Nepline Bhd News

Malaysian shipping firm Nepline Bhd agreed to sell two crude oil tankers to American Eagle Tankers Inc for $38 million cash. The sales were driven by the recent decision by the European Shipowners' Association to impose restrictions on all single-hull tankers plying European and American waters by 2002. "Although the decision has yet to be enforced, it has prompted Nepline to plan for replacing its single-hull tankers with newer double-hull oil tankers," it said. Nepline said proceeds from the sale would be mainly used to settle the offshore bank borrowings originally taken up to finance the acquisition of the vessels in 1996.

Reports indicate that Nepline Bhd is actively sourcing for suitable double-hulled tankers for acquisition in order to improve its revenue. Company officials said that the move is in response to the IMO ruling that all single-hulled vessels be phased out by 2010. Bernama.com