Brokers link Tan Binh Shipping to the purchase of the Japanese-controlled, 32,000dwt Karine Bulker, its second handy acquisition of the year.

Tan Binh, which focuses on Japanese tonnage, was the most active Vietnamese buyer last year, taking on a steady stream of six elderly ships, including one bulker even bought without inspection.

Its only reported purchase this year was in March, when it snapped up the similar sized Angel Jupiter now renamed Tan Binh 234 and flagged domestically.