Meiji Shipping has confirmed the sale of an older VLCC controlled by a Singapore offshoot for $36.4m.
The Japanese company did not name the ship, but its 310,000-dwt Tsushima (built 2008) was widely reported as sold earlier this week.
The vessel was owned through Meiji's Singapore subsidiary MK Centennial Shipping.
Meiji said it could not disclose the buyer because of a confidentiality clause in the sale contract. But it said the VLCC was purchased by a Greek third party with which it has no connection.
Meiji estimates the sale will affect its net profit attributable to the parent company by around ¥11bn ($9.6m) this financial year. The vessel had a book value of ¥14.6m.
The sale leaves Meiji with four VLCCs in its fleet. Two of them, the 311,000-dwt Taiga (built 2007) and 306,200-dwt Tokio (built 2005), are of a similar age to the Tsushima and could be viewed as potential sales candidates in the coming years.
The Tokio is on charter to NYK Line.
Meiji has no VLCC newbuildings on order.
The diverse shipping and ship management company controls a fleet of around 50 ships, including vessels on long-term charter. It focuses mainly on tankers and bulkers but also has ownership interests in LNG carriers, container ships and car carriers.
It has a substantial commercial real estate business and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
