Turkish-controlled tanker owner Advantage Tankers is moving into the VLCC segment with the purchase of two 10-year-old ships from China VLCC.

The Geneva-headquartered company confirmed it has bought the 297,000-dwt New Medal and the 296,000-dwt New Globe (both built 2009).

European brokers said Advantage is paying $41m to $42m for each of the Chinese-built ships in an enbloc deal.

But a filing from China Merchants Energy Shipping, the parent of China VLCC, said the ships were sold for CNY 521m ($74.1m)