Swedish shipowner Wallenius Lines has added two vessels to its fleet from Norwegian car carrier operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
The Erik Nøklebye-led outfit has acquired the 1995-built 5,846 ceu Don Juan and Turandot for an undisclosed sum.
The move is aimed at strengthening Sweden’s maritime expertise while increasing the availability of tonnage that can support society and the Armed Forces if required, the company said.
With the additions, Wallenius Lines’ fleet now numbers eight vessels.
“These ships still have a cargo capacity that meets today’s needs. For us, sustainability is also about utilising current assets throughout their entire service life, and with the right fuel mix, they can operate for many years to come,” said Wallenius Lines CEO Nøklebye.
The Don Juan is scheduled to enter charter service in Asia after docking in early September, while the Turandot is due to enter service around the turn of the year. Both vessels will remain under the technical management of Wallenius Marine.
The Stockholm-headquartered company is part of the Soya Group and holds stakes in several major shipping ventures. It co-owns short-sea car carrier operator United European Car Carriers (UECC) with Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK), and alongside Wilh. Wilhelmsen is a majority shareholder in Oslo-listed Wallenius Wilhelmsen.
Last year, Wallenius Lines also expanded its fleet with three ships — a car carrier from Hoegh Autoliners and two roros from Wallenius SOL, the joint venture with Svenska Orient Linien.
