Victor Restis-controlled Golden Energy Management is carrying out its first sale-and-leaseback trans­action, involving two MR2 sisterships.

TradeWinds understands the 46,600-dwt Energy Progress and Energy Puma (both built 2008) have been sold to an unidentified Chinese party for more than $17m each. They were built at Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine in South Korea.

Tanker S&P deals are becoming more frequent. In August, Navios Maritime Acquisition revealed a deal for 10 product tankers as part of its latest refinancing drive. However, Golden Energy has so far been absent from the trend.

The deal to cash in on the ­Energy Progress and Energy Puma is in contrast to the straight sale of an older MR2 unit, which Restis offloaded a few weeks ago.

Golden Energy’s 51,300-dwt ­Energy Protector (built 2004) is believed to have fetched about $11m in a transaction concluded at the end of August. The STX Offshore & Shipbuilding-constructed vessel has since emerged as the biggest vessel in the fleet of the US-based MT Maritime group and is trading as MTM Hudson.

The sale of the Energy Protector has to be seen as a first, gradual fleet-renewal move while Golden Energy awaits delivery of newbuildings under construction at STX’s Chinhae yard in South Korea. As TradeWinds reported in July, the company signed a deal for two firm and two optional 50,000-dwt product carriers for an estimated $37.5m each.

The ships, to be delivered by early 2021, will be scrubber-ready and built to IMO NOx Tier III emissions standards.

Golden Energy has another pair of 11-year-old MR2 tankers that might be sales candidates: the 46,800-dwt Energy Panther and 46,600-dwt Energy Patriot (both built 2008).

The Energy Panther is on a three-year time charter with Exxon­Mobil, reportedly earning $14,500 per day until August 2021.

Golden Energy, which is listed with 11 tankers on the water, is part of Restis’ wide-­ranging business and shipping interests. His Enter­prises Shipping & ­Trading manages more than 20 bulkers.

Restis was also a shareholder in freight operator SwissMarine. However, he is understood to have sold his holding as part of a buyout by Peter Weernink-led Singapore Marine.