Several brokers reported that Pantheon Tankers Management had agreed to sell the 105,100-dwt Astro Sculptor (built 2003) for about $12m in July last year.

As TradeWinds reported at the time, the information was inaccurate. The ship would soon be out of dry dock and could therefore expect to fetch more than $13.5m if offered for sale, ship-management sources said.

Nearly a year later, the owners’ decision to hold onto the vessel has proved astute.