George Souravlas-led Load Line Marine has revealed the purchase of a Dong-A Tanker handysize bulker in a deal that sources have priced at $12.3m to $12.4m.
Load Line said in a social media post that the 33,700-dwt DL Jasmine (built 2012) has officially joined its fleet under the name Aquila Trader.
Brokers reported the sale at the end of June, although at the time the buyer was not identified.
According to VesselsValue estimates, the ship would be worth closer to $13m as a sales candidate today.
The DL Jasmine is the second ship acquired this year by Load Line, or clients thereof.
In June, Load Line emerged as the new owner/manager of the 58,000-dwt supramax Thetis (built 2013), a bulker sold by Sea Tribute in March for a reported $17.5m.
Some brokers also reported in July that Load Line had bought the 58,000-dwt Gillingham (built 2010) for $13.25m. However, the company denied being involved in the deal and the ship has since emerged in the fleet of Italy’s Bogazzi & Figli under the name Med Toscana.
The addition of the Aquila Trader gives Load Line a 13-strong fleet of handy to ultramax bulkers, with 541,000 dwt overall capacity and an average age of 12 years.
The Samjin-built DL Jasmine was one of two handysize bulk carriers sold by Dong-A Tanker on the same day in late June.
The 2012-built DL Lilac, an identical sister ship, was also reported as sold to undisclosed Greek buyers for $12.4m.
It has yet to be handed over to its new owner, which market sources said is not Load Line.
