Norway's JJ Ugland group is in the process of selling its oldest ship, an 18-year-old supramax bulker.
Brokers in the US said the 52,000-dwt Fermita (built 2001) has been sold for $6m to $6.5m.
Oystein Beisland, CEO of privately owned JJ Ugland, declined to confirm a sales deal, but TradeWinds understands negotiations are in progress.
The price is slightly lower than expected. Some said the Fermita is due for special survey in November, while other sources indicate that it is not due until 2021.
The sale price for the ship appears to reflect the pressure on bulker values.
In June, JJ Ugland sold the sistership Tamarita (built 2001) for $8.5m. When the group unloaded that vessel, Beisland said the company was in no rush to sell the other vintage bulkers “as we are positive to the market going forward”.
He said at the time that JJ Ugland might sell more ships in 2018, but no further sales took place last year.
The sales of the vintage ships come as JJ Ugland has been renewing its bulker fleet. It took delivery of three bulker newbuildings in 2017, and three more ships will be handed over from Japanese shipyards by 2020.
The group has 11 supramaxes and four ultramaxes on the water.
