One of the most famous names in Japanese shipowning history, Sanko Steamship, has let go of its last ship. The three-year-old, 82,000 dwt, Tsuneishi-built Sanko Hawking has fetched just under $42m from an undisclosed Greek account.
has fetched just under $42m from an undisclosed Greek account. Top management at Sanko told the Japan Maritime Daily in February that the company would exit shipowning, putting this last ship up for sale.
Sanko can trace its roots back to 1934. The outfit was the biggest shipping casualty of the 1980s. It went bust again in 2012 when it controlled a fleet of around 185 vessels while it emerged from a reorganisation under court protection in December 2014. Ships that were owned tended to sport green-coloured hulls.
