Greek tanker owner Performance Shipping, led-by chairperson of its board Aliki Paliou, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, signed a memorandum of agreement to sell its oldest vessel, the P. Sophia.
The 105,071-dwt aframax tanker P. Sophia, built in 2009, will be sold to an unaffiliated third party for a gross sale price of $35.65m.
The vessel is expected to be delivered to her new owners in mid-2026, subject to customary closing conditions.
According to Performance Shipping, the tanker currently serves as part of the collateral for the company’s outstanding Nordic bond. The net proceeds from the sale will be applied in accordance with the terms of the bond agreement.
The company acquired the vessel in the third quarter of 2022 for a gross purchase price of $27,577,320.
Commenting on the sale, Performance Shipping chief executive officer Andreas Michalopoulos, stated: “We are pleased to announce that we have capitalized on the continued strength in Aframax tanker values through the sale of the M/T P. Sophia for a gross price of US$35.65 million. While the outlook for the Aframax sector remains solid, we believe this transaction represents a timely and compelling opportunity for our company, reflecting our disciplined and opportunistic approach in accordance with our fleet renewal strategy.
“As the oldest vessel currently in our fleet, the divestment of the M/T P. Sophia enhances our fleet profile by reducing the fleetwide average age, and further improving operational efficiency and commercial competitiveness. In addition, the company will continue to operate the vessel through the expiration of the current US$43,000 per day charter, expected to conclude in or around late May 2026.
“This sale is expected to generate an approximate gain of US$8 million compared to the acquisition price paid three years ago and meaningfully strengthen our liquidity position.”
