On June 5, South Korea’s DH Shipbuilding (formerly Daehan Shipbuilding) announced that it has signed a contract for the construction of three 157,000 dwt Suezmax tankers during the Greek International Maritime Exhibition Posidonia 2024.
Two of the tankers are from Atlas Maritime, a Greek shipping company led by Leon Patitsas; the other one was ordered by an Oceania-area shipping company. The total value of the orders is about US$270 million (about 360 billion won), with deliveries expected in 2026 and 2027.
The 2 Suezmax tankers ordered by Atlas Maritime are of liquefied natural gas (LNG) ready design with desulphurization scrubbers and are named Odin Star and Olympic Star. There are reports that since November 2019, Atlas Maritime has ordered 25 vessels valued at more than $2 billion.
With the latest order, DH Shipbuilding has secured orders for six new vessels worth KRW 860 billion this year, and its hand-held order book has reached 30 vessels valued at US$2.55 billion, securing a stable order book for about three years.
During the Greek International Maritime Exhibition Posidonia 2024, DH Shipbuilding also agreed to cooperate with Lloyd’s Register, Mokpo National University in Korea, and Green Technology through the signing of a technical cooperation agreement to develop wind-assisted propulsion system application technology to be installed on DH Shipbuilding-built Suezmax tankers.