Interests linked to the wider Hajioannou family are behind the purchase of a six-year old capesize bulker currently in the fleet of Germany’s Orion Bulkers, Tradewinds is told.

The 176,500-dwt Rugia (built 2011) has been sold for about $26m, brokers report.

Some brokers are identifying New York-listed Safe Bulkers as the buyer of the Shanghai Waigaoqiao-built ship.

Contacted by TradeWinds, however, company sources deny that either Safe Bulkers or its management company Safety Management Overseas has acquired the ship.