State-owned Pakistan National Shipping Corp (PNSC) has bought a LR1 product tanker, nearly six years ­after it announced plans to expand.

Sources said the Karachi-based company has acquired the 74,000-dwt tanker Red Eagle (built 2011) from Mauritius-registered Betonix for a lower-than-expected $20.1m. VesselsValue and Maritime Strategies International estimate the ship is worth between $21m and $26.1m.