D'Amico sells oldest tanker pair

The vessels, built by STX in South Korea in 1999, are due to be delivered to their new owner in the second quarter of 2013. Their departure brings d'Amico's average fleet age down to 5.8 years.

The sale will generate a profit on disposal of $10.2m for the Italian tanker owner and leaves it with a fleet, including chartered in vessels, of 38.5 MR and handysize product tankers. Eight ships are also on order at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, six MR and two handysize vessels.

"After the recently ordered 'Eco' newbuilding vessels and the sale of Cielo di Londra and High Wind, we kept implementing a rejuvenation program through this new sale agreement on High Spirit and High Challenge, the oldest vessels of our fleet," commented ceo Marco Fiori.

"The attractive price we negotiated for the Vessels validates our belief in a strengthening market because they got sold at the same price of the High Wind also being one calendar year older,' Fiori added.

Last week d'Amico confirmed two options for 50,000 dwt tankers at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, signing one vessel over to a private equity company for $150,000 over the purchase price.

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