PetroVietnam is boosting its tanker fleet with the purchase of a 10-year-old, Japanese-controlled aframax.

Brokers in the US and in Europe said the Vietnamese shipowner has purchased the 105,000-dwt BM Breeze (built 2008) from Imabari-based Doun Kisen for $18m.

The price is in line with a $19.4m value estimate by VesselsValue, which is likely to be a result of the tanker being due for special survey in June.