Germany’s Harren Tankers is being linked to sales that would shrink its fleet to two vessels.
Following six divestments since April last year that filled its coffers with about $85m in proceeds, it is said to be selling two ships for $11.3m each.
Managers at the Bremen-based owner did not respond to a request for comment on the reported sale of the 16,800-dwt Patagonia and 16,700-dwt Paterna (both built 2006).
The ice-class 1A ships are being picked up by Turkish interests, Greek brokers reported this week.
Both ships have been trading with Harren since their respective deliveries from China’s Qiuxin and Jiangnan Shanghai Changxing shipyards.
Their sale would not be a surprise, given how eagerly Harren has jumped on the opportunity offered by soaring tanker values to offload its ageing fleet.
TradeWinds reported in January about the company selling its only LR1, the 73,700-dwt Pataris (built 2009), to commodity giant Trafigura, emerging in its managed fleet a month later under its new name, Voula.
At about the same time, Harren reportedly sold the 17,000-dwt Patara (built 2007) to undisclosed buyers.
Harren also divested the 16,800-dwt Patricia (renamed Rubikon 78, built 2005) earlier this year, to Serbia’s Rubikon Shipping.
The Blystad Group also bought Harren ships last year, picking up the 16,700-dwt Patea (renamed Songa Aurora, built 2008) and sister ship Patani (renamed Songa Taurus, built 2009).
A third sister ship, the 16,700-dwt Patnos (built 2006), has emerged as the High Standard in the fleet of Indonesia’s Global Maritim Industri.
If Harren’s latest two sales are confirmed, it would leave the company with two chemical/product tankers on the water: the 16,700-dwt Patrona I (built 2004) and Patalya (built 2005).
However, Harren has said it does not plan to leave the tanker business.
In a comment two months ago after the sale of its sole LR1 tanker, a manager told TradeWinds that Harren would “remain active” and it was in the process of acquiring “further third-party tonnage”.
