Denmark’s Uni-Tankers has made a significant expansion of its stainless-steel fleet in deals involving five vessels.
The Per Ekmann-led shipowner said the expansion includes the acquisition of the 12,500-dwt Marex Noa (built 2015), which it has had on long-term charter.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Singapore-flagged vessel is said to be worth $22.89m, according to VesselsValue. The ship will be renamed Jutlandia Swan and added to Uni-Tankers own fleet by May 2023.
Uni-Tankers said it has also completed a deal with the previous owner of the Marex Noa to build two new sister vessels at an unnamed shipyard in Japan.
The two 12,500-dwt newbuildings will be called Marex Nina and Marex Mia and are due for delivery in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Upon delivery, Uni-Tankers said it will take both vessels on long-term charters. Financial terms and the length of the charters were not disclosed.
In addition, Uni-Tankers said it has signed a contract with a Norwegian partner for the long-term charter of two J19 vessels built in 2016 and 2017.
“These vessels will be integrated into our fleet during the summer of 2023 and renamed Swan Atlantic and Swan Pacific,” Uni-Tankers said.
The two ships are thought to be the Fukuoka Shipbuilding-built Snow Ploeg (built 2016) and the Summer Ploeg (built 2017), according to photographs posted on Uni-Tankers LinkedIn page.
The ship’s beneficial owners are said to be Atlantis Vest, the investment company of the Bjarne Rieber family of Bergen, according to VesselsValue. The two vessels are valued at $33.35m and $34m, respectively.
“We are excited to announce this significant expansion of our stainless-steel fleet,” said chief executive Per Ekmann.
“With these new vessels, we will be able to provide even greater service to our clients around the world.”
Late last year, Uni-Tankers offloaded two older vessels — the 18,000-dwt Jutlandia Swan and Selandia Swan (both built 2008) to Germany’s Carl F Peters.
Uni-Tankers currently controls a fleet of 37 vessels — 15 owned ships and 22 chartered-in vessels, according to its website.
