The company is being linked to the Hakodate-built, Japanese-controlled, 32,000-dwt Orient Dream (built 2008), which has been sold for $7m, sources say. The price is slightly higher than expected. VesselValue says it is worth $6.46m.

In December last year, Taylor paid $8.5m for sistership Maren Bulker from J Lauritzen.

The Orient Dream will be Taylor’s eighth handysize bulker, all built in Japan between 1998 and 2008.

Taylor