Zodiac Maritime has picked up a capesize vessel, while Oldendorff has sold another as a rebound in prices continues to fuel a busy secondhand market for large bulkers.

Eyal Ofer-led Zodiac Maritime's purchase represents its second buy this month as the Monaco shipowner continues to play an active role in the sale-and-purchase market.

The company has bought the 180,000-dwt Huge Hakata (built 2012) from Japan’s Nissen Kaiun for a reported $23m, brokers said.

The price is in line with expectations for the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (Cebu)-built ship, which has a ballast water treatment system and scrubbers.

Some brokers also reported that Nissen Kaiun has sold the sistership Cologny (built 2011) for $22m, but the details of the transaction are unclear. The Japanese shipowner could not be reached for comment.

The Huge Hakata is not the first ship to change hands from Nissen Kaiun to Zodiac this year.

In July, Zodiac bought the 181,000-dwt Jubilant Excellence (built 2013) for a reported $24.5m. The ship has been renamed Cape Excellence.

But the Ofer company carried out its last purchase two weeks ago, when it bought the 175,000-dwt Giuseppe Bottiglieri (built 2011) from Italy’s Giuseppe Bottiglieri Shipping for $15.7m.

Not including its latest two acquisitions, diversified Zodiac is listed with a fleet of 23 capesizes and three VLOCs. In addition, the company also owns tankers, LPG carriers and car carriers.

The deal comes as capesize values continue to remain in rebound territory at around the highest levels since February, although prices appear to have steadied.

As of 16 October, the Baltic Exchange assessed a five-year-old capesize bulker at $36.1m, which is essentially unchanged from a week earlier.

"Activity within the bulk carrier sale-and-purchase market remains strong, particularly in the capesize sector," Clarksons said in its latest weekly report.

Cashing in at these levels is German bulker giant Oldendorff Carriers.

The owner and operator has disposed of a nine-year-old bulker as it continues efforts to streamline its owned fleet.

Brokers reported that the outfit has sold the 181,000-dwt Tilda Oldendorff (built 2011) to Alpha Bulkers Shipmanagement of Greece for $19m. That is just below VesselsValue's estimate calling for a $20.4m price tag on the STX-built ship.

In September, TradeWinds reported that Oldendorff sold the sistership Tete Oldendorff (built 2011) to an undisclosed Greek buyer for $19.5m.

TradeWinds understands the German player now prefers newcastlemaxes for its large bulker fleet, due to their larger cargo capacity on a similar draught.

But the Henning Oldendorff-led company also has an appetite for post-panamaxes. This year, it purchased the 93,000-dwt bulker Ocean Garnet (built 2010) from Noble Group, reportedly paying $11m, before renaming it Celine Oldendorff.

Alpha Bulkers did not respond to requests for comment on reports that it purchased the Tilda Oldendorff. The deal appears to be part of a fleet renewal.

In June, the company sold the Sasebo Heavy Industries-built 170,000-dwt Alpha Century (built 2000) for $8.2m. Then in September, it offloaded the sistership Alpha Era (both built 2000) for $7.8m. Both reportedly went to Chinese buyers.

The company is listed with 19 capesizes and 14 panamaxes.

Alpha Bulkers is controlled by Anna Angelicoussis and her children.