New York-listed Safe Bulkers has continued its fleet renewal programme and also taken advantage of firming tonnage prices having agreed to offload two of its ships in separate deals.
The Monaco-headquartered Greek owner is shipping out the 2010-built post-panamax Panayiota K in April for $20.45m and about a year younger panamax Paraskevi 2 in July for $20.3m.
In February, the Polys Hajioannou-led Safe Bulkers, counting more than 40 ships in its fleet, sold one of its two oldest vessels, the 2005-built, 76,000 dwt Maritsa for $12.2m after signing up for another kamsarmax newbuild in Japan in January.
“Following recent newbuild orders, in the context of our fleet renewal strategy, we sold these two vessels in an improved secondhand market environment,” said Loukas Barmparis, president of Safe Bulkers according to the reports published in splash247.com .
Prices of some secondhand bulkers are at highs not seen for more than a decade, with owners scrambling for all available tonnage. According to Clarksons Research, its bulk carrier secondhand price index is close to its post-financial crisis peak.
