Maria Angelicoussis — crowned the richest Greek with an estimated fortune of $5.6bn by Forbes magazine this week — is believed to be selling her first bulk carriers in a year.

London brokers report her company Maran Dry as selling the 171,700-dwt Maran Pioneer (built 2004) for $16.5m or $17m.

Earlier in the week, US brokers said that an identical sister ship, the Maran Innovation, was changing hands at an undisclosed price to unidentified buyers.