Norden has stepped back into the sale and purchase market to buy two medium range tankers from Kirk Kapital.

The deal comes as Kirk, backed by descendants of the Lego Group's founder, looks to exit its shipowning investments.

Copenhagen-listed Norden is buying the 51,300-dwt Marianne Kirk and the Anja Kirk (both built 2009), shipbrokers say.

The STX-built vessels are said to be costing Norden $18.8m