A trio of large boxships being sold by Japanese owners has drawn interest from several buyers, with interests associated with Greece's Costamare being linked to the first of the ships to be sold.

Japanese owner Shoei Kisen and its partners have sparked fierce competition among containership owners by putting the three post-panamaxes on the sales block.

The first of the vessels, the 6,350-teu MOL Partner (built 2005), was reported sold for little more than scrap-value at around $9.6m.

That sets the benchmark for two near sisterships, the 6,350-teu MOL Pace (built 2006) and MOL Paradise (built 2005).

Brokers said the Japanese owner is hoping to sell the sisterships en bloc, after which is may have more vessels in the series to sell.

Three broking sources said that the MOL Partner has been sold to clients of Costamare.

A spokesperson for Costamare denied any purchase of the Japanese ships by his company's publicly-listed operation Costamare Inc.

But he was unable to comment on the possibility that the Greek owner's private or ship management interests may be involved.

The Japanese ships are being sold at the expiration of their time-charter contracts with Japan's Ocean Network Express (ONE).

The prices that he ships are attracting is said to reflect the need to dry dock the vessels.

That could prove especially expensive for the MOL Paradise and MOL Pace, which need to be fitted with ballast water treatment systems.

Good price

Interest in large boxships is growing at a time when rates are improving and the number of ships available for charter have dried up.

That is reflected in the sale of the MOL Partner. One Asian broker described said the vessel had obtained "a good price" which demonstrated that the values were "picking up for this size of ships".

"One month ago there were no partners willing to inspect the ship," he said.

"Shoei had intended to sell the vessel for scrap when scrap price was around $8m. Eventually, seven buyers came to offer and they got a price in the mid-$9 millions."

The Japanese vessels belong to a series of nine P-class vessels delivered to MOL by Japan's Koyo Dockyard between 2005 and early 2009.

The MOL Partner is wholly owned by Shoei Kisen, while other two ships owned by the Japanese owner as part of a Singapore-based joint venture.

More sales

Brokers said that Japanese owner could place more ships in the series onto the market for sale.

They expect that would depend on talks between the owner and existing charterers.

The MOL Partner was put on the sale and purchase market market a month ago.

At that time, charter rates were tumbling and the liner operator was not able to extend the charter.

Since then, rates have picked up and there is a shortage of large vessels available for spot charters.

That has not stopped some owners from sending some larger vessels for scrap.

In June, Costamare scrapped the 7,403-teu Kokura (built 1997) followed by the sistership 7,403-teu Kure (built 1996).

A third vessel, the 7,403-teu Kawasaki (built 1997), is reported sold this week. The vessel is worth $9.65m to a demolition buyer, according to valuation platform VesselsValue.