Neda Maritime Agency has returned to South Korea’s Daehan Shipbuilding for a new tanker.
The Lykiardopulo family company is said to have struck a newbuilding contract with the shipyard for one 115,000-dwt product carrier.
Shipbuilding sources said Neda — a low-profile shipping company — inked the LR2 newbuilding contract early this month. The deal does not include optional vessels.
Officials at Daehan declined to comment on the shipyard’s newbuilding activities when contacted, citing contract confidentiality. Managers at Neda declined to comment as well.
Sources said Neda’s LR2 newbuilding will be fitted with a scrubber and will comply with the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)’s phase 3 standards.
No price was given for the newbuilding, which is slated to be delivered in the third quarter of 2024.
Shipbuilding sources believe Neda is paying in the region of $65m for the ship.
This is the second time Neda has ordered a newbuilding at Daehan. It inked its first deal there in 2020 — again for an LR2 vessel.
Daehan delivered the 115,000-dwt Stresa (built 2022) to Neda in January. The scrubber-fitted product carrier, which meets the EEDI’s phase 2 standards, was reported to cost the owner slightly less than $50m.
A month before taking delivery of the vessel, Neda picked up the Daehan-built tonnage on the secondhand market as well, returning there after a 15-year hiatus.
The company bought the 115,600-dwt Siena (ex-Prosky, built 2019) from Metrostar Management for a reported price of $51m, which shipping sources described as a “big price”, considering that the tanker was not equipped with a scrubber unit.
Neda appears to have made the right move in buying the LR2 as VesselsValue estimates the Siena is worth more than $57.5m.
In February, the Greek shipowner bought a secondhand bulker — the 81,800-dwt Amalia (ex-BW Rye, built 2019) for $37.5m.
Neda controls about 25 vessels, comprising five VLCCs, five LR2s, six capesize bulk carriers and nine kamsarmaxes.
It is the fifth Greek shipping company to have ordered LR2 newbuildings in recent months. The others were Metrostar, which declared an option to bring its orderbook tally of such ships at Hyundai Vietnam Shipbuilding to three units, Navios Maritime Partners, Thenamaris and CM Lemos.
CM Lemos is a newcomer to the LR2 segment.
The Michael Constantine Lemos-led company was reported to have made its debut in the aframax product carrier business by ordering three vessels at Hyundai Vietnam for delivery between late 2024 and the first half of 2025.
It was not known if the suezmax tanker owner has ordered the trio against charter contracts or on speculation.
