Asia/Pacific News
AET Looks to Maximise Fuel Efficiency With $500M Order for 8 Eight Newbuild Tankers
Tanker owner-operator AET Tanker Holdings Sdn Bhd has ordered eight new tankers for a total of approximately $500 million, the company has announced in an email statement.
Four 113,000-DWT Aframax tankers will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co Ltd (SHI) for a 2018 delivery, while two 114,000-DWT LR2 tankers and two 158,000-DWT Suezmax tankers will come from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd (HHI) in 2017.
The ships are all reportedly aimed at maximising fuel efficiency and to "help minimise the carbon footprint of AET and that of our customers," according to Board Director Rajalingam Subramaniam.
The design will also allow the ships to be awarded the "green passport" notation, the company said.
"As a leading operator of petroleum tankers, it is important that our fleet remains young and agile so that we retain the capability to react to the evolving requirements of our customers," Subramaniam said.
"Part of that commitment is ensuring our new vessels are the best in class, providing a sustainable level of service to our customers."
Once operational, the LR2 vessels are expected to be tied to a long-term charter with an unnamed oil major, while the remaining ships will reportedly replace aging ships in the company's fleet.
"We will continue to invest in AET to ensure it is underpinned with the assets it requires to deliver the highest quality ocean transportation solutions available in today's market," said Yee Yang Chien, CEO of AET's parent company, Malaysia-based MISC Bhd.
Earlier this year, Ship & Bunker reported that MISC had also ended rumours that the company was planning to sell off AET.
