Brazilian energy giant Petrobras is seeking to charter a series of new suezmax dynamic positioning (DP2) shuttle tankers.
Shipbuilding sources said the state-owned oil and gas company launched a charter tender for four firm 158,000-dwt vessels several weeks ago that has attracted interest from large tanker companies and shipyards.
Norway’s Knutsen OAS Shipping, Maran Tankers Management and Tsakos Group of Greece, MISC’s shipping arm AET and JP Morgan are among the companies said to be contending for the tender.
Knutsen is the number one player in the market and Angelicoussis firm Maran catapulted into the number two slot last week with its takeover of Altera Shuttle Tankers, having only entered the trade this year with orders of its own.
Sources said Petrobras is seeking to charter the quartet for 15 years.
At least five shipyards are thought to be working with shipowners on the newbuildings, sources said.
They include South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Samsung Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean.
China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co and Cosco Shipping Heavy Industry Zhoushan Shipyard (Cosco Heavy Zhoushan) are also said to be working on the project.
Sources said Petrobras is seeking to take delivery of two vessels in 2027 and two in 2028.
One shipbuilding source said the original deadline for submission of bids was the end of October, but that has been extended to 18 November.
Petrobras has been contacted for comment.
Brokers think the conventionally fuelled vessels will cost at least $130m each if ordered in China.
The price in South Korea would be much higher.
In March, Tsakos was reported to have ordered one DP2 newbuilding at SHI for $149m for delivery by the end of August.
The order was placed against a long-term contract with ExxonMobil.
Clarksons’ Shipping Intelligence Network shows the orderbook for shuttle tankers stands at 18, of which eight were ordered by Russia’s Rosneft at Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex.
Knutsen is building four tankers at Cosco Heavy Zhoushan. Maran Tankers Management and Tsakos have three newbuildings at DH Shipbuilding and SHI, respectively.
In August, Transpetro — the shipping arm of Petrobras — was reported to have launched a tender for four handysize clean product tankers, inviting international yards to compete with Brazil’s shipbuilding sector.
In addition to the four 15,000-dwt to 18,000-dwt product carriers, the company is looking to float tenders for 21 newbuildings for fleet renewal.
It was not disclosed whether the four suezmax shuttle tankers form part of these 21 newbuildings.
