Danish tanker owner Rederiet MH Simonsen has ordered two polar-class tankers at Turkey’s Ada Shipyard as it continues to renew its fleet. The vessels will feature diesel-electric propulsion and will have a cargo capacity of about 3,500 dwt each. The newbuilds are being designed to operate in polar conditions, giving the company greater flexibility in northern waters. Founded in 1931, the family-owned shipping company operates more than 10 tankers ranging from roughly 2,000 dwt to 7,000 dwt. The fleet is mainly active in the European small tanker market, carrying vegetable oils, fats, molasses, ethanol and fertiliser-related products. Some of the fleet also trades in Arctic waters. The tanker Orasila — and occasionally Oratank — is employed in the clean petroleum products trade in Greenland. The newbuildings are expected to strengthen the company’s presence in northern markets where ice-class tonnage is often required. Based in Svendborg and run by Lars Hjorth Simonsen, son of founder Martin Hjorth Simonsen, the company handles commercial operations in-house through its own chartering department. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsDenmark