New York-listed Navios Maritime Partners, led by Angeliki Frangou, has offloaded its oldest VLCC, marking one of the few notable tanker deals concluded over the past week.
Brokers report the Nave Quasar (297,000 dwt, built 2010, Dalian) has changed hands for $52.5m. Buyers remain undisclosed. The 15-year-old unit is the eldest of six VLCCs in the diversified Navios fleet.
The achieved price is considered firm for a Chinese-built workhorse of this vintage, particularly given that the vessel has recently passed dry dock and special survey. The ship is also shown on the owner’s website as fixed on a charter with earnings based on pool returns, with an expiry this December.
The deal arrives as values continue to tighten between sellers and bullish buyers. A useful benchmark was printed earlier this week by Oman’s Asyad Shipping, which is understood to have sold the Saiq (300,000 dwt, built 2011, Universal) for around $57m, basis a time-charter attached at $41,000 a day until April 2026 — reflecting the premium still commanded by Japanese-built tonnage.
VLCC earnings remain strong, hovering around the $100,000 a day mark.
