Singapore-based Berge Bulk is expanding its capesize bulker fleet with the purchase of an eight-year-old ship.
Brokers in the US and Greece said the company purchased the 176,000-dwt CSSC Wan Mei (built 2012) from CSSC Shipping for between $17.8m and $18.2m.
The Chinese-built vessel is not due for special survey until November 2022.
The price tag is well below valuation estimates. VesselsValue claims the CSSC Wan Mei is worth $21m, while rival valuation provider Maritime Strategies International puts the figure at $23.4m.
The James Marshall-led company does not comment on commercial matters.
Berge Bulk has been busy renewing its fleet of large bulkers, selling nine large bulkers for demolition in less than two years.
But the Singaporean company has also been acquiring newer bulkers. In September, the company bought the 176,000-dwt Pacific Queen (built 2010) from Germany’s Salamon for $14.5m. That ship was due for special survey at the time.
Including the CSSC Wan Mai, Berge Bulk has purchased six capesize bulkers this year.
The company has a fleet of 79 bulkers on the water.
Berge Bulk is in the middle of an extensive newbuilding programme, which includes a number of newcastlemax bulkers under construction at Bohai Shipbuilding.
