Norway’s Champion Tankers has wrapped up its latest round of fleet renewal, declaring options for the final two ships in a series of MR tankers ordered at Penglai Jinglu Shipyard in China.
The Bergen-based private company, led by Karl Lodrup Kvalheim, will now take delivery of six 49,200 dwt IMO II tankers from the yard, with the final pair set to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2027.
Champion Tankers had initially firmed up four vessels last September, priced at about $45m apiece, while keeping two options open.
Founded by Kvalheim and Arne Viste more than two decades ago, Champion Tankers says it commercially operates around 25 ships worldwide, a mix of owned, chartered and third-party managed tonnage. The fleet is focused on veg oils, liquid fertilisers, easy chemicals, molasses and clean petroleum products.
Earlier this year, the company also acquired a pair of 2010-built MRs from another local tanker operator, Nyhill Shipping, for about $45m and marking the latter’s exit from shipowning.
