Vitol and Grindrod Shipping have agreed to disband their MR tanker joint venture Leopard Tankers, TradeWinds has learnt.

As part of the breakup the two companies have each agreed to acquire two medium range “eco” tankers from the joint venture.

Grindrod said it had acquired the 50,000-dwt Leopard Moon and Leopard Sun (both built 2013) for a total purchase price of $54m.