Shipbrokers are at odds over the buyers of a product tanker duo sold by Gulf Energy Maritime last week, as the Dubai-based company is exiting the long-range two (LR2) market.
The only elements reports agree upon is the 114,000-dwt Gulf Vision (built 2012) and Gulf Valour (built 2013) have been acquired by Greek buyers for $64m in total.
The most frequently identified buyer of the ships, in a process handled by Clarksons Platou, is Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis.
Some brokers, however, have named Greek peers Metrostar and George Melissanidis-led Aegean Shipping Management.
None of the three companies have so far responded to a request for comment. Calls to Gulf Energy seeking comment and clarification on the sale of the ships were unanswered at the time of writing on Tuesday.
Latsis has been frequently tied to aframax and LR2 sales of late, especially since the owner divulged earlier this year he had set up an asset play vehicle to invest in the sector.
However, just the purchase of a former Chandris duo by Latsis has been formally confirmed so far – that of the 115,900-dwt sisterships Aegea (renamed Fos Da Vinci, built 2009) and Amorea (renamed Fos Picasso, built 2009).
Latsis has also been linked to another three, so far unconfirmed, purchases.
Marinsa Denizcilik’s 105,200-dwt sisterships Densa Crocodile (built 2013) and Densa Alligator (built 2013), as well as of the 115,100-dwt Singapore River (built 2009).
Brokers reported this week that the Singapore River has gone to different Greek owners.
A purchase by Metrostar or Aegean would be relatively surprising.
Both companies have been stocking up their fleets with newbuildings rather than second-hand ships over the past few years.
As TradeWinds reported, Gulf Energy placed the Gulf Vision and Gulf Valour on the market in October.
Shipbrokers have been telling TradeWinds that a sale at $64m offers a fresh benchmark for LR2 tonnage at a time product tanker sale and purchase activity has picked up, backed by a rising winter market.
GEM has a fleet of 19 tankers on the water with a sizable position in both the LR1 and MR sectors.
