Idan Ofer’s tanker Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is said to have concluded a sale of two 13-year-old aframax tankers.
European and US brokers said the Singapore-based company has sold two Japanese-built vessels, according to European and US brokers.
They include the Namura Shipbuilding-constructed, 105,000-dwt Koro Sea (built 2008), which has reportedly changed hands for $16.5m.
The second of the aframaxes is the Sumitomo Heavy Industries-constructed, 105,000-dwt Nectar Sea (built 2008), which brokers said was sold for $16m.
Both ships are fitted with scrubbers.
EPS declined to comment on reports of the sales.
The deals are seen as surprising because EPS has three vessels that are between three to five years older than the Koro Sea and Nectar Sea.
Brokers claimed the two tankers have gone to a Norwegian buyer, with some pointing to Bergshav and other's reporting that Bjorn Tore Larsen’s ADS Maritime is the buyer. Both companies denied the claims.
Singapore-based EPS controls a highly diversified fleet with 123 ships on the water plus 45 newbuildings on order. The company owns tankers, bulkers, containerships, LPG carriers and car carriers.
EPS has 15 aframaxes on the water, in addition to three coated newbuildings to be delivered by New Times Shipbuilding this year.
The company reportedly ordered the 110,000-dwt newbuildings for $48m each. One of them has been fixed for five years to Clearlake Shipping.
Among fleet-renewal efforts, the company sold the 105,000-dwt Barents Sea (built 2000) last year.
This story has been amended since publication to reflect that EPS has 123 ships on the water.
