Two aframax tankers will shortly be sold for recycling, demolition brokers said.
But they warned it is to early to expect that activity in this segment will pick up significantly for now.
Adam Polemis-controlled New Shipping is seeking to sell the 107,000-dwt New Paros (built 1998), brokers said.
Some brokers said the ship has been committed to a transaction at $405 per ldt, while others said the Greek shipowner is holding out for $410 per ldt.
The tanker apparently has about 1,000 tonnes of sludge on board, and TradeWinds understands the parties are discussing which side should pay for dealing with it.
New Shipping did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
The New Paros was previously in the fleet of Polembros Shipping but ended up in New Shipping's stable when Polemis split with his brother Spyros in 2014.
The tanker is not due for special survey until March 2022.
The sale will be the first scrap sale of a tanker for New Shipping since 2018. That year, the company sold four VLCCs for recycling.
Another aframax tanker headed for recycling is the 100,000-dwt Almada (built 1998), belonging to low-profile United Arab Emirates-based Muhit Maritime, demolition brokers said. This vessel was reported sold to Pakistan for $395 per ldt.
Over the past year, there has been virtually been no scrapping of large tankers due to the boom in the freight market.
Despite the latest sales and a weak tanker market, demolition brokers do not think scrapping of wet tonnage will accelerate soon.
“Come 2021, things will be different as lots of units will have to invest in ballast water treatment systems, so I believe 2021 could be the start of an increase in tanker recycling,” one broker said.
