ESL Shipping, a subsidiary of the Aspo Group, has concluded the sale of its two Supramax bulk carriers, Arkadia and Kumpula, to a Turkish shipping and logistics group, HGF Denizcilik Limited Sirket. The deal saw the vessels change hands for a total of $37.1 million.

The sale marks a strategic shift for ESL Shipping, which aims to focus its efforts on smaller Handysize and Coaster vessels. This move aligns with the company’s long-term goal of achieving carbon-neutral operations.

“The sale will support our roadmap towards green shipping and our ambition to bring fossil-free handysize vessels to the market,” says Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping. “The sale enables us to allocate even more resources to accelerate the green transition.”

The Arkadia and Kumpula, both built in 2012, are 1A ice-strengthened Supramax vessels with a deadweight tonnage of 56,000. With a length of 197 meters and a maximum draft of 13.0 meters at full cargo capacity, they have operated under the Finnish flag throughout their service with ESL Shipping.