Nordic American Tankers (NAT) has confirmed the sale of a second elderly suezmax tanker in line with its fleet overhaul plans announced last year.
The 164,300-dwt Nordic Mistral (built 2002) has been sold to an undisclosed buyer who will take delivery of the ship in February.
The US-listed tanker owner has now sold two early 2000s-built suezmaxes in recent months including the 150,200-dwt Nordic Sirius (built 2000) in October 2021.
The Herbjorn Hansson-led tanker specialist said a price of about $30m had been achieved in total for these two vessels “reflecting their quality”.
This latest disposal leaves NAT with a fleet of 23 suezmaxes including two newbuildings that are set for delivery in May and June this year.
The two newbuildings were contracted at South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries for just $55m apiece, but they are now worth around $76m each, according to figures from Clarksons.
The Nordic Mistral is the third suezmax tanker to be reported sold in the first few weeks of 2022, according to the latest data from VesselsValue.
The two other sales so far this year are Teekay Tankers’ sale of the 159,500-dwt Kaveri Spirit (built 2004) for $15.8m and Top Ship’s sale of its 157,300-dwt newbuilding Eco Oceano Ca (built 2022) for an undisclosed price.
NAT is due to report its fourth-quarter performance and dividend declaration on Friday 25 February 2022 prior to the opening of the NYSE.
