Sale-and-purchase brokers in Europe and the UK claimthe US operator purchased the 159,400-dwt Rio Genoa(built 2007) for approximately$35m.

While the price tag appears to be in line with thecurrent market average some believe it represents a discount since the ship camewith a time charter attached.

The Rio Genoa made TradeWinds headlines in lateOctober when it was fixed to Koch for six months at a rate of $13,200 per dayplus an option for another six at $15,000.

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