Portline Bulk International has reportedly sold a trio of supramaxes after prior reports of a deal for the ships never came to fruition.
In September, some brokers claimed that Portline was lining up a sale or the 56,000-dwt Port Hainan, Port Dalian and Port Canton (all built 2012).
Now US brokers are have issued a fresh report of a sale of the Cosco Zhoushan-built trio to a Chinese buyer for $28.5m en bloc.
Portline executive director Jorge Fernandes threw cold water on reports of the sale, as he has with prior deal reports.
“Will update you as soon as the situation changes,” he said.
Talk of a sale of the trio remerged after a series of other reported deals have also appeared on broker reports, though in some cases the ships have yet to change hands.
Then in October, brokers said Portline sold its two oldest ships, the 50,000-dwt Achilleus and Estoril (both built 2001) for $4.2m each.
The deal has not been confirmed and the ship is still listed in Portline's fleet.
Earlier this month, the company reportedly sold its only capesize, the 176,000-dwt Ina (built 2003), for $9.1m. Equasis reports the Universal-built ship is still in the Portline fleet.
Fernandes insisted that none of the ships in question have been sold.
In July, the company was reported to have sold the 52,000-dwt bulkers Sabrina 1 and Florinda 1 (both built 2005) for $5m each to Tosco Keymax International Ship Management of China. Equasis shows both vessels are now in the Tosco fleet, renamed as the Pacific Sophia and Pacific Freida.
In addition to the Ina, the Portline Bulk consists of eight ultramaxes that are on average two years old and seven supramaxes are on average 12 years old.
Some observers believe it is likely that Portline will concentrate on the younger ultramax bulkers in its fleet.
Last year the company took delivery of two ultramax newbuildings each from Oshima Shipbuilding and Imabari Shipbuilding.
The company is now owned by three individuals identified as “prominent business people” from Hong Kong.
