Norwegian car carrier operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen has acquired another Japanese chartered-in vessel.
The Oslo-listed company said it has taken the 6,500 ceu 2009 Imabari-built Morning Celine following the completion of a long-term charter.
Records show the vessel had been on charter with the group’s 80%-owned subsidiary Eukor from Japan’s Hakuyo Kaiun since November 2009.
No price was given, but Wallenius Wilhelmsen said the pre-agreed deal was well below the vessel’s current charter-free valuation and its estimated market value of about $72.5m.
Late last year, the company declared purchase options for two vessels chartered in from Japanese owners. The 2008-built 6,500 ceu Morning Cecilie was taken over from Hakuyo Kaiun for $10m, while a year younger Morning Camilla was picked up by Eukor from Shoei Kisen at a price of $30m. Combined, the excess market value of the two vessels was around $100m.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen operates around 120 ships servicing 15 trade routes. The company has 14 newbuildings delivering in the coming years, of which eight will boast a capacity of 11,700 ceu – the largest ever ships on order in the sector.