Mercuria, Greek and Cypriot owners swoop for SK Shipping's bunkering/product tankers

At least four vessels are believed to have changed hands over the past month, with the South Korean owner now listed with just two small chemical and oil tankers. The deals come as SK Shipping recently divested 10 VLCCs to compatriot owner Pan Ocean.

Mercuria Energy Group’s Greece-based shipmanagement arm, MM Marine, has recently been listed as the owner of 7,709-dwt, 2015-built Gaia and 5,734-dwt, 2009-built Thalia, formerly known as B. Sun and B. Star, respectively.

Gaia is a tanker specialised in ship-to-ship (STS) operations and bunkering services, while Thalia is described as a product and chemical tanker. Both vessels are currently operating in the Gibraltar area and have been commercially deployed by Minerva Bunkering, which is also wholly owned by Mercuria Energy Group.

Mercuria has been expanding aggressively in the tanker market this year through both newbuilding orders and secondhand acquisitions. According to the company’s website, MM Marine manages a fleet of around 70 vessels, including ships under construction.

Its orderbook includes MR1, Aframax/LR2, Suezmax and VLCC tankers, as well as Newcastlemax bulk carriers.

Turning to the other small tankers reportedly sold by SK Shipping, Greece’s Seaven Tanker Management has emerged as the new owner of 5,692-dwt B. Ocean, built in 2009, which has recently been renamed Seaven Ocean.

According to Equasis data, the company operates a fleet of 13 chemical and oil products tankers. It is also active in the cement carrier segment through its affiliate, Seaven Dry Management. Seaven’s fleet primarily trades in the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Northern European markets.

Meanwhile, Cyprus-based Island Oil has been linked to the acquisition of 7,711-dwt, 2015-built bunkering tanker Island Polaris, formerly known as B. Pacific.

Separately, the company has also emerged as the owner of 7,990-dwt, 2024-built Island Horizon, previously owned by Vitol and trading as Marine Future.

According to information available on its website, Island Oil, a diversified group of companies primarily engaged in the supply and trading of marine fuels, operates a fleet of 12 vessels.

Mercuria, Seaven Tanker Management, Island Oil and SK Shipping have all been approached for comment.