Greek shipowner Minerva Marine has sold two of its oldest aframax tankers to United Arab Emirates-based buyers as it continues to renew its fleet.
Brokers said the company, among the world's leading owners of aframaxes, has sold the 106,000-dwt Minerva Zenia (built 2002), which was built at South Korea's DSME.
The other ship involved in the deal is the 104,000-dwt Minerva Alexandra (built 2000), which was constructed at Samsung Heavy Industries.
The ships are believed to have fetched $24m in an en-bloc deal to the undisclosed buyer.
Andreas Martinos-controlled Minerva declined to comment on reports of the sales, citing a company confidentiality policy on commercial matters.
Last month, TradeWinds reported that some brokers were reporting that Minerva sold the 105,900-dwt Minerva Zenia (built 2002) for $12.3m and the 106,000-dwt Minerva Astra (built 2001) for $11.7m.
Conflicting reports emerge
There were conflicting reports at the time, however, that the company had instead sold the Minerva Alexandra and Minerva Zenia.
Now, it is clear that the 105,000-dwt Minerva Astra (built 2001) remains in Minerva's fleet.
The Greek owner is listed with 33 aframaxes on the water with an average age of 10 years plus four 115,000-dwt tankers on order at Daehan Shipbuilding set for delivery next year.
Minerva has been pursuing an active renewal programme. In January, the company bought the 112,000-dwt tanker Aquafreedom (built 2019) before renaming it Minerva Kallisto.
Minerva paid shipowner Unisea Shipping $55m for the tanker.
