Greek bulker owner Niovis Shipping is renewing its fleet by seeking a sale of one of its oldest ships and buying a pair of ultramax resale contracts.
European brokers said the company has acquired two 61,000-dwt ships at Cosco Dalian Shipyard Groupfrom Idan Ofer’s Eastern Pacific Shipping.
The ships are changing hands at some $27.5m each and are due for delivery next year. Niovis's Basil Mavroleon said, however, that the reported price level is wrong.
Niovis is also aiming to sell one of its oldest bulkers.
US brokers said the Tsuneishi Zosen-built, 52,000-dwt Tigris (built 2003) has changed hands for $8m. VesselsValue estimated the ship to be worth $9.1m, while Maritime Strategies International valued it at between $8.2m and $9.6m.
Available for inspection
Niovis' Basil Mavroleon denied the ship had been sold, but confirmed that it was on the sale-and-purchase market and "available for inspection".
Niovis sold its last two bulkers built before 2000, the 73,000-dwt Zed (built 1996) and the 75,000-dwt Ellivita (built 1999), last year. The company is currently listed with an on-the-water bulker fleet of five supramaxes and three ultramaxes with an average age of six years.
In December last year, Niovis entered the tanker market, buying a resale contract for a 113,000-dwt ship at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries for $44.3m.
In May this year, the Piraeus-based owner ordered a 50,000-dwt product tanker at South Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard. The ship is due for delivery next year and brokers suggested Niovis is paying $35m for it.
This story has been amended since publication to reflect that Niovis' Basil Mavroleon has insisted that the Tigris has not been sold but is available for inspection.
