Aframaxes and MRs have been the most popular kinds of ship in a secondhand tanker market that has been moving in fits and starts.

They are exactly in these type of vessels that Greek player IMS SA has been impressively busy, completing five acquisitions so far this year and considering more going forward.

In its latest deal, clients of the low-profile company have emerged as new owners of the 47,300-dwt Stena Conqueror (built 2003) in a $6.8m transaction completed with the ship’s delivery last month.

The Stena Conqueror has joined the IMS fleet under its new name, Bourda.

Its purchase is part of a campaign that has seen Mario Gialozoglou-led IMS spend more than $60m since February on two aframaxes and three MR2 ships built between 2003 and 2008.

As TradeWinds has reported, the other vessels are the 105,800-dwt Ark (ex-Explorer Spirit) and Nemo (ex-Navigator Spirit, both built 2012), the 50,600-dwt Pericles (ex-Lara, built 2007) and the 46,800-dwt Marlen (ex-Angel No 5, built 2009).

The identity of the sellers of these ships suggests that IMS has good connections overseas. The Bourda was previously owned by Stena Bulk; the Nemo and Ark belonged to US-listed Teekay Tankers; and the Pericles was partly owned by Bank of America.

Stepping on the gas

According to ship-management sources in Piraeus, IMS is aiming to increase its managed fleet with similar vessels in an age range of between 10 and 15 years.

Provided market conditions and prices are right, IMS clients intend to buy up to three such ships each year to bring their fleet to between 15 and 20 vessels — a size they consider optimal.

IMS manages eight MRs and two aframaxes.

Market analysts agree there is upside in such tankers, despite sluggish freight rates that have only recently started crawling upwards.

"The shortage of natural gas, LNG and coal supplies will inevitably catalyse demand for oil and generate oil products demand, which owners ... would be pleased to cover," Athens-based Xclusiv Shipbrokers said in a recent report.

The costs of MR2s between 10 years and 15 years old are below historic price averages, Xclusiv noted.

Meanwhile, IMS' expansion goes hand in hand with moves to offload vessels that fall outside its preferred age range. Between March and September, IMS sold three ships for demolition — the 37,300-dwt Tango (built 2000), 46,300-dwt Risa (built 2000) and 43,700-dwt Ace (built 1999).

Price details have not emerged but it is assumed that the three demolition sales raised the company about a quarter of what it spent on acquisitions.