The private Scorpio Group is continuing to build its tanker pools, this time in LR product tankers.
The ship operator has grown its LR2 fleet to 52 by snapping up a pair of newbuildings, Scorpio pools director Ugo Romano told TradeWinds on Wednesday.
They include a second contribution from Dubai-based energy trader Onex DMCC and a further commitment from Eastern Pacific Shipping, the Singapore-based owner controlled by Idan Ofer.
Onex is placing the 114,600-dwt newbuilding Onex Precious just two months after committing an initial newbuilding, the 114,600-dwt Onex Peace (built 2021).
Onex ordered its first newbuildings in August 2019 at South Korea's Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.
The Onex Precious and Onex Peace were included in a scrubber-fitted trio said to have cost the owner $57m a copy. The third vessel is scheduled for delivery later this year.
“The contribution by Onex of their second newbuilding LR2 is a further testament to a successful ongoing relationship where Onex and the Scorpio Pool benefit from the synergies of a mutual and beneficial cooperation," Romano said.
This follows a decision by Eastern Pacific Shipping to enter its own newbuilding, the 110,000-dwt Atlantic Gold, which was delivered in April from China's New Times Shipbuilding.
Eastern Pacific is Singapore's top shipowner. The company has a fleet of 123 ships on the water and 60 newbuildings, which it estimates are worth more than $10bn.
“The alignment of interests at the core of our operation allows shipowners, operators, oil companies and traders to cooperate efficiently and competitively under a cohesive pool platform," Romano said.
On the LR1 front, Scorpio is taking in its first unit from TRF Ship Management, the private owner founded by legendary US investor Wilbur Ross as Transportation Recovery Fund.
TRF is putting in the 75,300-dwt Nautical Janine (built 2019), bringing Scorpio's LR1 pool to 13 units in total.
The Scorpio Group, which is the world's largest owner of product tankers through public company Scorpio Tankers, has been on a campaign to boost the size of its pools since mid-2020.
At last reporting, it had 78 tankers in its MR pool, alongside 42 handysize units and about 65 bulkers.
This article has been amended since publication to provide more detail on Eastern Pacific's fleet.
