Meriaura Group of Finland has expanded its fleet in deals with Germany's Briese Schiffahrts as the European coastal cargoship market picks up.

The company's VG-Shipping unit has acquired the 3,000-dwt open-hatch general cargoship Rochefort (built 2011). Meriaura has also chartered in the 4,500-dwt Nordersand (built 2004) until at least the summer of 2022.

Briese will continue to manage the Rochefort, which is being renamed Helena VG.