Wisby Tankers’ expansion accelerated when Trafigura — basically a trader and not a shipowner at the time — asked it to build its bitumen tanker fleet.

Trafigura stayed below the radar as Wisby ordered a total of six bitumen carriers on its behalf at 3 Maj in Croatia.

Although reported at the time as being Wisby ships, Trafigura was actually the owner, with the Swedish company handling the newbuilding supervision and technical management on delivery.