Italian shipowner Ciane has purchased a second double-hull bunker tanker from Turkish shipbuilder, Çiçek Shipyard.

The vessel is due to be handed over at the beginning of February and will start bunkering operations immediately.

Now Ciane has now decided to purchase the second vessel in the series, which will operate under the name ‘Brezzamare’.

“New double-hulled vessels like these are still in demand to replace older tonnage,” said Berke Çiçek, Vice President of Çiçek Shipyard, who said that interest from European owners for such vessels is strong, despite the overall weak state of the shipping market.

“We are talking to a number of other potential owners and charterers and are confident of finding buyers who can secure immediate and profitable employment for these vessels. We still have two sister vessels from the same series which are waiting for their new owners.”

The vessels have a length of 84.9 metres, a beam of 12.6 metres, a design draught of 5.3 metres and a depth of 6.4 metres.

The 3,087DWT vessels are driven by two six-cylinder Mitsubishi S12R-MPTK diesels each generating 940kW rated at 1,600 rpm, developing a speed of eleven knots.