
(Posted on 25/03/24)
ESL Shipping, a leading carrier of dry bulk cargoes in the Baltic region, has signed a memorandum of understanding to sell its two Supramax class vessels Arkadia and Kumpula to companies belonging to HGF Denizcilik Limited Sirket group, a Turkish shipping and logistics company. The sale of the vessels is part of a program announced in April 2023 to support and accelerate ESL Shipping’s low-carbon growth strategy.
The delivery of the vessels is expected to take place in April-May 2024. The sales price is USD 37.1 million and it is paid fully in cash. Considering the carrying amount of the vessels and the cost to sell, the sales loss is expected to be approximately EUR 7 million.
Following the sale of the Supramax vessels, ESL Shipping will continue to focus on Handysize and Coaster vessels and further develop its partnership strategy with the current and future customer base. In 2023, the operating profit of the Supramax vessels was EUR 1.6 (2022: 5.7) million.
“The sale of the two Supramax vessels is well aligned with ESL Shipping’s low-carbon strategy. It also stabilizes ESL Shipping’s profit generation and frees up capital for Aspo’s and ESL Shipping’s future strategic growth efforts,” says Rolf Jansson, CEO of Aspo Group and Chairman of the Board of ESL Shipping.
The two 1A ice-strengthened Supramax vessels of 56,000 dwt were originally received in 2012. The length of the vessels is 197 meters and the maximum draft with a full cargo is 13.0 meters. Both m/s Arkadia and m/s Kumpula have sailed under the Finnish flag.
“As the traditional markets for our Supramax vessels on the Baltic Sea and the Arctic have changed significantly, now is the right time to sell these vessels. The sale will support our roadmap towards green shipping and our ambition to bring fossil-free handysize vessels to the market. The sale enables us to allocate even more resources to accelerate the green transition,“ says Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping.
Where possible, the crews of the Supramax vessels will be re-employed in ESL Shipping’s remaining vessels.
ESL Shipping’s competitive edge is based on its ability to responsibly secure product and raw material transportation for industries and energy production all year around, even in difficult weather conditions. The shipping company loads and unloads large ocean liners at sea as a special service. ESL Shipping Ltd has been in business for over 70 years and is a subsidiary of Aspo Plc. The combined fleet of ESL Shipping and AtoB@C Shipping consists of over 40 vessels with cargo capacity ranging from 4,000 to 56,000 dwt.
The Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS) has published a series of practical guides to enable... Read more
Shanghai has officially become the world’s second-most prominent shipping hub, according to the... Read more
OceanScore, the maritime data and sustainability company helping shipping and ports turn regulatory... Read more
Bulk carrier safety continues to show steady long-term improvement, but the nature of risk facing seafarers... Read more
Following stronger than expected operational performance in dry cargo, reduced costs associated with... Read more
Algoma Central Corporation, a leading provider of marine transportation services, has announced that... Read more
Major maritime, ports and energy companies have been identified by Cydome’s threat-intelligence... Read more
As the global shipping industry faces mounting concerns over future crew availability, Danica Crewing... Read more
Following an attack on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman, IMO has decided to temporarily pause its evacuation... Read more
Leading health and wellness platform OneCare Group is calling on shipping leaders to recognise the immense... Read more