The declining tanker newbuilding sector could see the loss of regular Japanese tanker shipbuilding while some naming ceremonies must feel like deja vu
Japanese tanker owner and operator Nisshin Kaiun has ordered two 50,000 dwt MR2 product tankers at Hyundai Mipo in South Korea. “Japan is in a perilous position and in serious danger of dropping off the radar,” wrote shipping consultants BRL in the BRL Weekly Newbuilding Contracts newsletter.
BRL also reported that the Japanese Government will grant overseas owners financing if they order vessels from Japanese shipyards. This is said to take the form of special purpose finance companies which will initially give overseas owners a 20% stake in the vessel on order.
The other action being taken is mergers and consolidations within the Japanese shipyard landscape: Tsunieshi Shipbuilding and Mitsui have finalised their agreement to consolidate their shipbuilding operations.
In other news, troubled Ocean Tankers of Singapore has taken delivery of 23,500-dwt MR1 product tanker Ocean Daisy which was constructed at Fujian Mawei shipyard in China. Ocean Tankers is the subject of legal action in Singapore, but the company is to continue with new management.
Observers can be forgiven for confusion following the launch of 16,300-dwt FKAB-designed Fure Vinga. This was reported as vessel number seven of an eight-vessel long series for owner Furetank of Sweden for the Gothia Tanker Alliance operation. The tanker was launched by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Yangzhou) Dingheng shipyard.
The confusion arises as the name Fure Vinga was also used for the lead tanker vessel in the series launched in 2018. This was from AVIC Dingheng Shipbuilding, which is now part of the China Merchants group.
The AVIC-built Fure Vinga was sold by Furetank Rederi of Sweden to Desgagnes Groupe of Canada in April 2019, for a reported US$33M. The vessel is now called Gaia Desgagnes.
The latest Fure Vinga is of the same FKAB T24C1 design and, according to FKAB, was launched from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (formerly AVIC Dingheng Shipbuilding) for Furetank of Sweden.
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