Greece's Anbros Maritime reportedly has sold one of its four bulkers.
European brokers report that the company's 52,000-dwt Aghia Skepi (built 2002) has gone to a Chinese buyer for $6m, although some claim the price to be as high as $7.2m.
The sale of the Sanoyas Shipbuilding-constructed supramax is fuelling questions about future plans of the Greek shipowner, which has not purchased a vessel in five years.
But one market source explained that the shipowner has often varied the size of its fleet to take advantage of market opportunities, and sale-and-purchase deals after periods of inactivity are not uncommon over the course of its 85-year-history.
He said the company is contemplating fleet renewal in the future, although he did not rule out another vessel sale in the interim.
Anbros Maritime did not reply to requests for comment on the sale of the Aghia Skepi.
The shipowner bought the Aghia Skepi as Vega Eternity from Marubeni Corp for $16.5m in July 2012.
Anbros Maritime is currently listed with a fleet of four bulkers with an average age of 16 years that range from handysize to panamax.
The company’s previous involvement in the sale-and-purchase market was in February 2014 when it bought the Tsuneishi Shipbuilding-constructed, 76,000-dwt bulker Top Eternity (built 2005) from Cido Shipping for a reported $23m.
Renamed Gorgoypikoos, the ship is now worth $9m, according to VesselsValue.
Anbros Maritime has traditionally been focused on bulkers up to supramax size.
The company cleared out most of its bulkers built before 2000 a few years ago.
In an unreported deal, Anbros Maritime has sold the 28,500-dwt Aghia Marina (built 1994) to Far East Shipping & Trading, and the veteran bulker is still believed to be trading.
