Sinochem International Logistics has signed a sale-and-leaseback deal with China Huarong Financial Leasing (Huarong FL) for a newbuilding chemical tanker.
The MR tanker deal is the first transaction of its kind between the two Chinese state-owned companies.
Huarong FL said the stainless-steel, 38,000-dwt ship constructed by Nantong Xiangyu was bought for $57m and chartered back to Sinochem in a bareboat operating lease.
The statement didn’t identify the vessel but some brokers reported it is Global Glory, which was delivered by Nantong Xiangyu earlier this month.
“This is our first newbuilding operating lease deal with Sinochem International Logistics,” Huarong FL said.
“Sinochem is the world’s second largest owner of chemical tankers, and this is a client that international shipping lessors would want to work with.”
Huarong FL is a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed China Huarong Asset Management. It is not linked to Huarong Energy, formerly China Rongsheng Heavy Industries.
Aside from the latest acquisition, VesselsValue data shows Huarong FL owns 10 bulkers, six tankers and one OSV.
The six tankers are the 50,000-dwt STI Opera, STI Virtus, STI Venere, STI Aqua, STI Dama, and STI Regina (all built 2014).
In May 2018, Huarong FL bought them from Scorpio Tankers in another sale-and-leaseback deal to help the New York-listed owner boost liquidity by $48m.
