Norway's Bergshav is putting two of its three aframax tankers into a Penfield Marine pool.
The Grimstad-based tanker owner's chief financial officer, Andreas Hannevik, confirmed that the 115,000-dwt Berica (built 2008) and Bergina (built 2007) have joined the Connecticut-based operator's pool.
Bergshav's other aframax, the 105,800-dwt Bergitta (built 2007), is on charter to Teekay Tankers, according to the New York-listed tanker giant's website, and thus an unlikely choice for Penfield now.
Penfield was set up in 2012 and runs panamax, aframax and suezmax tanker pools. It operates more than 50 tankers.
Bergshav has a diversified tanker fleet, as well as a fleet of 12 small gas carriers under its B Gas subsidiary.
The Atle Bergshaven-controlled company has wanted to expand its aframax fleet for some time.
In 2018, it bought the Bergina from Japan’s K Line for $19.5m, when it was the Sentosa River.
This appears to have been a well timed deal, as the ship, according to VesselsValue, is now worth in excess of $24m.
Bergshav has expressed interest in buying more aframaxes and getting in partners, but that has been difficult. Hannevik said: “We are cautious, some say too cautious”.
Bergshaven set up Bergshav in 1989 through a demerger from the Ugland Group. The 73-year-old remains an active chief executive and chairman of the firm.
