Germany’s Hammonia Schiffsholding has acquired two modern MR2 chemical tankers for $50.5m as part of its fleet diversification efforts.
The ships have been identified as the 49,700-dwt Songa Pride (built 2016) and the 49,700-dwt Trogir Kairos I (built 2015), according to VesselsValue.
The ships were reportedly sold en bloc by Trogir Maritime, the Croatian financial owner affiliated with shipbuilder Brodotrogir.
TradeWinds has previously reported that the Songa Pride was arrested in September 2021 as part of a dispute between Trogir and an Arne Blystad-controlled company.
The two ships, which have now been named Hammonia Athene and Hammonia Artemis, will be fully recoated with a high-quality polymer at an unspecified shipyard.
The ships have each been fixed on five-year charters to WECO Tankers A/S and will be renamed WECO Amelie and WECO Madeleine. According to the charter agreement, delivery will take place no later than 31 July 2022.
The Netherlands’ NIBC Bank said it helped finance the acquisition in what was its first transaction with Hammonia Schiffsholding. However, financial terms were not disclosed.
“Following the pleasant development of our container investments, this diversification marks a further step of diversification of the fleet into shipping segments early in the cycle offering appreciation potential, such as the tanker market,” Hammonia Reederei said.
Hammonia Energy GmbH & Co KG, Hammonia Reederei’s new dedicated wet cargo manager, will be responsible for the technical and commercial management of the ships.
Hammonia Energy took over the management of Hammonia Schiffsholding’s 157,000-dwt suezmax tanker Aura M (built 2000) in March this year.
The ship, which was acquired in April 2020, is currently on a time charter until March 2023 at a day rate of $29,400, according to the shipowner.
In addition to the three tankers, Hammonia Schiffsholding’s fleet also consists of three feeder container ships — the 2,798-teu Hammonia Baltic (built 2011), the 2,456-teu Hammonia Berolina (built 2007) and the 3,091-teu Lutetia (built 2005).
The Hammonia Berolina is due to begin a three-year charter to Maersk in April 2022 at a reported rate of $32,750 per day.
