In the newbuilding market, Alkyon Shipping placed an order for three 180,000dwt capesize bulkers, with an option one more, at Sungdong of South Korea. Greek owners also emerged with container newbuilding business in the post panamax segment.

Lomar Shipping has acquired two containerships in the secondhand tanker market this week according to broker reports. The ANL BINBURRA (2452 TEU 33,940 dwt 2002 blt Germany) and MOL AMAZONIA (1603 TEU 21,331 dwt 2000 blt S.Korea) were snapped up at an undisclosed price.

The interest shown for Capesize bulkers continues and Sungdong secured two sizeable orders from Greek owners. K-Line went to Imabari for five 14000 teu container vessels. This is K-Line's first order ever for vessels in excess of 9000 teu. In the secondhand market, Thenamaris snapped up tanker vessel Pacific Alliance for USD 19,75 mln.

Euroseas, an owner and operator of drybulk and container carrier vessels and provider of seaborne transportation for drybulk and containerized cargoes, announced today that four subsidiaries of the Company have entered into time charter agreements for Three of its Containerships and One of its Drybulk Vessels.

Greek players have been very active in the secondhand market recently. The Lion Shipbrokers Weekly Report mentions M/V "GOOD FAITH" sold to clients of Laskaridis of Greece for $20 million. M/V "PAUL OLDENDORFF" sold to Greek buyers (hearing clients of W-Marine or clients of Cyprus Maritime or clients of Swiss Marine) for $11.5 million. AVIN and StealthGas have also been linked to acquisitions in the tanker and gas segments resepectively.

Returns for Capesize ships, the biggest carriers of iron ore, fell the most this month amid speculation elevated steel inventories in China are curbing demand to charter vessels.

Diana Shipping, a global shipping company specializing in the ownership and operation of dry bulk vessels, today reported net income of $5.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, compared to net income of $20.2 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Little activity to show for this week with only two Aframax product tankers reported. Two very familiar parties, HMD and Scorpio Tankers, reportedly closed a USD 99.5 million deal for a pair of 114,000 DWT LR2s with 2014 delivery. In addition, D'Amico placed an order for 2 MRs with HMD for construction at their yard in Vietnam. The reported price is USD 29 million.