Hong Kong-based bulk carrier Pacific Basin Shipping Ltd said on Friday it expected to book an estimated net gain of $3.36 million from selling five ships this year. Pacific Basin said in a statement that it agreed to sell five handy-size dry bulk carriers of between 28,433-32,754 dead weight tonnes for US $100 million.
The firm said the proceeds would be used to repay bank borrowings secured on the five vessels and to prepay other bank borrowings.
Pacific Basin also entered into five bareboat charterparties with the purchasers to charter the five vessels back to the firm's chartered fleet at an agreed rates for 10 years. Shares in Pacific Basin last closed at HK$3.825. The stock has gained more than 10 percent in the three months ended on Thursday.