Editor’s selection: Unknown buyers swoop on older VLCCs, Costamare creates bulker unit and big names line up LNG orders

VLCC FRENZY: Prices are firming for older VLCCs as a raft of largely unknown buyers swoop in on tonnage that is expected to be used to trade Russian oil. Tanker market players said prices for 15-year-old-plus VLCCs have now shifted up into the $50m range, from levels around $38m in July. But the bulk of the buyers, thought to be linked to Russian or Chinese interests, are only interested in purchasing the older and not the younger vessels. Read the full story here.

COSTAMARE SWOOPS: Senior staff have exited Oldendorff Carriers to set up new bulker-focused businesses in Copenhagen, Hamburg and Singapore that will be backed by Costamare. The Danish, German and Singaporean entities — all named Costamare Bulkers Services — appear to have backing from the private side of the Konstantinos Konstantakopoulos-controlled Costamare group. Read the full story for more details.

MAJORS LINE UP LNG ORDERS: Two shipping giants are teaming up to order five LNG carriers out of the nine vessels required by Chinese energy major Sinopec. Another Chinese company is in the frame for the other four ships. Click here to find out which companies are in the frame.

SHIPPERS’ WOES: ’Normality’ in container shipping remains a long way off in the eyes of German logistics giant DHL. Blanked sailings, China lockdowns, volatile freight rates and schedule disruptions remain the bane of the shipper’s life. The situation is expected to worsen. Find out why here.

LNG BERTHS RUN HOT: Interest is surging for what are perceived to be four unexpectedly open LNG carrier newbuilding berths for delivery dates in 2026 at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Newbuilding market sources said DSME has gone out to its existing favoured LNG customers offering them each at least one berth. Find out which customers were named.

DRAGONS’ DEN: And finally, in Greece, shipowners usually acquire a high profile when they buy a football team. But StealthGas chief executive Harry Vafias has decided to break new ground by accepting to co-host a business competition show on TV. The chief executive officer of StealthGas will be one of five judges on Dragons’ Den, the Greek version of an international TV format that also airs under the same name in the UK but is best known as Shark Tank, its US edition. Get the full story right here.