Qatar's S’hail Shipping and Maritime Services is to expand its bulker fleet again.

It said it expects to buy two more ships by early next year, taking the fleet to nine vessels.

Chairman Mohammad Khalifa Al Sada told The Peninsula daily that the company is targeting modern vessels of between 70,000 and 80,000 dwt.

It also plans to diversify into the offshore vessel business to work for Qatari companies, particularly Qatar Petroleum.