John Angelicoussis-backed Maran Tankers has added a pair of suezmax tanker newbuildings to its fleet list.
The Greek company is said to have acquired two 158,000-dwt crude carriers under construction at Daehan Shipbuilding.
Shipbuilding players say the pair were originally ordered by Faerder Tankers of Norway, the start-up company headed by former Nordic American Tankers chief financial officer Turid Sorensen.
It is not clear how much Maran Tankers paid for the tankers but they were reported to have cost Faerder about $62m each. Daehan is scheduled to deliver the duo in August and November 2020.
Chevron charters
Talk in the market centres on Maran Tankers buying the suezmaxes on the back of long-term charters from Chevron. However, shipbuilding players said that is not correct.
“Chevron has not shortlisted the company for its tender contract,” one shipping player said. “Three shipping companies are still competing for it and they are still in newbuilding discussions with the shipyards.”
Shipbuilding sources say Latsis family controlled Consolidated Marine Management (CMM), Tsakos Group and Maran Tankers are battling for the Chevron contract for two suezmax newbuildings. The oil major is said to be seeking to charter the ships for more than five years. The newbuildings will have to comply with the IMO’s Tier III emissions standards and will be fitted with scrubbers.
As TradeWinds has reported, Maran Tankers is believed to be partnering Daehan, while Tsakos has teamed up with Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction.
CMM is said to be working with Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Suezmax drought
According to Banchero Costa (Bancosta), just four suezmax newbuildings were contracted in the first nine months of 2018, compared with 34 VLCCs and 17 aframaxes.
Angelicoussis is the largest shipowner in Greece and Maran Tankers has the biggest crude tanker fleet in the world, according to Bancosta.
It has 12 suezmaxes, 35 VLCCs and two aframaxes.
Seven of the VLCCs are bareboat chartered to Chevron.
The company also has six VLCC newbuildings on order at DSME. Maran Tankers is slated to take delivery of two vessels soon and the remaining four next year.
