Norway's Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers (KNOT) has revealed details of a new charter for its latest shuttle tanker newbuilding.

The Haugesund-based company's 154,000-dwt suezmax was ordered last month at Cosco Zhoushan in China, TradeWinds has reported.

But KNOT did not confirm specific plans for the ship.

Now the company's co-owner, NYK Line of Japan, has said the vessel will be chartered by Petro China International (America) on delivery in 2022 for up to 10 years.

Brazilian employment

The charterer is a subsidiary of oil producer PetroChina, which in turn is owned by China Petroleum and Natural Gas Group (CNPC).

The group will use the vessel to shuttle crude from an FPSO stationed off Brazil.

No rate was given for the deal.

KNOT has a share of about 40% of the world shuttle tanker market. This will be ship number 34 in its fleet.

The vessel has been priced at around $100m.

KNOT is already preparing to take delivery of two suezmax shuttle tankers from the Cosco group next year.

In February, it signed up for two LNG-fuelled shuttle tankers priced at $141m each at South Korean shipbuilder DSME. The 124,000-dwt tankers are fixed for up to 10 years to Italy’s Eni.

KNOT is owned on a 50-50 basis by shipowner Trygve Seglem and NYK Line.

Seglem is company president and CEO and his daughter Jorunn sits on the board.