Greece’s Athenian Sea Carriers has sold its oldest VLCC in a secondhand market that appears surprisingly robust, considering the lacklustre freight rates that tankers are earning.

Jens Martin Jensen, chief executive of parent company Athenian Holdings, confirmed the sale of the 317,400-dwt Athenian Victory (built 2009).

Jensen did not offer further details on the deal but, according to Greek brokers and ship-management sources, the Hyundai Heavy Industries-built vessel fetched about $42m in a sale to Greek peer Eurotankers.