Revived pool operator Heidmar has revealed another flotilla of additions to its tanker roster.
Since February, the company has welcomed 20 new ships, with a further six newbuildings signed up on top of that.
Chief executive Pankaj Khanna told TradeWinds the group has been “super-busy” adding ships and people.
Employees now number about 40 in Athens, Singapore and London, “and we are still growing”.
Three VLCCs have joined the fleet, as well as five aframax/LR2 ships.
Heidmar has also won over two suezmaxes, an LR1 and five more MRs, plus the six dual-fuel and wind-assisted newbuildings in that sector.
Four small product tankers complete the list of new arrivals.
The fleet of VLCCs now stands at 11 ships, plus two new vessels due for delivery in the third quarter. All are scrubber-fitted.
Marinakis joint venture
There are 10 suezmaxes, 17 aframaxes/LR2s, 18 MRs and four other tankers in total.
In February, TradeWinds reported two MRs and two eco suezmaxes had joined Heidmar.
The company said its Dorado pool welcomed two MRs built at South Korea’s STX Shipbuilding in 2007, without naming them.
Market sources indicated the vessels were Dubai company Lila Global’s 52,600-dwt Lila Rhine and Lila Amazon.
Heidmar said the two suezmaxes were built at New Times Shipbuilding in China.
Sources said these were the Moundreas-controlled 156,000-dwt Bella Ciao (built 2020) and Chinese lessor Bank of Communications Financial Leasing’s 150,000-dwt Marlin Santorini (built 2019).
The news came less than a month after TradeWinds reported that Greek shipowner Evangelos Marinakis had moved into a joint venture with Heidmar in which all 32 of his privately managed tankers entered the operation.
The move was a triumphant moment for Khanna, the sole shareholder at that point, who unexpectedly revived a trademark pooling operation that had essentially been left for dead in 2020 following the exit of long-time owner George Economou.
The pools operating under the Heidmar banner now include Sea Dragon for VLCCs, Bluefin for suezmaxes, Sea Lion for LR2s/aframaxes and Dorado for MR2s.
The sister wind services operation, DH Renewables, is thriving, Khanna said: “We have grown to over 60 people, with multiple sites on the go.”
And the oil and gas offshore services business, Global 1 IRM, is also growing. “We have just reactivated two jack-ups and are in the process of reactivating another two.”
