Pioneer Marine is reported to have sold a 12-year-old handysize open hatch carrier into a rising market for smaller second-hand bulkers.

Greek interests are reported to have picked up the Singapore shipowner's 31,700-dwt Azure Bay (built 2005), according to several shipbroker reports.

The open hatch carrier, which was built at Japan's Saiki shipyard, fetched a price of $6.8m to $6.9m.

That's somewhat above the $6.36m