VLCC orders continue

Feb 28 2014

Newbuilding VLCCs were again making the news this week.

For example, Awilco (Anders Wilhelmsen) was reported to have ordered two VLCCs from DSME for $97 mill each for 2016 delivery, according to shipbrokers, while Navig8 declared two optional VLCCs as firm at SWS bringing the total number of newbuilding to six.

VLGCs are also popular at the moment as Greek interests were believed to have ordered two large gas carriers at IHI for $77 mill each for 2016 deliveries, while Shandong Shipping was said to have ordered four VLGCs at DSME for 2016-2017 deliveries. .

Dorian LPG has confirmed that the company has declared options to construct three additional VLGCs at Hyundai Heavy Industries. The three additional VLGC’s will be similar to the initial fuel-efficient VLGC newbuildings ordered at HHI in April 2013.

The Company said that it  expects to take delivery of the three VLGCs in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2015, respectively.

Stream Tankers has increased its orders to five 19,900 dwt newbuildings at Fukuoka Shipbuilding and Shitanoe Shipbuilding in Japan. Furthermore, the company has options for an additional three vessels at the shipyards, it said.

The newbuildings will be of the new Fukuoka/Shitanoe eco-design hulls and combined with modern efficient engines will give substantial fuel reductions, the company claimed. Delivery of the firm vessels will be from Autumn of 2015 to early 2017.

In the S&P market, VLCCs were also reported to have changed hands. For example, the 2004-built ‘Younara Glory’ was thought sold to Sinokor for $46 mill.

Two 1999-vintage VLCCs were believed to have been committed for sale. ITCL’s ‘Ulysses’ was said to have been sold to unknown interests for an undisclosed price, while the Japanese-controlled VLCC ‘Nichihiko’ was said to have been sold to Chinese interests for $25.2 mill.

The 2003-built Aframax ‘Montigny’ was reported as sold to unknown interests for $22 mill, although this deal was thought to be still on subjects this week.

Thenamaris was idnetified by brokers as the buyer of the 2007-built MR ‘Belaia’ for $22 mill.

In the charter market, BP Shipping BP Shipping was thought to have placed at least four Aframaxes and a VLCC on short term timecharters to be used as temporary storage for fuel oils, a Reuters report said.

Vitol was said to have fixed the 2009-built MR ‘Mare Di Genova’ for 12 months at $14,750 per day and the slightly smaller 2004-built ‘Stavanger Breeze’ also for 12 months at $14,500 per day.

Finally, Eitzen was believed to have fixed the 2012-built, 45,000 dwt chemical tanker ‘UACC Messila’ for 12 months at $16,500 per day.