Germany’s Leonhardt & Blumberg (L&B) is the latest shipping company to jump on the MR tanker newbuilding bandwagon.
The container ship tonnage supplier, which made its debut in the tanker segment in 2021, is stepping up its presence with an order for two 50,000-dwt methanol-ready product carriers at China’s Guangzhou Shipyard International.
The MR tanker deal at the China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC)-controlled yard is believed to be the first tanker newbuilding contract for L&B.
“These vessels are the logical next step to modernise the fleet and to reduce our carbon footprint,” L&B managing director Torben Kolln told TradeWinds.
These high-spec ships feature optimised hull structures and incorporate several energy-saving devices, resulting in fuel consumption reductions ranging from 30% to 50% compared to conventional MR vessels that are 15 years old, he added.
State-owned GSI disclosed the tanker newbuilding deal but details such as the price and delivery schedule for the product carriers were not shared.
GSI said L&B’s MR tankers will be built to the latest design it has developed. The 183-metre-long vessels will be equipped with scrubbers and built to comply with the Energy Efficiency Design Index phase 3 rating and the International Maritime Organization’s Tier III NOx requirements.
Newbuilding brokers believe L&B will be paying at least $45m each for the MR tankers and is likely to take delivery during the second half of 2027.
Diversification
L&B expanded into the tanker sector in 2021 with secondhand vessels. It bought three tankers from Ardmore Shipping in a $40m sale-and-leaseback deal.
This was followed by the en-bloc purchase of the 51,300-dwt Hansa Bergen (ex-Cygnus) and Hansa Oslo (ex-Sextans, both built 2007) from Third Eye Capital of Canada for $30m.
In March 2023, it took delivery of its sixth tanker, the 51,500-dwt Hansa Tromsoe (ex-High Mercury, built 2008). It acquired the STX-built product carrier from International Seaways for $21m.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network shows L&B sold the Hansa Oslo in February for $22m to an unnamed Chinese buyer. But the tanker is still listed on the company’s website.
L&B is diversifying its fleet portfolio.
In November 2023, it teamed up with Netherland’s Boomsma Shipping and ordered up to eight general cargo ship newbuildings at Chowgule Group’s new Mangalore yard in India.
L&B and Boomsma inked two firm and two optional vessels each, with delivery from autumn 2025.
The low-emission 8,500-dwt vessels were jointly developed with Dutch ship design group Conoship International.
The reason for ordering the ship type was due to environmental regulations and a dearth of modern ships available in the secondhand market.
Based in Hamburg, L&B is listed with a fleet of 31 container ships ranging between 1,000 teu and 3,600 teu.
