Greek tanker owner IMS SA is moving into the aframax segment, reportedly buying two Japanese-built vessels from major player Teekay Tankers.

Several broking sources said the Greek shipowner is paying $16m each for the 106,000-dwt Explorer Spirit and Navigator Spirit (both built 2008), which were constructed at Japan's Tsuneishi Shipbuilding.

IMS is listed with a fleet of seven MR tankers built between 1999 and 2004, so this deal would see it enter a new market segment and provide some renewal of the company's fleet, as its current vessels have...