Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) and Champion Tankers have announced the formation of a new IMO II medium-range (MR) tanker pool. This strategic partnership brings together eight vessels under a unified commercial management platform, with the goal of strengthening their presence in the product and chemical tanker markets.
The new pool, based in Singapore, will commence operations with four IMO II MR tankers contributed by EPS and four from Champion Tankers. This collaboration is designed to leverage combined fleet scale and operational efficiencies, potentially leading to improved vessel utilization and service offerings.
For freight forwarders and shippers, this development could mean more streamlined access to IMO II MR tanker capacity for chemical and refined petroleum product shipments. The consolidation of vessels under a single pool may offer greater scheduling flexibility and potentially more competitive rates due to optimized fleet deployment. It also indicates a move towards greater efficiency and market presence in a specialized segment of the tanker industry.
