Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has secured new charters for two of its vessel.

Koch Shipping has taken 2006-built Panamax bulk carrier Artemis on charter for a period of 9-11 months at a rate of $10,150 per day. The vessel has already commenced the charter, and was previously on charter to Hong Kong’s Ausca Shipping at $12,600 per day.

Meanwhile, Ausca Shipping has taken 2010-built Kamsarmax Myrsini on charter instead. The charter, which has also already commenced, is for 13-15 months at $11,500 per day. Myrsini was previously on a charter with Glencore at $12,750 per day.

Diana Shipping says the two charter will generate around $7.07m based on the minimum time charter period.

Greek owner Oceanfleet Shipping has added to its fleet for the first time in three years, according to brokers, with the acquisition of 2011-built handysize bulk carrier Orient Tribune.

Seasure Shipbroking and Advanced Shipping & Trading both report that Oceanfleet has paid $8.6m to Interorient for the vessel, a price in line with the $8.5m valuation from VesselsValue.

If confirmed, the deal grows Oceanfleet’s fleet to nine bulkers.

US chemical and product tanker player MT Maritime Management has emerged as the taker of a couple of aging 2004-built MR sales concluded at the end of the month.

The growing outfit has added the 51,000 DWT tanker Chase and a sister ship, Lincoln, which has already been renamed, MTM Potomac.

The two ships were sold for just under $11m each by UK outfit, Union Maritime. MT Maritime Management has added a total of four ships in 2019, increasing its fleet to 22 ships.

US-based ship owner and operator Eagle Bulk Shipping has taken delivery of the fifth of six Ultramax dry bulk vessels it has recently agreed to acquire.

The 63,400 DWT ship has been renamed M/V Shanghai Eagle.

The high specification SDARI-64 Ultramax vessel was built at China’s Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in 2016.

As informed, the acquisition was made by the company’s subsidiary, Eagle Bulk Shipco LLC, and was fully funded by restricted cash generated from previous vessel sale proceeds. The M/V Shanghai Eagle will form part of the security for the subsidiary’s outstanding bond due in 2022.

Earlier this year, Eagle Bulk unveiled the acquisition of six scrubber-fitted Ultramaxes which is part of the company’s strategy to renew and grow its fleet. The acquisition is expected to increase Eagle Bulk’s leverage to the opportunities the IMO 2020 will present.

The first two units from the batch, Dublin Eagle and Sydney Eagle, were handed over to the company in September 2019 and another two, Copenhagen Eagle and Santos Eagle, in October.

Once the remaining bulk carrier is delivered, Eagle Bulk’s fleet will total 50 ships, including 20 Ultramax dry bulk vessels acquired over the last 36 months.

Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has sealed new time charter contracts for two of its vessels.

2013-built post-Panamax bulk carrier, Electra, has gone on charter to German operator Oldendorff Carriers for a period of 11-13 months. The charter commenced last week and is at a rate of $10,250 per day, significantly lower than the $13,500 per day being paid on the previous charter to Uniper.

Separately, 2004-built Panamax Protefs has been signed to a time charter contract with Phaethon International. The charter is scheduled to commence this week at a rate of $9,900 per day and runs through to a minimum of January 1, 2021 up to maximum March 31, 2021. The vessel is coming off charter to Hudson Shipping Lines at a rate of $11,000 per day.

Diana Shipping says the charter will generate around $7.29m based on the minimum time charter periods.

Performance Shipping, formerly known as Diana Containerships, has agreed to acquire a 2007-built Aframax tanker for $26m.

Performance Shipping moved into the tanker sector in June when it acquired a pair of 2011-built Aframax tankers from Maersk Tankers for $60m. The company is acquiring this latest Aframax by acquiring from its chairman and CEO, Symeon Palios, the entity which owns the vessel. It is paying $11m for the entity, via the issuing of shares, which is equal to the $11m deposit previously paid on the vessel. The balance of the purchase price for the vessel will be payable under the contract through cash on hand and/or bank financing.

Symeon Palios, commenting on the deal, stated: “I am happy to be able to facilitate the company’s continued expansion of its fleet with the sale of this Aframax vessel.

The vessel is expected to be delivered on January 31, 2020, by which time Performance Shipping will have a fleet of three Aframax tankers and two container-ships.

Indonesian tanker owner PT Buana Lintas Lautan (BULL) has splashed out $39.7m to buy 2006-built LR2 product tankers FSL Piraeus and FSL Perth from Singapore’s First Ship Lease Trust (FSL), according to brokers.

Seasure Shipbrokers and Advanced Shipping and Trading are both reporting the deal at $19.85m for each vessel, with VesselsValue putting a market value of $18.2m on the Piraeus and $18.9m on the Perth.

The two vessels have been operating in the Heidmar Sigma pool, and if the sale is confirmed would leave FSL with nine product tankers in its fleet. Meanwhile, BULL would grow its fleet to 26 vessels with its current fleet of 24 consisting of 20 tankers, 3 gas carriers and a single FPSO.

UAE-based National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) has announced the acquisition of the 2010-built sub-sea construction vessel, Delma 2000, to boost its offshore and subsea construction capabilities.

The ship is equipped with a heavy lift crane which has a lifting capacity of 1,600 mt, as well as an S-lay pipelay spread and sub-sea crane.

The purchase price for the vessel is $89.85m.

“A significant investment in enhancing our future growth prospects, more so, as we expand our operations globally, the new vessel will enable us to undertake projects offshore that call for deep-water competencies. As the UAE looks to tap into its newly identified and existing oil and gas resources, we will continue to support our partners in their operations through highly efficient solutions,” said Ahmed Al Dhaheri, CEO of NPCC.

Chinese dry bulk operator Ningbo Marine has announced that its Singapore subsidiary has chartered the 2011-built Capesize bulk carrier ZJE Ocean 1 from its controlling shareholder Zhejiang Energy under a long-term bare boat charter agreement.

The charter agreement is for a period of 60 months with floating rates between $3,844 and $11,044 per day. The total charter payment under the contract is around $20m.

Zhejiang Energy bought the 176,000 DWT vessel, formerly named Harriette N, from German owner Neu Seeschiffahrt in September for a price of $24m.

At the end of October, Ningbo Marine also announced a plan to acquire a bulk carrier with a capacity between 30,000 DWT and 40,000 DWT, and the company will allocate up to RMB130m ($18.4m) for the acquisition.

US-based private equity fund Bain Capital Credit has put three 10-year old bulk carriers of the fully-controlled Giuseppe Bottiglieri Shipping Company on the market.

Brokers say that these vessels being circulated are post-panamaxes, Paola Bottiglieri, Peppino Bottiglieri and Giovanna Bottiglieri. All are available for inspection and the seller is looking for interested parties.

According to VesselsValue.com, each unit is valued between $13m and $15m.

Exactly one year ago also four MR1 tankers of Giuseppe Bottiglieri Shipping Company, namely Mariella Bottiglieri, Alessandra Bottiglieri, Ghetty Bottiglieri and Mariella Bottiglieri, were put up for sale but as of today, they are still in the hands of the Naples-based shipping firm.