Maersk Tankers Looking to Buy AET’s MR Tanker Fleet

Maersk Tankers is working on a deal to buy a fleet of seven medium-range (MR) tankers from Malaysian-based petroleum and chemical tanker owner and operator AET.

According to local reports, the contract would span AET’s entire tonnage in the sector.

The ships in question are understood to be the 2009-built Bunga Akasia and Bunga Alamanda, and the 2010-built Bunga Allium, Bunga Angelica, Bunga Angsana, Bunga Aster and Bunga Azalea. All seven of the 38,000 dwt vessels were delivered by South Korean shipbuilder STX Offshore.

A Maersk Tankers spokesperson has confirmed the potential sale but declined to provide any further details.

“AET and Maersk Tankers are in discussion on the potential sale of the seven chemical vessels owned by AET. Due to commercial sensitivities, we are not able to provide any further information,” the spokesperson said.

The Danish owner and operator is currently in the process of renewing its MR fleet, and has so far received 16 out of 19 MR newbuildings.

Most recently, Geneva’s Cargill International agreed to enter its MR fleet into the existing Maersk Tankers MR pool as part of a strategic partnership between the companies. The move is to create a new joint pool that would significantly increase the scope of the parties’ MR spot tanker business.