Pacific Basin, Hong Kong’s largest shipowner by fleet numbers, has bought a Japanese handysize bulker.

Brokers link Pacific Basin with the Nippon Yusen Kaisha-controlled 32,000 dwt, 2007-builtAtlantic Burnet in what appears to be an off market deal.

“I am sure it’s done direct between Pac Basin and Japanese owners as they always used to talk direct to Japan,” says one well-placed source.

Pacific Basin paid close to $9m for the Hakodate-built ship, which comes equipped with four 30 ton gantry cranes.

The second hand market in the handy sector has been busy in October.

Pacific Basin’s ceo, Mats Berglund, said at the start of the month the plan going forward for his company was to redeliver expiring and long-term chartered-in ships and rely more on owned ships, complemented by shorter-term and index-linked chartered ships. Brokers report the owner is busy scouring the market for more available tonnage.