Major shipowner Zodiac Maritime confirmed it sold for demolition one of its last very old and very large bulkers.
“The Zodiac Group confirms the sale of the 1995-built bulker Wugang Atlantic to GMS for green recycling in Alang, India," Daniel Ofer of the Zodiac Group told TradeWinds.
Brokers earlier said that the 277,000-dwt ore carrier was sold for scrap to India for $385 per ldt or $16m in total.
Shipowners are often reluctant to comment on reported scrap deals but Ofer said he would make a rare exception, given the special time of year.
“While we don’t normally comment on commercial matters, we understand TradeWinds seeks to obtain a Zodiac comment on the record, at least occasionally. We thought we would end the year going on record on your enquiry”.
"The vessel is to be green-recycled following the Hong Kong Convention and under the supervision of a team assembled by Henning Gramann, CEO of Green Ship Recycling Services GmbH,” Ofer added.
According to the owner, Green Shipping Recycling Services is well-versed in such matters, having contributed to the drafting of the Hong Kong Convention as well as having advised the IMO and EU Commission.
This is the second large bulker that Zodiac sells for demolition this year. In June, the 265,000-dwt Guofeng Enterprise (built 1993) was sold to Indian interests for $278 per ldt or $10.1m.
The Eyal Ofer-controlled company will now have 26 large bulkers. Only one unit in that fleet, the 172,500-dwt Cape Osprey (built 1999), is built before 2000.
