for $200 million. The 57,000 dwt vessels are the British Chief (2017), and the 2016-built sisters British Engineer, British Officer, British Cadet, British Captain and British SAILOR .
The ships had received a string of offers over the last fortnight, and while the ownership has been transferred, the taker is still to be revealed. The Hyundai Mipo-built ships are noted as owned by ICBC Financial Leasing.
According to VesselsValue, the tankers were sold to ICBC on a 10-year bareboat charter basis in 2015 and leased back to BP.
Several Greek buyers, including Tsakos, are reportedly being linked to the transaction.
BP Shipping manages its global energy logistics using a mix of owned and leased vessels. The company typically time-charters most of its tonnage while retaining a small branded fleet bearing its name.
Photo by Owen Foley/shipspotting.com
