Greek shipowner AM Nomikos has bought two nine-year-old supramaxes from South Korea’s SK Shipping while shedding an older vessel as it continues to boost its bulker fleet, according to sources in Europe and the US.

The company agreed to pay $12.5m each for the 55,000-dwt sisterships K Garnet and K Opal (both built 2010).

The Seoul-based owner did not respond to a request for comment on reports that it had sold the IHI-built pair.

AM Nomikos' website already features the K Garnet under its new name Key Ohana.

SK Shipping circulated that ship for sale in April, but TradeWinds understands that the deal was concluded in mid-August when freight rates for bulkers shot up.

Lemissoler to sell off older vessels as it awaits deliveries
 Read more

News that AM Nomikos bought the K Opal as well only emerged late last week.

The K Garnet and K Opal are the first ships that the company has bought so far in 2019. Their acquisition is part of a fleet-renewal strategy for the company.

Athens brokers also reported this week that AM Nomikos has sold its first vessel in nearly two years.

The 49,400-dwt bulker Nemo (built 1999) is believed to have fetched $5.2m in a deal with an undisclosed buyer.

The market for supramaxes remains hot. The 58,000-dwt Nord Explorer (built 2009) was reported sold this week to Greek interests for $12.5m.

The Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu-built ship fetched the same price as the K Garnet and the K Opal, despite being a year older.

AM Nomikos has a strong preference for supramaxes, with 24 of its 40 ships in this segment.

However, its newest ships are ultramaxes, with nine trading in its fleet with an average age of just two years.

Next year, Nomikos will take delivery of the fourth and last in a series of 61,000-dwt ultramax newbuildings from Cosco Nantong Heavy Industry. The company still has three 1990s-built handymaxes in its fleet.

Nomikos is understood to have partners in some of its bulkers, including UK-based Tufton Oceanic.

For many years, it has been a shareholder of Oslo-based Atlantica Shipping, where Germany’s Henning Oldendorff and company employees are also shareholders. This firm has a diversified fleet of 17 vessels.