Italy’s d’Amico International Shipping, a family business operator in the product tanker market, had exercised – through its operating subsidiary d’Amico Tankers D.A.C. (Ireland) – its purchase option on the 49,999-dwt medium-range product tanker vessel, High Leader.
The price for the 2018-built ship by Japan Marine United Corporation in Japan is around US$34.3m, d’Amico says.
The expected delivery of the vessel is between the second and third quarter of 2025.
DIS’ fleet comprises 33 double-hulled product tankers (MR, handysize and LR1, of which 26 owned, 4 time-chartered-in and 3 bareboat chartered-in) with an average age of about 9.0 years for its owned and bareboat chartered-in vessels.
Carlos Balestra di Mottola, chief executive officer of d’Amico International Shipping, said: “I am pleased to announce DIS’ exercise of another purchase option for this top-quality, Japanese-built vessel that we have been time-chartering-in since 2018, at a very attractive price, which is approximately 26% below its current market value.
“This deal follows the exercise of options on five other vessels since the end of 2022 and completes our goal of gradually acquiring our long-term time-charter-in fleet.
“Through the exercise of these options, DIS has taken ownership of six young and efficient MR vessels, all built by some of the most renowned Japanese shipyards, at purchase prices significantly below their current market value, creating substantial value for our company and shareholders.”
