Euronav is working to finalise a resale deal to buy two suezmax newbuildings that were originally ordered by Yasa Shipping of Turkey at Daehan Shipbuilding.
New York and Brussels-listed Euronav is believed to be paying $57.5m for each of the scrubber-fitted tankers, which are due for delivery in 2022.
Sources said the deal has been agreed but has still to be finalised.
Yasa ordered the 157,000-dwt ships in 2019, reportedly at $61m each. Industry sources said South Korea's Daehan had received only the first instalment payments of 5% on the two newbuildings when it opted to offer them for sale.
Brokers said the sale has been agreed on the basis of a 30% first instalment payment.
They said the deal is attractive for Euronav, given the late delivery in 2022.
Yasa, which also has MR tankers on order at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, ordered three suezmaxes at Daehan. The yard is said to be waiting for the second instalment payment on the third vessel.
Industry players said the deal shows that Euronav has a buying appetite beyond the VLCC sector.
TradeWinds understands that Euronav narrowly missed out on two modern, scrubber-fitted VLCCs that were snapped up by DHT Holdings from Awilco Eco Tankers this month for $68m each.
Those working closely with the company said that while Euronav is constantly reviewing its fleet, there has been something of a gear-change in the sale-and-purchase market for tanker owners with a medium to long-term vision.
They suggested that with the tanker market looking set for a weak first half, which is likely to extend into the third quarter, this could be an attractive moment for some of the larger, more focused players to make a move.
Euronav declined to comment on the talk of the suezmax deal, as it is in its quiet period ahead of financial results. The Belgian company is due to release its fourth-quarter earnings figures on 4 February.
Daehan declined to comment, and officials at Yasa did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Harry Papachristou contributed to this story.
