The company's first tanker, President de Vogüé (renamed Bergesund) was delivered in 1935. In 1937 and 1939, the tankers Charles Racine and Anders Jahre (renamed Bergeland) followed. When World War II broke out, Bergesen d.y. operated three modern tankers, but Charles Racine was hit by torpedoes and destroyed in 1942. The crew survived. During the war, Sigval Bergesen d.y. realised the need to prepare for rapid development as soon as the fighting was over. In as early as May 1945 a newbuilding contract was signed, and by 1950 the company operated four tankers. Sigval Bergesen d.y. made another smart move during the Second World War. In 1942, he became a majority shareholder in Rosenberg Mekaniske Verksted. The strategy was to develop and modernise the yard after the war. The Rosenberg business became a significant factor in the growth and development of Bergesen. When the yard was sold to Kværner AS in 1970, Rosenberg had built 19 vessels for Bergesen.
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