Italy’s Premuda has more than doubled its tanker fleet size by taking over five vessels previously owned by bankrupt Rizzo Bottiglieri De Carlini Armatori (RBD Armatori), scaling up its shipping portfolio with support from its private equity backer.

Having obtained one aframax and four LR2s from RBD Armatori as a major creditor during court restructuring, Pillarstone has put those crude and product tankers under Premuda’s management, according to industry sources.