Velos swoops on Easterly MR1

Greek owner Velos Shipping has bolstered its tankers business with a secondhand chemical carrier from Easterly Asset Management’s Maritime Logistics Equity Partners.

Velos Tankers has snapped up the 2010-built 36,700 dwt MR1 Easterly Sirius for around $15.5m and renamed it Velos Rubini.

The US-based Easterly bought the vessel from Hong Kong-based Cido Shipping as part of a $68m four-ship deal in 2022.

Another ship from this package, the one-year-older Hyundai Mipo-built sister vessel Easterly Canyon has also been reported as sold to undisclosed Greek interests for around $16m.

The latest addition to Paschalis Diamantides-led Velos, which S&P sources note is set for a special survey and dry-docking this year, takes the tanker fleet to nine vessels. The company’s Velos Dry outfit, established in 2022, counts four bulkers.

In related MR1 sales, the 2011 Hyundai Mipo-built 37,000 dwt Asterion is said to be changing hands for $17m with a special survey next year.