Heidmar Inc. announced that Mercator Lines Limited of India China Shipping Development and Conti Reederei of Germany will be joining the Sigma Tankers pool and that Emirates Trading Agency of Dubai an existing member of both Sigma and the Heidmar managed Dorado Tankers pool, will be entering two more vessels into Sigma Tankers.
Mercator and China Shipping, also members of the Dorado Tankers pool, will enter one vessel each into Sigma Tankers. Conti will take delivery of two coated LR2 tankers from Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2009. These two vessels have been fixed on time charters and will be entered into Sigma Tankers at the end of these charters.
Sigma Tankers recently entered the clean LR2 trade with the delivery of two newbuildings in July and September. Further expansion into this market will continue with three additional LR2 tankers being delivered to the pool over the next four months by China Shipping and by ETA. These and other committed ships will bring the Sigma Tankers vessel count to over 30 ships by early 2009. In addition, Sigma Pool members have more than 30 aframax and LR2 tankers on order.