Sale-and-purchase (S&P) activity rose by 22% in 2016 as feverish second-hand bulker deals drove the numbers higher, according to data from Athenian Shipbrokers.

A TradeWinds analysis of reports from the Greek shipbroker show that 1,065 ships changed hands this year, compared to 873 vessels last year.

Bulker were primarily responsible for the jump, increasing by 76.9% to 635 sales.

Tanker sales increased by just 0.6%,