Amsterdam-based Seaarland Shipping Management and New York-based Overseas Shipholding Group have set up Suezmax International, a commercial pool which will initially operate eight tankers. The new pool is co-managed by Seaarland Shipping Management BV in Amsterdam and OSG Ship Management Inc in New York.
OSG and Seaarland have committed eight ships to the pool so far: the Overseas London, Overseas Newcastle, Genmar Hope, Elisewin, and four newbuildings due for delivery from Nantong Rongsheng Shipbuilding, China during 2009.
Seaarland has also just ordered three 165,000 dwt suezmax tankers to be built at Hyundai Heavy Industries, South Korea for delivery in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarter 2011. The company says that the intention is to commit these ships to the new pool.
Antonio Zacchello, managing director of Seaarland Shipping Management, says, "The Suezmax International pool will benefit our customers by providing a cohesive, high quality, competitively priced solution to their logistical requirements. Seaarland and OSG will benefit from improved scheduling and the bulk buying of goods and services including bunkers, agency and port expenses." Zacchello adds, "We have had a long and fruitful relationship with OSG since 2003, when we joined the Aframax International Pool and we share a common philosophy of delivering a very high quality service to high quality clients. This new pool will help us and our clients to benefit further from that relationship." The Suezmax International pool will have two chartering offices, in New York and Amsterdam.