The GSB J19 chemical tanker pool has grown to nine vessels with the addition of a pair of Dubai-based Lila Global’s chemical tankers.
Shinsuke Togawa, managing director of Singapore-based Golden Stena Baycrest Tankers (GSB Tankers), revealed that the 19,900-dwt stainless steel chemical tankers Lila Ace and Lila Confidence (both built 2006) entered the pool at the end of December last year.
“We are happy to report the addition of a new pool partner. It has been a dramatic 2022 with strong earnings and ending the year with the expansion of the pool partners reflects our competitive position in the market,” Togawa said.
The GSB J19 Pool launched in July 2021 by GSB Tankers the IMC Group’s tanker arm Aurora Tankers. GSB Tankers contributed four of its own vessels, and three more came from the Aurora fleet.
The pool, which focuses on vessels of between 19,000 dwt and 22,500 dwt that are the workhorses of chemical shipping, is managed by a combined GSB Tankers and Aurora team.
Togawa said that he expects to add more pool partners in 2023, which will allow the pool to expand in terms of fleet size.
Lila Global, a shipping company affiliated with cash buyer GMS, has three chemical tankers in fleet of around 40 vessels comprises of a mixed bag of tankers, bulkers, and various other vessel types.
While the company trades its bulkers in the spot market, its tankers are mostly deployed in pools.
A third Lila Global stainless steel chemical tanker, the 19,800-dwt Lila Frontier (built 2004), is on long-term to South Korean interests, according to VesselsValue data.
