China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) offshoot CS Shipping has successfully sold one of its VLCCs at auction, brokers say.

CS Shipping placed the 281,705-dwt CS Pioneer (built 1998) on the block last month with the ship sold via the Guangzhou Shipping Exchange.

Now TradeWinds understands the tanker has fetched a price of $15.34m, ahead of the $14.7m base level.

While a firm buyer has not yet been established, fingers are pointing to a Singaporean energy firm.