Turkey’s Transal Denizcilik has vowed to stay in shipping after selling three of its six vessels earlier this year.
The shipowner is now eyeing tonnage acquisitions in the segment of 10,000-dwt tankers or smaller, with renewed support from parent group Altinbas Holding, according to general manager Bulent Karabek.
“After selling three vessels, Altinbas expressed solid intention to stay in shipping,“ Karabek said in a statement sent to TradeWinds.
“Altinbas decided against the sale of remaining vessels and wishes to keep operating them world-wide.”
Last November, TradeWinds reported Transal put the 26,215-dwt Diamond-T (built 2011), the 21,377-dwt Ruby-T (built 2010), the 13,966-dwt Topaz-T (built 2009), the 13,947-dwt Turquoise-T (built 2008) and the 11,299-dwt Sapphire-T (built 2008) on the sale block.
All of them are IMO-II tankers capable of carrying chemical and petroleum products, built by Turkish yards.
Transal confirmed the sale of Topaz-T and Turquoise-T to Canadian owner McKeil Marine. Both companies refrained from disclosing the price tag, but brokers believed the two ships fetched $17.5m on total.
Transal also said the Sapphire-T was sold to Alba Tankers but declined to comment on the price. Clarksons reported the deal was done at $7m.
Aside from the Diamond-T and Ruby-T, Transal has kept the 4,635-dwt Pearl-T (built 2003) on its fleet.
The company moved into shipping in 2005 to meet the transport requirements of Alpet, another Altinbas venture. Altinbas is active in finance, energy, jewellery and logistics.
“Since 2005, a large amount of know-how has accumulated within Transal, and Altinbas is well aware of the value of its skilled workforce,” Karabek said.
