VLCC Owners Form New Supertanker Alliance

Following in the recent footsteps of the containership industry and their newly formed, G6 Alliance, the crude tanker industry is consolidating their assets by creating a “VLCC pool” named Nova Tankers that according to their press release will “offer relevant vessels of the highest standard to cater for our customers’ need for safe and environmentally friendly marine transportation.”

The VLCC Pool will operate a combined fleet of around 50 quality VLCCs by the end of 2012 with an average age of only 3 years and consists of ships from the following shipowners, MITSUI O.S.K. LINES, LTD. / PHOENIX TANKERS PTE. LTD., A.P. MÃ˜LLER – MÃ†RSK A/S (Maersk Tankers), SAMCO SHIPHOLDING PTE. LTD., and OCEAN TANKERS (PTE.) LTD., SINGAPORE.

Morten Pilnov, Maersk Tankers, will be the Managing Director for Nova Tankers. In this connection, the pool management company, Nova Tankers A/S, has been incorporated with Kazunori Nakai as Chairman. Mr. Pilnov is presently Head of Gas for Maersk Tankers, covering both Handy gas and VLGC. He brings with him extensive experience with pools from the gas segment and will take up the position immediately. Mr Pilnov has been with A.P. Moller- Maersk A/S for 12 years, hereof eight with Maersk Tankers.

Kazunori Nakai is the Executive Officer of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. Ltd. Mr. Nakai will take up the position as chairman of the pool management company in addition to his normal responsibilities.