Golden Ocean Group and Knightsbridge Shipping have agreed to merge to form a single dry bulk shipping company with a fleet of 72 vessels, of which 36 are newbuildings under construction. Golden Ocean and Knightsbridge are two separately-listed shipowners under John Fredriksen's group of companies. "By combining Knightsbridge and Golden Ocean we seek to create a company with a unique fleet and strong balance sheet and build one of the world's leading dry bulk shipping companies," Ola Lorentzon, chairman and ceo of Knightsbridge, and John Fredriksen, chairman of Golden Ocean Group Limited, jointly commented in a statement.