It has bought the two vessels that have been marketed for sale by Konig & Cie for some time, brokers say.
The 160,000-dwt Cape Bowen and Cape Bata (both built 2003) – reported by TradeWinds this week to have been sold to an unknown owner – have cost Tufton $31m each.
The figure is only a fraction above the $30.2m VesselsValue.com places on each of the tankers.
Sources suggest Tufton will keep the vessels in the Navig8 pool.
TradeWinds is told the three-month release clause from the pool put off some potential buyers, particularly in today’s strong market where prompt delivery is more desirable.
Andrew Hampson, managing director of the Asset Backed Investments department at Tufton Oceanic, could not be reached for comment today.
As we reported earlier this month, Tufton sold its only crude tanker, the 300,300-dwt Sasa (ex-Sarah Glory, built 2001), to Murmansk Shipping to meet a storage contract.
Konig & Cie has been an active seller of late, also disposing of a pair of products tankers to Seaworld Management of Monaco during July.
Hampson and Navig8 chief Nicolas Busch at a London conference last year.
