Russian tanker giant Sovcomflot (SCF Group) has sold a 19-year-old suezmax for a stronger-than-expected price as it continues to clear out older tonnage.
Various shipbroking houses said the company has sold the 159,000-dwt SCF Altai (built 2001) to Greek owner Sea Pioneer.
The Hyundai Heavy Industries-built vessel reportedly went for $17.7m, which is somewhat higher than the estimated value for a ship of these characteristics.
VesselsValue says the tanker is worth $16.5m, while Maritime Strategies International puts it at $15.8m.
In April last year, the tanker was committed to a Greek buyer for just $13.5m, but that deal failed to materialise.
Sovcomflot declined to comment and Sea Pioneer did not respond to requests for comment.
The Russian owner has a modern fleet of 103 vessels with an average age of just nine years, in addition to 10 newbuildings.
The SCF Altai is poised to become Sea Pioneer's biggest vessel nearly five years after it sold the 161,000-dwt bulker Prosperity (built 1995) for demolition in April 2015, a deal that saw it exit large ship segments.
The Vasilis Bacolitsas-run company currently owns four bulkers and four MR tankers with an average age of eight years.
The SCF Altai purchase follows a deal last November that saw Sea Pioneer buy the 83,000-dwt bulker KM Tokyo (built 2010). The outfit reportedly paid $15.8m for the kamsarmax, which has been renamed Fidelity.
