Dubai’s Emarat Maritime is expanding its presence in Concord Maritime’s recently launched Dakota Tankers pool with the entry of a second aframax.
Emarat is preparing to enter the 115,500-dwt Dubai Attraction (built 2011) into Dakota this month, increasing Dakota’s fleet to eight, market sources indicate.
Stamford-based Concord is headed by Ben Ognibene, the former chief executive of Heidmar Inc. Ognibene resigned from Heidmar in October 2017 and formed Concord in June 2018.
Databases show that Dubai Attraction had previously been trading in Heidmar’s Sigma Tankers aframax pool.
Emarat was an original member of Sigma, which was launched by Ognibene and current Concord partner Jim Hurley.
Emarat continues to employ the 115,600-dwt Dubai Brilliance (built 2001) and Dubai Glamour (built 2009) in Sigma, databases show.
Dubai Attraction is the second aframax Emarat has entered in the Dakota pool. In December, it placed the 115,500 Dubai Charm (built 2010).
“We feel very comfortable … in Concord’s hands based upon the relationship we have had with the team over the past several years. Shipping is a people business, it requires partners who respond to requirements with thoughtful and creative ideas,” Emarat managing director Jitendra Misra told TradeWinds at the time.
Dakota’s eight tankers trade globally but have a focus on dirty routes in the Atlantic, Ognibene has said.
Atlantis Maritime of Greece is also a Dakota member, while Concord has chartered in tonnage to trade alongside the third-party entries.
