Brokers say the New York-listed ownerraked in $21m from the sale of the 300,000-dwt La Madrina (built 1993) to theSingapore-based shipping arm of Chinese bunker supplier Southernpec.
Sources from the sale-and-purchasemarket say the price tag represents a premium of around $2m when compared tocurrent vessel value estimates but are not surprised given recent interest in unitsthat can be converted and used for floating storage.
Talk of the transaction comes on the backof reports surrounding a deal involving Samco Shipholding's 301,700-dwt Samco Raven (built1996), which is believed to have gone to Greek interests for approximately$25.8m.
As TradeWind has reported, the LaMadrina and 1994-built sistership La Prudencia were held for sale after coming off five-year time charters to Hyunai Merchant Marine inwhich each were earning around $40,000 per day plus profit sharing.
In March sources said one of thevessels was being inspected in Hong Kong by a Chinese owner with a bid in excess of $22m, which would have been above scrap value, whilethe other was on the radar of at least two potential buyers for furthertrading.
Today, If the La Madrinaand La Prudencia were sold to cash buyers for demolition at current levels of around $430 per ldt, the tankers would fetch around $17.3m a piece, accordingto an assessment calculated by digital valuation database VesselsValue.com.
