Idan Ofer’s Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has found a buyer for one of its four remaining Ultramaxes, a vessel that’s been in the shop window for months.

Despite uncertainly in the segment, EPS managed to bag a very firm price for its youngest Ultramax, the one-year-old, Chinese built 61,200 DWT Divinegate, sold for just under $23m.

Indian owner Mercator has sold its 2000-built 47,000 DWT MR tanker Prem Mala via auction as part of a sell off its fleet.

According to reports by Seasure Shipbroking and Advanced Shipping & Trading, the Japanese-built vessel was bought by UAS-based Nan Lian Shipmanagement for a price of $4.8m, lower than VesselsValue’s valuation of $6m.

Following the sale, Mercator’s fleet is left with one vessel, the 1999-built LR2 tanker Prem Pride.

Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has entered into a new time charter with Uniper for 2014-built Panamax bulker Atalandi.

The charter commences on June 9, in direct continuation of the current charter, at a rate of $9,300 per day and for a period of 13 to 16 months. Uniper was previously paying $12,250 per day for the vessel.

Of Diana Shipping’s 41 bulkers, Uniper currently has three on charter.

Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has sealed a time charter contract with Koch Shipping in Singapore for 2014-built Capesize G.P. Zafirakis.

The charter commenced over the weekend and runs through to between October 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021 at a gross charter rate of $13,200 per day. The rate is significantly lower than the $17,000 per day previously being paid for the vessel by Swiss Marine.

Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has entered into a new time charter contract with Uniper Global Commodities for 2013-built post-Panamax bulker Phaidra.

The new charter commenced last week in direct continuation of the previous charter. Uniper has taken the vessel for 11 to 14 months at a rate of $9,400 per day, having previously been paying $10,800 per day.

The charter will generate around $3.1 million in revenue based on the minimum time charter period.

Singapore’s First Ship Lease Trust has been awarded extensions for the two chemical tankers in its fleet.

Golden Stena Baycrest Tankers has exercised options to extend the charter of 2016-built chemical tankers FSL London and FSL New York by a period of one year.

FSL says the extensions are worth around $4 million.

Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has sealed a new time charter contract with Glencore Agriculture for 2014-built ice class Panamax bulk carrier Crystalia.

The charter commenced earlier this week and is through to between July 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021 at a gross charter rate of $8,750 per day. Glencore was previously paying $10,500 per day.

The contract is worth around $3.49m on the minimum charter period.

South Korea’s Sinokor has made headlines in the VLCC segment all through the year, being the most active seller of supertankers.

This week the shipping heavyweight has revealed that its selling spree is not coming to an end soon. Fresh for sale and inviting offers is the 15-year-old 309,000 DWT Baltic Sunrise. The 333m long tanker can be delivered to its new owner, charter free, at the beginning of June.

VesselsValue data shows that the 165-ship strong Sinokor has cut its exposure to the VLCC sector in half since March last year, selling eight VLCCs, four rusty giants and four resales.

Singapore shipping trust First Ship Lease Trust (FSL) has taken redelivery of 2008-built 4250 TEU boxship YM Eminence.

The vessel was redelivered from Taiwan’s Yang Ming due to the charter ending. FSL’s other two container vessels are also on the charter to Yang Ming, with expiration due this year.

FSL has renamed the vessel FSL Eminence, and YM Elixir and YM Enhancer are sister ships, all 4250 TEU and built in 2008 at CSBC in Taiwan.

Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has sealed a time charter contract with Cargill International for 2010-built Panamax bulker Leto.

The charter commences later this week and runs through to between July 15, 2021 and September 30, 2021, at a rate of $9,000 per day. The vessel was previous on charter to Uniper at $13,000 per day.

Diana says the charter will generate around $3.73m of revenue based on the minimum time charter period. The company currently has a fleet of 41 bulkers.