Singapore-listed commodities giant Noble Group is insisting that its decision to sell four kamsarmax bulkers does not mark its exit from shipowning, but a shift to an asset-light strategy.

It adds that it has neither vessel acquisitions nor sales planned once the quartet has been sold.

Noble put the 82,000-dwt Ocean Integrity, Ocean Forte and Ocean Vision (all built 2015) and the Ocean Ambition (built 2014), on the sales block late last year.