Samsung Heavy Industries has won an order from a major Greek shipowner for a shuttle tanker newbuilding worth KRW 198.8bn ($149m).
The South Korean shipbuilder said an “Oceania shipper” had ordered the tanker, which will be delivered by the end of August 2026.
SHI did not disclose the buyer’s name in a statement to the stock exchange.
Shipbuilding sources said the Tsakos Group of Greece had ordered the ship.
The vessel was destined for New York-listed Tsakos Energy Navigation and had been contracted against a long-term contract with US energy major ExxonMobil, according to sources.
In January, TradeWinds reported that ExxonMobil has pencilled in berths for up to four shuttle tankers with SHI.
The oil major was said to have floated a tender to shipbuilders for two firm vessels, plus a pair of optional slots, late last year.
It needs the new shuttle tankers for business in Brazil.
Sources believe the charter period for the conventionally fuelled ship is more than five years.
Tsakos has been contacted for comment. ExxonMobil normally does not comment on its commercial activities.
Shipbuilding players said the price reflects the fact the vessel carries a high specification.
They compared the order with the three-ship deal that Maria Angelicoussis-led Maran Tankers inked in February at South Korea’s DH Shipbuilding.
Maran was reported to have almost $400m, or about $133m apiece, for conventionally fuelled 154,000-dwt newbuildings.
Maran was reported to have booked the tankers after emerging as the winner of a tender issued by Brazilian state energy company Petrobras, offering charters of up to 15 years on the ships.
If Tsakos is confirmed as the owner behind the tanker order at SHI, it would take its suezmax shuttle tanker orderbook at the yard to three.
The company’s earlier two newbuildings were ordered at the end of 2022 against charter contracts with TotalEnergies.
The tankers, which will be delivered in March and June 2025, were reported to cost $129.3m each.
SHI has so far inked 18 newbuildings worth $43.8bn this year and has achieved 39% of its 2024 order target of $9.7bn.
The tally includes 15 LNG carriers from QatarEnergy, two very large ammonia carriers from Alpha Gas and the single shuttle tanker newbuilding.
