say more are to follow in the forthcoming weeks, as Asian operators trim fleets and tonnage providers find little interest for their older ships in the charter market.
Hisashige Kisen’s 1,728-teu Kota Juta (built 2001) is the largest of the quartet heading for demolition.
The ship has been sold for a reported to Indian shiprecyclers for $310 per ldt, which nets the owner $2.37m.
The Japanese company acquired the Kota Juta from Pacific International Lines in January 2018, and immediately chartered it back to the Singaporean operator. Sources say the ship came off hire in May, and no further charters could be found.
Taiwan’s Wan Hai Lines has sold its 1,298-teu Wan Hai 212 (built 1993) for Hong Kong Convention-compliant recycling on an "as is" basis in Hong Kong for $245 per ldt, or $1.7m.
Some broking reports have listed the ship as the Wan Hai 209, its previous name.
Indonesian domestic liner player Salam Pacific Indonesia Lines (SPIL) is disposing of two of its older containerships.
Reportedly heading to Bangladesh are the 1,016-teu Armada Purnama (built 1995) and 724-teu Hijau Terang (built 1996).
Both ships have been sold for $303 per ldt, which sees SPIL net $1.55m for the Armada Purnama and $1.19m for the Hijau Terang.
The containership quartet will be joined in their destruction by two Japanese-owned car carriers.
Mitsui OSK Lines has sold its 4,900-ceu car carrier Euro Spirit (built 1998) for green recycling in India at $285 per ldt, or $3.6m.
TradeWinds understands the ship has already been beached.
Compatriot Fukunaga Kaiun KK has sold its 5,000-ceu car carrier Pegasus Highway (built 1994) to Indian breakers for a reported $287 per ldt, which adds $3.65 to the Japanese shipowner’s coffers.
Car carriers have featured frequently on shipbreaking lists in recent months due to the Covid-19 pandemic having a detrimental effect on global vehicle sales.
