Diversified Danish shipowner Celsius Shipping has sold one of its oldest chemical tankers amid an uptick in transactions for J19-class stainless-steel vessels.
Brokers said the company has offloaded the 19,800-dwt Celsius Manhattan (built 2006) for $11.5m, possibly to Chinese shipowner Taihua Ship Management.
Celsius chairman Jeppe Jensen confirmed the Kitanihon Shipbuilding-constructed vessel has been sold. The Chinese seller has been contacted for comment.
Valuation platform VesselsValue estimates the Celsius Manhattan to be worth $10.4m.
A similar chemical tanker, the 20,000-dwt stainless-steel vessel Beech Galaxy (built 2007), recently changed hands for $11m. Equasis lists the ship as controlled by Hong Kong's Cido Shipping, which did not respond to a request for comment.
The J19 stainless-steel segment has suddenly come very alive in the sale-and-purchase market.
US brokers also reported that the 20,000-dwt Lime Galaxy (built 2007), which is also listed as controlled by Mitsui OSK Lines and Cido, has been sold for $12m.
Both Cido tankers were built at Usuki Shipyard. Cido did not reply to requests for comment on the sales of the two tankers.
Celsius bought the Celsius Manhattan from MEC of Japan for $21.5m in 2013, when it was the Bow Plata.
It is part of a fleet renewal drive by the shipowner. The company has a fleet of 13 chemical tankers. That includes one vessel, the 20,000-dwt Celsius Manila (built 2002), that is even older than the Celsius Manhattan.
Celsius has a diversified fleet of tankers, containerships, LNG carriers and bulkers.
It has significantly scaled down its bulker fleet this year. Celsius has sold 10 ultramax bulkers so far this year, with the 63,000-dwt GH Northern Dancer (built 2017) remaining as its lone bulker.
Celsius has also boosted its LNG fleet this year. According to brokers, it has concluded an order for three units at Samsung Heavy Industries for delivery in 2023.
The company was set up in 2012 and has built a fleet of more than 50 ships. In addition to its headquarters in Copenhagen, the company has offices in Monaco, Hong Kong and South Korea.
