For more than a week, shipbrokers have been tying Navios Maritime Partners to the purchase of the 180,000-dwt First Eagle (built 2010).

Today, a source with close ties to the diversified Greek operator’s management team poured cold water on reports that it was the buyer when contacted by TradeWinds.

In response, a handful of sale-and-purchase brokers now believe the vessel went to Chinese interests but admit the identity of the counterparty remains unclear.

According