Danish shipping giant Norden is expanding its fleet of kamsarmax bulkers with the purchase of two ships from Mitsui & Co of Japan.
Brokers in Europe and in the US said the Danish company has purchased the 82,000-dwt UWS 2 and UWS 3 (both built 2020).
The ships, which were built at China's Jiangsu Yangzi Mitsui Shipbuilding, have achieved a price of $27.2m each. That is slightly more than the price Mitsui & Co paid when it ordered the ships in 2015.
Norden nor Mitsui responded to requests for comment.
Copenhagen-based Norden, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, has changed its strategy from a traditional shipowner to an asset-light company with a focus on chartered tonnage.
The Jan Rindbo-led company operates close to 500 vessels and is a leading player in the kamsarmax segment, with more than 50 of the midsize bulkers in its fleet. It only owns two of these kamsarmaxes, the 81,000-dwt Nord Penguin and Nord Beluga (both built 2015).
The purchase of the Mitsui ships may indicate that the company wants to have a critical mass of owned tonnage in its fleet. TradeWinds reported this week that Norden has also bought the 82,000-dwt bulker Karlovasi (built 2016) from Greek shipowner Samos Steamship for $26.9m.
For 2020, Norden reported its best annual results in 10 years, which Rindbo attributed to its asset-light focus. Last year, the company also switched its main market exposure from tankers to bulkers.
