Swiss trading giant Vitol has reportedly trimmed its tanker fleet further as it seeks to meet emissions targets.
Brokers in Europe are linking the shipowner to further disposals by its Latvian Shipping Company (LSC) subsidiary in Riga.
They agree on four MR2s being sold for $22.5m each, or $90m combined, but differ on the ships involved.
The 52,600-dwt Usma and Piltene (both built 2007) feature on all the broker lists.
Some reports then claim LSC has offloaded the sisters Uzava and Salacgriva (built 2008), while others name the Ugale and Targale (built 2007).
The prices suggest deals for the four 2007-built vessels have been done, with the 2008 units valued at above $24m each.
The buyer is not known. All the tankers were built at 3 Maj in Croatia.
Vitol has not commented on the deal.
The only LSC ship not linked to the business is the 2008-built sister Ainazi.
VesselsValue lists the 2007-built ships as having dry dockings due.
These units were worth only $15m a year ago.
In 2022, LSC sold off three 2006-built MR2s. These were also constructed at 3 Maj.
The group has disposed of several older ships over the past year, including a less efficient VLCC built in 2002.
Carbon intensity to be cut
The trader said in March it is on track to achieve the IMO’s 2030 carbon intensity reduction target of 40% from a 2008 baseline as early as the end of 2024.
As of 31 December, the Vitol fleet consisted of more than 60 operationally controlled ships of varying sizes and types, including tankers, gas carriers and offshore vessels, supplemented by units chartered from third-party shipowners.
Most of the owned vessels are managed by LSC.
Vitol intends to optimise the operational, technical and fuel-use performance of its fleet and continue to reduce the carbon intensity of its vessel portfolio.
The plan is to introduce onboard efficiency programmes and retrofit devices including high-performance propellers, Mewis ducts, propeller boss cap fins, autopilot adaptive control, LED lights and high-performance hull coatings.
