Oil major Chevron is expanding its presence in the suezmax tanker segment by taking a 10-year- tanker on charter from Russian shipping giant Socomflot (SCF Group) for a year.

European shipbrokers said the DSME-built, 158,000-dwt SCF Samotlor (built 2010) has been fixedfor 12 months at $45,000 per day.

The Russian shipowner could not confirm the deal and Chevron does not comment on its commercial activities.