Eurofin, the specialist ship finance adviser, has launched its specialist ship investment fund vehicle, Merlin Tankers Inc. The new company has purchased two 38,000 dwt tankers which will be dedicated to the vegetable oil trades. The purchase of a third vessel is about to be completed. Janos Koenig, managing director of Eurofin, says, “We are delighted with the uptake of Merlin Tankers and confident that our specialist focus will give us a competitive advantage. There is a reservoir of capital from non-shipping investors which is seeking an entry into shipping but which would be uncomfortable with a play focussed on the volatile mainstream tanker or dry bulk markets. Merlin Tankers is focussed on new opportunities in edible oil transport.
