Greeks including Alberta Shipmanagement, an Athens-based outfit created nearly three years ago from a split of family interests at Samos Steamship, have continued piling up product tankers.

Nicholas Inglessis-led Alberta has emerged as the new manager of two such vessels in recent weeks.

In December, the 74,900-dwt Portofino (built 2010) joined the company’s fleet.

That vessel caused some confusion earlier this year. Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines was said to have sold the ship in early November, when it was still trading as the Iris Victoria, for between $17.35m and $17.8m.

Brokers tied Transocean Maritime Agencies to the deal at the time, in what would mark the Monaco-based company's entrance into the LR1 product carrier sector.

On 2 December, however, Equasis listed Alberta as new manager of the vessel. Alberta managers did not respond to a request for comment.

The company, which has been operating both bulkers and tankers since setting up shop in early 2019, seems to have focused its expansion recently to the latter.

Alberta emerged last month as the new owner of a somewhat smaller product carrier as well, the 53,800-dwt Star Falcon (built 2007), which has joined its fleet as Dumbledore.

This was one of two vessels reported sold by Arab Petroleum Investments Corp (Apicorp) at the end of October to unidentified owners for about $10.5m each.

Apicorp unveiled ambitious expansion plans four years ago when it set up a joint venture with VLCC owner Bahri of Saudi Arabia.

These plans have not gone a long way, however. Saudi-based Apicorp, which describes itself as an “energy-focused, multilateral-development financial institution”, was listed with just three product tankers this year.

All three ships seem to be on their way out.

The 51,200-dwt Star Eagle (built 2007) was reported sold in October — some said in an en-bloc deal with the Star Falcon.

Chartworld joins buyers' ranks

The third and final Apicorp ship, the 53,800-dwt Star Merlin (built 2007), reportedly changed hands in April this year, for $11.25m. No such deal, however, materialised and the Shin Kurushima Onishi-built vessel, which is a sistership to the Star Falcon, is still listed as part of Apicorp's fleet.

Apicorp is not the only Asian owner to be offloading MRs to Greek buyers. Singapore-based Winson Group sold two such vessels in November. Both emerged this month in the hands of well-known Hellenic players.

Lou Kollakis-led Chartworld Shipping, a company that has been expanding in product tankers through newbuildings recently rather than through secondhand acquisitions, is the new owner of the 48,600-dwt Angel 61 (built 2006), which is now trading as Angel Star.

Winson Oil was reported to have sold that vessel in early November to unidentified Greeks for $9.8m.

At about the same time, Winson sold a younger MR as well — the 47,400-dwt Angel 62 (built 2009) — for between $13m and $13.8m, as TradeWinds reported.

The Angel 62 has cropped up in the fleet of Greece’s Spring Marine Management since and is currently trading as Joropo.

In another MR deal reported by brokers, Greek owners that some believe to be Chemnav Shipmanagement agreed to acquire the 53,500-dwt Celsius Palermo (built 2010) for close to $16.75m.