Greek interests have been linked to a pair of aframaxes that Maersk Tankers reportedly shed last week.
Brokers in London and Athens identified listed dry bulk company Diana Shipping as the buyer of the 105,000-dwt Maersk Jamnagar and Maersk Jeddah (both built 2011).
TradeWinds has reported that the vessels were sold for $30.3m.
Diana chief strategy officer Ioannis Zafirakis, however, denied the company was involved in any such a deal.
Simeon Palios, New York-listed Diana Shipping’s largest shareholder, did not respond to a request for comment on whether his private interests may have been involved.
Market speculation
Maersk Tankers declined to comment on the reports, citing its policy of not responding to market speculation.
The Danish company sold an aframax tanker to Greek interests earlier this year, when it shed the 109,300-dwt Maersk Prosper (renamed Alboran I, built 2001) to Monte Nero Maritime for about $10.5m.
These vessels were Maersk Tankers’ last crude ships after the Danish company refocused as a product specialist.
Maersk Tankers says it has adopted a new strategy of sharp CO2 emission reductions ahead of IMO 2020 deadlines.
