Nasdaq-listed Greek bulker owner United Maritime has boosted its fleet by taking a Japanese-built kamsarmax on a bareboat charter with a purchase option attached.
The Stamatis Tsantanis-led spinoff of capesize specialist Seanergy Maritime is adding an unnamed 82,235 dwt ship built at Oshima.
The vessel will join United’s fleet for 18 months between June and October, and the company has a buy option at the end of the charter.
The deal is structured with a downpayment of $7.5m, a daily charter rate of $8,000 and a purchase option of $16.6m, or about $28.5m in total.
After delivery, United should count nine ships in its fleet.
In addition to the fleet expansion, the company has sealed a new 12- to 15-month charter deal at an improved index-linked rate with the existing charterer of the 2013-built panamax Chrisea starting in June this year.
“The healthy dry bulk market seen so far in the first quarter seems to be sustainable through the rest of the year, making us optimistic about our financial performance in 2024 with a fleet that will consist of three capesize, three kamsarmax and three panamax vessels,” noted United’s chairman and chief executive, Tsantanis.
