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Monjasa has agreed terms to expand its fleet with the addition of a 2010-built D-class product tanker from SKS Tankers Holding.

The 119,000-deadweight-tonne (dwt) vessel is to be used as floating storage to support Monjasa's bunker supply operations in West Africa, which comprises 15 tankers and supplies a total of 1.5 million tonnes of marine fuel per year.

Group CEO Anders Ostergaard remarked: "It's a pioneering move to apply an SKS D-Class tanker as a floating storage and this first-class vessel becomes the largest ever member of Monjasa's fleet.

"The aim is to strengthen the backbone of our West Africa logistics and offer more flexibility for our customers taking bunkers in the region. For this purpose, we see her as an excellent solution for current and future trading requirements."

To ensure safe and flexible cargo handling, the vessel comes with six double-valve segregations and is equipped with Framo deep-well cargo pumps for each individual tank.

As with most ships in Monjasa's fleet, the new tanker is joining on a time charter basis.

Monjasa said it is due to shortly take delivery of the 250-metre-long vessel in Europe, and that it will be in full operation off West Africa during the month of December.