London-based valuation platform VesselsValue is beefing up its research capacity with a takeover of Norway's ViaMar.

The acquisition of the Oslo-based company will see the team of four full-time analysts and additional consultants increase rapidly in the coming year.

ViaMar provides freight earnings and ship value forecasts and has "proprietary fundamental models" for the LPG, tanker, bulker and container ship sectors, VesselsValue said.