Secondhand VLCC prices were holding steady as Japan's NYK Line was linked to the first sale of the year.
The shipowner agreed to dispose of the 301,000-dwt Tsurumi (built 2003) on Tuesday for $24.6m, VesselsValue told TradeWinds.
Chinese interests were said to be behind the deal.
VesselsValue has a price assessment of $24.4m on the Tsurumi, down from $24.5m a month earlier.
This time last year, the ship was worth $30.9m, according to the valuation platform.
Secondhand values have been described as "pretty flat" over the Christmas period, according to one industry source.
"I would have expected them to go lower given the poor earnings we are seeing compared to the seasonal norm," the source added.
Rates for VLCCs heading from the Middle East Gulf to South Korea dropped 15% to $15,000 per day on Monday.
The Tsurumi sale would leave NYK with 14 other VLCCs, two of which were built in 2002 and 2004, while the rest are more modern.
Tokyo-listed NYK said it had no comment.
Greek sales
At the end of 2020, Greece's Maran Tankers Management was busy shedding slightly older tankers.
The company's 306,000-dwt Antonis I Angelicoussis (built 2000) went to what was described as a Greek buyer for $19.5m.
The ship has now emerged in the fleet of Cyprus-based Targel Shipping, a one-ship owner.
Earlier reports had suggested that the Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering-built tanker had been committed to a deal in November for $24.65m, but this was not finalised.
In the other Maran Tankers sale, Mercuria Energy Group, one of the world’s largest trading houses, paid $19.5m for the 306,000-dwt Maria (built 2000).
NYK last sold a VLCC in October. The 305,500-dwt Tokitsu Maru (built 2011) went for $45m.
The sale price was in line with market expectations at that time, reflecting slumping tanker values in weaker markets.
Clients of Greece’s Dynacom Tankers Management bought the vessel, Athens-based sources familiar with the deal told TradeWinds.
Previously, brokers had identified Qatar’s Aswan Trading & Contracting as a potential buyer.
NYK declined to comment on that transaction.
