Israelis trim cape fleets

As the Chinese New Year has concluded, some deals have emerged in the cape segment. Chinese owners are once again purchasing, despite a prolonged period of depression in the market, while famous Israeli shipowners reportedly have sold three ships in the 20-year-old age bracket. 

The Moshe Mano-founded company Mano Maritime, a subsidiary of the Mano Holdings Group, involved in cargo, cruise, and car carriers, has decided it’s time to sell, offloading half of its capesize division. Brokers inform Splash that the Haifa-born owner is parting with the 20-year-old, 186,000 dwt Cape Friendship, which has reportedly secured a buyer in China for just over $16m, leaving the company with a six-year-younger Korean-built cape named Cape Legacy. 

Eyal Ofer is another prominent figure in shipping from Haifa. Sales chatter surrounds two ageing capes owned by his London-based shipping firm, Zodiac Maritime. Brokers note that the 20-year-old, 178,000 dwt Cape Heron, built at Mitsui Shipbuilding, and the one-year-younger similarly sized Cape Hawk, constructed at Namura Shipbuilding, are selling for a total of $30m.