Oystein Stray Spetalen's SD Standard Drilling (SDSD) has confirmed a move into the VLCC sector with two heavyweight shipping partners.

The Oslo-listed company, set up to buy distressed offshore support vessels, said on Tuesday it had acquired a 33.3% stake worth $36.5m in a 300,000-dwt eco-tanker newbuilding in South Korea.

The DSME-built ship is costing a whopping $106m, as first revealed by TradeWinds last week.