Maersk Orders 9 New MR Tankers

by Ship & Bunker News Team
Wednesday September 23, 2015

Maersk Tankers has placed an order for nine newbuild medium-range (MR) vessels, set to be constructed at Chinese shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries (Ningbo) Co., Ltd., IHS Maritime reports.

"The order, with a contract value of approximately $300 million, is for nine MR vessels with a capacity of 49,940 DWT each," stated Maersk Tankers.

"The investment of approximately $300 million in newbuildings is a clear indication of Maersk Tankers' commitment to remain at the very top of the product tanker industry."

The newbuilds are set to join Maersk Tankers' fleet during 2017 and 2018 and follow a separate recent order by the company for eight new MR vessels at South Korea's Sungdong Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd for for delivery in 2016.

Currently, Maersk Tankers is said to have 80 vessels in its fleet, in addition to a further 20 charters.

The orders come at a time when low bunker prices and a glut of product is helping the sector enjoy excellent rates and utilisation, with analysts earlier this month predicting there are "good times ahead" for tankers.

However shipping analysts Drewry and Shipbroker Banchero Costa & Co. (Bancosta) recently warned that new product tanker orders could put a halt to the sky-high rates that the industry is currently enjoying and could ultimately "kill" the sector's recovery.

In February, Maersk Group CEO, Nils Andersen, stated that his conglomerate will continue to focus on its shipping and oil businesses, despite his expectation that oil prices and shipping rates will remain "under pressure."

Ship & Bunker News Team
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