Portline Bulk International has sold off two Japanese-built supramaxes as it continues a fleet renewal drive.
The Portuguese shipowner has sold 52,000-dwt Port Estoril and 50,000-dwt Achilleus (both built 2001) to Chinese buyers for $4.2m each, shipbrokers said.
The ships have an scrap value of between $4m and $4.5m, but the sale is expected to see them continue trading.
Both bulkers are due for special survey next year.
Portline bought the Oshima Dockyard-built Achilleus for $23m in 2003. A sale-and-purchase history for the Onomichi Dockyard-built Port Estoril was not available.
Portline executive director Jorge Fernandes did not respond to requests for comment.
The company's 52,000-dwt bulker Angela (built 2004) is also understood to be on the market.
Last month, brokers reported that the bulker owner had disposed of three much newer supramax bulkers, the 56,000-dwt Port Hainan, Port Dalian and Port Canton (all built 2012). However, the ships remain on the company fleet list.
In July, Portline sold the 52,000-dwt bulkers Sabrina 1 and Florinda 1 (both built 2005) to Chinese buyers for $5m.
It was also reported at that time that the shipowner was selling its only capesize bulker, the 176,000-dwt Ina (built 2003), but that vessel also remains on the fleet list.
Last year, Portline took delivery of two ultramax bulkers from Imabari Shipbuilding and also a duo from Oshima.
Portline was once controlled by the Portugese state, but is now in private hands. Portline is now believed to be controlled by three individuals identified as “prominent business people” from Hong Kong.
Fernandes replaced Christina Alves as top executive of the company in May.
