Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Skipsrederi (KGJS) has continued to clear out elderly tankers and appears to have found a buyer for a 17-year-old, LR3 tanker.
European brokers said the Norwegian shipowner's 159,000-dwt SKS Sinni (built 2003) has gone to a Greek owner for nearly $21.3m.
Healthy price level
The price for the Hyundai Heavy Industries-built ship appears quite healthy, as UK-based online firm VesselsValue says the SKS Sinni is worth $19.5m.
Geir Mjelde, the chief executive of KGJS, did not respond to requests for comment.
Some brokers have identified Salmar Shipping as the buyer, but a senior manager at the Piraeus-based company said this information is inaccurate and that it has not acquired the ship.
A purchase by Salmar would come as a surprise, since the Salonitis family company has not operated anything bigger than a pair of MR1 tankers it purchased late last year.
KGJS sold a ship similar to the SKS Sinni back in February, the SKS Saluda (built 2003), for $22m. The identity of its buyer was not disclosed at the time but IHS Markit now shows the vessel trading as Sama under the operation of Luendra Tankers — a one-ship company based in Singapore.
In March, Bergen-based KGJS surprised the market by putting one of its youngest tankers — the 119,000-dwt LR2 tanker SKS Donggang (built 2011) — up for sale. That vessel, however, is still in the KGJS fleet.
Privately owned
KGJS is among Norway's private shipowners with 10 LR2 product tankers, five LR3 tankers, as well as a pair of combination carriers of 121,000 dwt each.
In addition, the Hans Peter Jebsen-controlled company is a major player in the cement trade and has 50% stakes in eight kamsarmax bulkers built at Japan Marine United with partner JP Morgan Investment Fund and two kamsarmax newbuildings at the yard.
Harry Papachristou contributed to this article.
