Maersk Tankers has confirmed the sale of one of its older vessels in the latest step in a long-running fleet renewal programme.

Privately owned Maersk Tankers has sold the 34,800-dwt Maersk Rhode Island (built 2002), a spokesperson confirmed to TradeWinds.

Shipbrokers have placed a figure of $7m or a little less on the ship, which has now been renamed Countess 1.

Following its change of ownership last year, all of the company's ships are owned by a vehicle called Maersk Product Tankers.

Overall, the fleet operated by Maersk Tankers runs to 164 vessels, of which 80 are owned by the group.