Hansa Tankers' chemical tanker pool is working to add eight scrubber-fitted vessels to its fleet.
Norway's Bjarne Rieber group has decided to install scrubbers on its seven modern chemical tankers employed in the compatriot operator's pool.
Director Oystein Elgan said the Bergen-based company's shipowning arm Inventor Chemical Tankers will spend between $15m and $20m, according to Norwegian daily Finansavisen.
The ships were built in Japan between 2015 and 2017.
Older tanker added
Meanwhile, Hansa Tankers has added a 13-year-old chemical tanker to its fleet in an off-market deal.
The shipowner and pool operator has bought the 33,000-dwt Chemroad Fuji (built 2006), chief executive Hans Solberg confirmed.
This tanker, to be renamed Ulriken, will have scrubbers, Solberg said.
“It matched the schedules for docking of the ship,” he explained.
Sources said the Bergen-based company purchased the vessel with local investors from Japan’s Doun Kisen for $15.3m.
Last year, Hansa Tankers investors also bought the Japanese-built, 19,900-dwt Dreggen (built 2008) reportedly for $15.3m.
Its pools have chemical tankers from Nisshin Shipping, Midgard Shipping, K Line, Bochem, Marnavi and Doun Kisen, in addition to the Bjarne Rieber's vessels. In total, the fleet now includes 33 chemical tankers.
Solberg had been chief commercial officer of Hansa Tankers since 2010, before taking over as chief executive from Magne Morken this year.
Revenue down
Hansa Tankers posted operating revenue of $233m last year, down from $258m in 2017.
It was established in May 2010, as an independent pool operator for stainless-steel tonnage.
Meanwhile, Inventor Chemical Tankers recorded a pre-tax loss of $800,000 for 2018, with revenue of $31m. However, its board expects improved results in 2019.
