Shipbrokers have linked Berge Bulk and Lou Kollakis to purchases of large bulkers as strong rates push asset prices higher.
Sale-and-purchase brokers said the James Marshall-led company paid about $27.5m for the 175,600-dwt capesize Aqua Splendor (built 2012).
TradeWinds reported earlier this month that Standard Chartered's Hong Kong-based Marina Leasing arm sold the capesize bulker, although the buyer of the Chinese-built vessel was not known.
Brokers said the bank's leasing unit has achieved a strong price for the Aqua Splendor, even though the bulk carrier has no ballast water treatment system or scrubber installed. The ship is also not due to undergo special survey for another year.
Valuation platform VesselsValue estimates the ship is worth $26.3m, up from $16.5m at the start of this year, as its bulker price index posted a one-week gain of 1.2% on Tuesday.
Berge Bulk will take delivery of the ship promptly, allowing it to benefit from a strong dry bulk freight market.
As TradeWinds has reported, the Baltic Dry Index has surpassed the 4,000 mark for the first time since 2010. It hit 4,147 on Monday.
Executives at Berge Bulk and Standard Chartered could not be reached for comment on the reports.
If the sale is finalised, the Aqua Splendor would become the fifth large bulk carrier acquired by Singapore-based Berge Bulk this year.
The company's deals have seen it buy the 180,300-dwt Berge Nanga Parbat (ex-Xin Tan Hai, built 2011), the 177,900-dwt Berge Broad Peak (ex-Unique Carrier, built 2007), the 179,200-dwt Berge Dhaulagiri (ex-Kumiai Shagang) and the 181,500-dwt Berge McClintock (ex-Aqua Crystal, both built 2011).
Meanwhile, Greek shipowner Kollakis has made another move to expand his bulker fleet with secondhand vessels.
Brokers said his Charterwell Maritime has acquired Mizuho Sangyo's 203,137-dwt Cape United (built 2007) for about $22m.
The newcastlemax is the second bulker purchase this year for the Greek shipowner from Mizuho Sangyo.
According to IHS Markit, Charterwell paid $16.75m for the Mizuho Co subsidiary's 206,000-dwt Star Venture (ex-Grand Venture, built 2005) in May.
Officials at Charterwell parent Chartworld and Mizuho Sangyo were not immediately available for comment.
Kollakis also has added three post-panamax bulkers to his fleet this year.
TradeWinds reported in April that his Charterwell bought the 93,400-dwt Giovanni Bottiglieri (built 2009), which has been renamed Star Diamond; the Peppino Bottiglieri (built 2009), which is now the Star Coral; and Paola Bottiglieri (built 2010), which has become the Star Lapis from Giuseppe Bottiglieri of Italy.
