Private equity-backed shipowner Chembulk Tankers has repurchased bonds worth $21.8m over the last few months, taking its total buy-back to $41.4m, after selling almost half the ships a $200m placement was made to finance in 2018.

Recent purchases have been made at a price range of $0.75-$0.9775 from an initial issue in Oslo of 8% senior secured notes that matures on 2 February 2023.