by Lloyd's List

11 December 2024 (Lloyd's List) - DEMAND for secondhand containerships shows no signs of slowing down, with several deals concluded in the past week and enquiries from buyers said to remain high.

“The secondhand (containership) market continues to see a high level of enquiry. Transaction levels remain relatively low owing only to the fact that there are not many candidates to choose from,” said Braemar, which noted that the 2,500 teu-3,000 teu segment was recently most active in terms of sales.

Recent containership sale and purchase deals reported by brokers included 4,500 teu ships purchased by a German tonnage provider, and MSC is said to have purchased a pair of feedermax units.

The 4,500 teu ships comprise a pair of wide-beam vessels, which were sold by South Korean non-operating owner Kmarin to Bremen-headquartered tonnage provider D. Oltmann Reederei.

Now named Kmarin Atlantica (IMO: 9632507) and Kmarin Azur (IMO: 9632492), they were both originally built for now defunct South Korean container line Hanjin at compatriot shipbuilder HD Hyundai Samho and delivered in 2013.

According to Alphaliner, they are understood to have been purchased for $53m apiece and are currently on time charter to Denmark’s Maersk.  

The MSC purchases comprise the Schoeller Holdings-controlled feedermaxes Cape Male (IMO: 9440150) and Cape Moss (IMO: 9445916).

The 2,770 teu ships, built by China’s Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard in 2011 and 2009 respectively are reported by brokers to have been purchased for circa $22m apiece.

With these latest deals, MSC is thought to have purchased around 50 secondhand containerships since January alone.

While not yet confirmed as the buyer, Alphaliner reports that MSC is rumoured to have tied up the purchase of the 15-year-old feedermax Sparkle (IMO: 9472567) in the past week.

This 2,500 teu vessel was put up for sale by its Japanese owner in November and is said to have achieved a sale price of $23m.

Other feedermax sales reportedly tied up in the past week included the 20-year-old 2,700 teu, Ariana A (IMO: 9320142), which was sold by Greek shipowner Panayotides to undisclosed buyers for around $16.5m.

In the small feeder segment, Alphaliner noted the sale by Germany’s HS Bereederungs of the 2012-built, 1,036 teu, sister vessels Helena Schepers (IMO: 9584487) and Katharina Schepers (IMO: 9584865).

While no buyer was disclosed, the ice-class 1A ships are said to have been purchased by a container line operator.