According to trade winds and industry news, Swiss shipping company Advantage Tankers has signed a letter of intent with Hanwha Ocean for the construction of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel powered very large crude carriers (VLCCs), and has ordered one VLCC from Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. (HT).
Hanwha Ocean’s intention order has been confirmed by Advantage Tankers CEO Tugrul Tokgoz. Ship broker Xclusiv Shipbrokers said that the cost of each ship in Hanwha Ocean’s intention to order is US$126.5 million, and the total value of the two new vessels is US$253 million (approximately RMB 1.846 billion), which is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2027.
According to the official website, Advantage Tankers was established in 2014 and currently owns and operates a fleet of 25 ships. It has orders for eight new ships, which will be built by Chinese and Korean shipyards, namely, three 158,000 DWT Suezmax tankers undertook by DH Shipbuilding, which are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2025; two 73,400 DWT LR1 product tankers undertook by K Shipbuilding, which will be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 respectively; and one VLCC undertook by Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry, which is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026.