A dearth of modern tankers offered for sale amid robust markets for crude and product carriers has led to a price surge for the few sale candidates out there.

One of them — the 159,800-dwt RS Aurora (built 2018) — is said to have been committed at a remarkably high valuation.

Brokers in Athens and the US said Greek owner Stem Shipping agreed to part with the Chinese-built suezmax for more than $64m.