Brokers on both sides of the Atlantic claim a company with ties to China Merchants Energy Shipping is planning to part ways with the 175,700-dwt C Prosperity (built 2011).

Erik Nikolai Stavseth, an equity analyst at Arctic Securities, says there is speculation that the unit could command as little as $30m.

In a note to clients the forecaster pointed out that this is well below what many believe five-year-old capes are worth in today’s market.

Stavseth’s