The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has added another Suezmax tanker to its massive fleet of 69 vessels.

The PSU is the largest shipping company in India, with a tonnage which has now reached 6.01 million deadweight, for the first time, with the addition of this vessel. The company now commands a fleet of 70 owned vessels of diverse types like very large crude oil carriers, product tankers, bulk carriers, cellular container vessels, crude oil carriers, LPG/ammonia carriers and offshore vessels.

SCI has acquired the South Korean, 2007-built, secondhand Suezmax tanker from Liberian owner Fidelity Shipping Inc. on April 26, 2017. The vessel has been renamed M.T. DESH ABHIMAAN, which, at deadweight of 158,710 tonnes, is now the largest vessel in SCI's fleet of 7 Suezmax tankers. The vessel has a gross tonnage of 81,084 tonnes and has been classed with ABS and IRS, and it complies with the latest and most stringent international regulations. Energy transportation has continued to remain the core business segment for SCI and the induction of this vessel in the fleet, is expected to strengthen the company's position in the energy transportation sector, emphasised a release.

SCI has recently also acquired a secondhand Multi-Purpose Support Vessel (MPSV), adding to its fleet of offshore vessels. The company plans to continue to expand its fleet by acquisition of assets at prevailing low asset prices, the release said.