Tanker owner Hafnia has exercised on Monday the purchase option on an IMO II-handy vessel, Hafnia Achroite under the sale and lease-back arrangement with CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited.
The owner reveals in its 2023 financial report that “this transaction was accounted for as an extinguishment of an existing sale and leaseback-liability (accounted for as financing transaction).”
The company also exercised in February the purchase option on Hafnia Ala baster vessel under the sale and lease-back arrangement with CSSC (Hong Kong) Shipping Company Limited, and on the Handy vessel, Hafnia Aragonite with the same company.
Since the beginning of the year the tanker owner has exercised purchase options on two MR vessels, Hafnia Viridian and Hafnia Violette, under the sale and lease-back arrangements with Jiangsu financial leasing Co Limited.
Hafnia also took delivery of an LR2 vessel, Hafnia Lillesand, through its Vista joint venture.
The company recently announced the launch of a Panamax Pool in partnership with Mercuria to commercially manage panamax tankers.
The giant shipowner said the short-term forecast is heavily influenced by the recent attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, resulting in rerouted longer voyages. The duration of this disruption is currently uncertain.
Mikael Skov, CEO of Hafnia, noted that beyond this challenge, the outlook is promising, with anticipated growth in oil demand and the commencement of new refinery operations.
The net profit in the fourth quarter of 2023 for the company came in at $176.4m.
Source: Hafnia
