Carsten Mortensen has resigned as chief executive of major shipowner BW Group.

His departure for personal reasons was announced on Monday and is effective immediately.

Mortensen has spent three years at BW after joining from Danish bulker and tanker owner Norden.

Andreas Sohmen-Pao, chief executive of BW Group, said in a statement: "Carsten and I have had a great partnership working closely together to grow the company, but the non-stop travel and living on two continents eventually reached a natural limit for him.