China’s New Times has secured orders for LNG-powered Suezmax tankers from two Greek owners, according to shipbuilding sources and brokers.
Maran Tankers Management, the oil tanker unit of Greece’s Angelicoussis Shipping Group, ordered four LNG dual-fuel Suezmax tankers with an option for four additional vessels.
Evangelos Marinakis-led Capital Ship Management also placed an order for four Suezmax tankers with an option for four more vessels.
Several shipbroking reports said that both of the firms would pay $87 million per vessel and take delivery of the ships during 2026 and 2027.
Allied suggests that the contracts were signed against long-term charters, while reports by Intermodal and other brokers did not mention any charter deals.
US energy giant ExxonMobil has recently shown interest in dual-fuel Suezmax tankers, according to shipbuilding sources.
However, it remains unclear whether the orders by Maran and Capital are backed by charters or not.
Maran Tankers already has two LNG dual-fuel very large crude carriers (VLCCs) in its fleet and will take delivery of two more this year.
On the other hand, Capital Ship Management took delivery of two out of six LNG-ready chemical/product MR tankers and two ammonia and LNG-ready VLCCs.