Belgium's Euronav has confirmed it is buying New York-based tanker owner Gener8 Maritime, creating a combined fleet of 75 vessels.

TradeWinds was first to report on Wednesday talk in the market that Gener8 finally had agreed to a merger after months of talks with various suitors, with Euronav strongly tipped as the favourite.

A source with direct knowledge of the deal had confirmed to TradeWinds that the deal for the Peter Georgiopoulos-led owner of crude tankers would be announced on Thursday morning.