Wallenius Wilhelmsen has acquired one of its operated car carriers for a bargain price.
The Oslo-listed company said it had used a purchase option to buy the 6,500-ceu Morning Celine (built 2009) following the completion of a long-term charter-in agreement.
The vessel, operated by subsidiary Eukor Car Carriers, cost well below its current charter-free valuation of $72.5m, the group added, without giving a figure.
The valuation was the average of two broker assessments made at the end of September.
VesselsValue assesses the ship as worth $78.5m, up from $33.4m five years ago, as values soared in tandem with record freight rates.
The Morning Celine was on a 15-year bareboat charter that began in 2009.
The seller was Hakuyo Kaiun of Japan.
“In line with previous transactions, no financial gains will be booked in connection with the purchase,” Wallenius Wilhelmsen said.
The vessel was bought with cash.
Earlier this month, the shipowner declared options on two 11,700-ceu car carrier newbuildings.
The move brought its total newbuilding order to 14, eight of which will be among the largest car carriers ever built.
Capacity upgrades
The company also plans to upgrade the capacity of two additional carriers already on order from 9,300 ceu to 11,700 ceu.
Delivery of the latest orders is expected in the second half of 2028.
As part of the agreement, Wallenius Wilhelmsen will continue to hold options for two more vessels declarable by the second half of 2025.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen first announced it was upsizing four of its then 12 newbuildings under construction at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard — deemed its Shaper class — at its capital markets day in September.
