Selling a ship in under 60 days depends on segment liquidity, buyer pools, and how clean your dossier is. Recent sales patterns point to faster movement in certain bulkers, MR product tankers, and small feeders, while slower lanes show thinner demand or pricing fatigue. Below is a data backed cheat sheet plus the prep moves that turn interest into a signed MOA quickly.
Which Ships Are Sellable In 60 Days
Fast exits follow deep buyer pools and clean paperwork. Mid bulkers, MR product tankers and small feeders tend to move quickest when priced inside the live band.
Market snapshot
Dry bulk liquidity
- Handysize, Supramax and Ultramax see frequent listings and steady offers.
- Age bands with most activity sit roughly in mid age ranges.
- Global buyer coverage supports shorter marketing cycles.
Read this: broad demand usually means faster inspections and quicker LOIs.
MR product tankers
- Consistent trade demand keeps buyers active across regions.
- Well documented vetting history helps speed decisions.
- Eco and layout differences still matter for price and time to sell.
Read this: speed depends on age, class items and realistic pricing.
Feeder containers
- Small feeders under about 3,000 TEU remain relevant to regional loops.
- Tight supply at certain sizes can bring quick matches.
- Clean machinery records and gear details help close faster.
Read this: demand plus clarity equals shorter time on market.
Sixty day sellability by segment
| Segment | Typical age that sells | Buyer pool | Recent activity cue | Sixty day sellability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handysize to Supramax bulker | About 8 to 18 years | Broad across Asia, Med and Middle East | Frequent listings and steady offers | High |
| Ultramax bulker | About 5 to 12 years | Owners upgrading from Supra plus financial buyers | Active S and P and many comparables | High |
| MR2 product tanker | About 8 to 15 years | Refinery linked traders and regional carriers | Regular buyer interest and ongoing charter demand | Medium to high |
| Feeder container 1,000 to 1,900 TEU | About 10 to 20 years | Regional liner operators and investors | Operators seek flexible tonnage for short routes | Medium to high |
| Panamax bulker | About 10 to 18 years | Selective regional and institutional buyers | Momentum varies with freight and fuel | Medium |
| VLCC, LNG and very young eco units | About 0 to 10 years | Thin and specialized | Higher prices and fewer trades per week | Lower |
Scores combine transaction momentum, breadth of buyer types and observable pricing behavior.
What actually makes a sixty day sale possible
Paperwork that closes
- Class and statutory complete with the last 24 months summarized.
- Docking and special survey status with costed items and timing.
- No encumbrances and lien releases ready for escrow.
Price inside the live band
- Price off the last two true comparables.
- Short subjects and clear inspection rights in the offer.
- Adjust for UT, coatings and spares variance without delay.
Inspection plan that saves time
- Prebook UT and hold yard slot options for the first three weeks.
- Arrange rider tickets for a sea trial window with charterer consent.
- Data room with noon reports and speed consumption tracks.
Fast lane checklist
Pre list in forty eight hours
- Factsheet with class timeline, last PSC codes and last docking photos.
- Speed and consumption table by draft and weather state.
- Major spares inventory and critical machinery notes.
Buyer shortlists by segment
- Bulkers: Greek, Turkish, Middle East private fleets and Asia based owners.
- MR product: trader linked fleets and regional operators.
- Feeders: regional liner operators with tight loops.
Deal timing guardrails
- Target LOI in week three to four, subjects about ten to fourteen days, closing in week seven to eight.
- Avoid holiday periods where bank and registry timelines stretch.
- Keep a back up buyer list to swap quickly if finance stalls.
Red flags that turn sixty days into one hundred twenty
Survey traps
- Special survey due soon without a plan or yard slot.
- Repeated PSC codes on structure or fire safety.
- Machinery log gaps or unresolved recommendations.
Title friction
- Unreleased mortgages or complex ownership layers that slow escrow.
- Sanction screening hits that require enhanced diligence.
- Pending charter claims without a quantified settlement path.
Over reach on price
- Anchoring to previous cycle highs while weekly indices soften.
- Ignoring age and fuel efficiency penalties in certain bands.
- Marketing without fresh photos, UT and log extracts.
Quick reference
| Segment | Why it moves | List like this | Common stall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handy, Supra, Ultra bulker | Large buyer pool and constant trade needs | Costed survey plan, PSC trend sheet, ready UT pack | Docking due without slot and thin coatings evidence |
| MR2 product tanker | Broad charter demand and many active buyers | Recent photos and a clear vetting summary | Age and eco gap versus the comp set |
| Feeder 1k to 1.9k TEU | Regional loops need flexible tonnage | Speed and fuel table by draft plus crane and gear details | Registry or debt release delays |
A sixty day sale is realistic when you pick a liquid segment, price inside the live band and deliver a clean dossier on day one. If your ship sits at an age or spec that narrows buyers, extend the runway and sharpen the pack before you go to market.
