Sources close to the company confirm the 70,200-dwt Annoula (built 1997) is sold but would not comment on the reported price of $6m.

The Sanoyas-built ship is understood to have gone to Chinese buyers. Alpha still has half-a-dozen 1990s-built bulkers in its fleet. Among the oldest are 1994-built and 1996-built capesizes and four 1999-built panamaxes.

Alpha and affiliated companies have been quite active in the sale-and-purchase (S&P) market in recent months.