The heady state of the bulker market has opened up fleet-renewal and asset-play opportunities — even for 20-year-old vessels.

Panamaxes are a particular case in point. US-listed Safe Bulkers, which has been gradually renewing its fleet, sold the 76,000-dwt panamax Maria (built 2003), one of its oldest three vessels, to undisclosed buyers for $12.3m.

The ship, which is for delivery in August, is the fifth panamax or kamsarmax that the Polys Hajioannou-led company has divested since February.