Japanese shipowner NS United is marketing one of its two VLCCs for sale at a time when the spotlight is on the sector for further evidence of asset prices moving up.
A select group of prominent shipowners from Greece and the wider market are rumoured to have shown an interest in the tanker ahead of formal offers next week.
Buying interest
VLCC asset values have been appreciating this year with the sector expected to be one of the main beneficiaries of IMO 2020.
Brokers believe buying interest in the asset class will be sustained in the months ahead.
The 299,999-dwt Aquarius Wing (built 2005) is said to have been inspected by five parties, in a market where sources say there are only a limited number of genuine buyers.
VesselsValue prices the tanker at $29.19m, up from $28.51m at the start of this year.
The activity follows the sale of the 306,506-dwt Phoenix Vanguard (built 2007) to Ghassan Ghandour last week for a price in the high $30m to the low $40m range.
Evidence mounting
Ghandour was the owner that initially contracted that vessel, before selling it as a resale to Phoenix Tankers, a division of MOL.
Brokers described the price secured for the Phoenix Vanguard as strong and further evidence of rising VLCC asset values.
NS United, which has been contacted for comment, is primarily a bulker owner with almost 40 of the ships on the water.
It has one other VLCC and three VLGCs on the water.
