It has added debt financing to a $50m sum already in the bag thanks to a private placement.

ABN AMRO has led a consortium of three lenders offering up $120m for the vessels.

Epic has three 7,500-cbm newbuildings on order at Sasaki and four 11,000-cbm ships being built at Kyokuyo.

The shipowner has a fleet of 45 vessels, including chartered tonnage.