Contacts from firms in the UK and Athens claim the 83,700-dwt Torm Saltholm (built 2008) cost the New York-listed buyer around $19.6m.
The price tag implies a discount of nearly $1m when compared to a market value estimate from the VesselsValue.com database, which identifies the seller as Sojitz Marine of Japan.
A spokesman for Safe Bulkers declined to comment when contacted by TradeWinds on Friday.
