The 299,000-dwt Gulf Sheba (built 2007) and Gulf Eyadah (built 2006) were last month reported sold to the group for $90m by the cash-strapped, Dubai-based tanker owner.

A purchase would have seen Wilhelmsen re-enter the tanker arena after disposing of the 165,000-dwt WilSky to US-based Ridgebury Tankers for $43m in December.

Anders Wilhelmsen managing director Sigurd Thorvildsen earlier confirmed that the group could take a position in the VLCC market.