Inui Global Logistics says it has made a ¥968m ($6m) gain from the sale of one of its older handysize bulk carriers.
While the JSX-listed handysize specialist did not disclose the specific vessel, sale price or buyer when announcing the deal late on Wednesday, brokers familiar with recent Japanese bulker sales identified it as the 29,700-dwt Ken Hou (built 2004), reportedly sold for $8.6m.
The ship is to be handed over to its new owner in August or September.
The Shikoku Dockyard-built Ken Hou was said to have been sold ahead of its fourth special survey, which is due in November 2024.
The ship was acquired by Inui in 2009 as the Bella Nautica from Meiho Kaiun, which in turn had acquired it in 2004 as a newbuilding resale from Taiwanese owner Shih Wei Navigation.
Inui is both an operator and owner.
VesselsValue lists the company as owning 22 handysize bulkers with an average age of 12 years. In addition, the fleet is supplemented by additional bulkers that are chartered.
The company’s ships are chartered out in the open market or used to support its wider logistics business. It is not known to be a prolific asset player.
As such, it is not especially active on the sale-and-purchase front.
Online platform VesselsValue shows that the last time Inui sold tonnage was in 2019 when it disposed of three 24,100-dwt bulkers to Chinese interests.
It has similarly refrained from making purchases or investing in newbuildings for several years.
