Zodiac Maritime Agencies stays active in sniffing out opportunities. This time, brokers report that the Eyal Ofer-chaired outfit has been visiting Sungdong Shipbuilding in South Korea. The owner is reportedly spending $39.5m for the 180,000 dwt, Maria D also known by brokers as hull number H1202, $1m more than the market value VesselsValue.com assigns the ship.
The vessel is one of a series ships originally ordered by Greece’s Marmarasin in 2013, at a price of $46.5m each. These ships were cancelled and the financially troubled shipyard turned owner, and laid a trio of capes, the Maria D, Bosporus and Marigo up for sale.
Zodiac is listed with 12 capesize vessels and 11 VLOCs in its diverse fleet list. The Maria D will be the fourth cape bought by the firm this year.