Tanker orders span VLCCs, LR2s and chemical carriers

Tanker newbuilding activity extended across crude, product and chemical carriers, with reported orders including VLCCs for Venergy Maritime and Bahri and LR2 vessels for Nanjing Petroleum Transport. Hellenic Shipping News, citing shipbroker Banchero Costa, described ordering as highly active across the three segments.

Nanjing Petroleum Transport reportedly commissioned four 115,000 dwt LR2/product tankers from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, with handovers scheduled for 2029. Venergy Maritime was reported to be entering the VLCC market through an order for two 306,000 dwt vessels at Hengli Heavy Industries. Bahri, meanwhile, reportedly contracted three 320,000 dwt VLCCs at Saudi Arabia’s newly commissioned IMI Shipyard.

In the chemical tanker market, Banchero Costa reported that Transocean Maritime had ordered two 50,000 dwt MR vessels at Guangzhou Shipyard International. Veritas Tankers reportedly booked four 13,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers at Nantong Rainbow Offshore. The report did not specify delivery dates for these orders or the VLCC contracts.

Second-hand tanker transactions also covered a range of sizes. According to shipbroker Xclusiv, whose figures were carried by Hellenic Shipping News, the 159,000 dwt, 2012-built Suezmax Fleves sold for $110 million, while the 157,000 dwt, 2010-built Advantage Spice changed ownership for $97.5 million. Greek buyers acquired the 75,000 dwt, 2007-built Panamax Albaro for $24.4 million.

Among MR2 vessels, the 49,000 dwt, 2020-built Great Epsilon fetched around $49 million, with delivery set for January 2027. The 50,000 dwt, 2008-built Leon Wisdom went to clients of Wisdom for $26.5 million, while the 51,000 dwt, 2007-built LS Neptune sold for $20.2 million, Xclusiv reported.

Other reported deals included the 51,000 dwt Ocean Thalia at $15 million and the ice-classed, 46,000 dwt CSC Auspicious at $22 million. The 46,000 dwt Rose Makis sold for $19 million on the basis of delivery in Singapore. In smaller tankers, OM Borneo fetched $12 million, while Chinese buyers paid $24 million for FG Rotterdam.