Tanker newbuilding orders continue to roll in

The tanker sector ’remains busy’ for newbuilding orders, according to shipbroker reports.

Among the largest of the recent orders was a six-vessel VLCC order from China’s Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation. The order, for a half-dozen, conventionally fuelled, 307,000-dwt VLCCs went to Chinese yard, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corp. The vessels were priced at US$132M each and deliveries are expected to start in March 2027.

George Prokopiou-founded Dynacom Tankers has reportedly signed a contract with South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries for four 158,000-dwt Suezmax vessels, priced at US$83M each. The vessels are scheduled for delivery throughout 2027.

"The South Korean shipyard subcontracted the order to PaxOcean Zhoushan, part of the Kuok Group, to build the four units, marking the debut of the Zhoushan-based facility in the Suezmax tanker sector," according to Monaco’s Banchero Costa brokerage.

Dynacom has also agreed a deal that will see it add four newbuild 75,000-dwt LR1 tankers to its order at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China, with deliveries scheduled for 2028.

"This brings the total number of LR1 vessels under construction at Yangzijiang for the Greek shipowner to six, including two units ordered last year, which are set to join Dynacom’s fleet in 2026," Banchero Costa said.

The brokerage reported Dynacom faced slightly increased prices on the most recent set of four optioned vessels, which cost US$55M, as compared with US$53M for the first two newbuilds in the initial order.

In the chemical tanker segment, Hercules Tank Management (HTM) returned to Jiangmen Hangtong Shipyard in China to place an order for six 7,700-dwt IMO II chemical tankers. The contract for the twin diesel-electric and battery-ready engined vessels included options for four vessels and followed HTM’s earlier contract for four ‘ultra-spec’ sister ships at the same yard this year.

Athens-based Intermodal brokerage reported "a notable week for newbuilding activity across several vessel types, including tankers". Intermodal reported Greek shipowner Monte Nero as adding an order for two 50,000-dwt MR2 tankers in a deal that includes options for two more vessels with Cosco Heavy Industries shipyard in Guangdong. Delivery for the first two vessels is set for 2027 and vessels were priced at US$44M per vessel.