Greek tanker owner Sun Enterprises has locked a medium-range tanker newbuilding into a charter of up to 3.5 years with oil major Total, according to European tanker brokers.
The French energy company has chartered the 50,000-dwt MR, which is under construction at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) under Hull No 2764, for two years from delivery this year.
The contract includes an option that could extend the charter for another 18 months.
The rate is believed to be $17,000 per day.
Sun and Total did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Greek shipowner started its newbuilding programme at HMD in April 2019. It now has three MRs under construction at the facility for a reported $37.5m each as part of Sun's fleet renewal programme.
The company has three MR tankers on the water that were built in 2005 and 2006.
The Greek owner also has two aframax tankers on order at Daehan Shipbuilding in South Korea. They are set for delivery next year. Both ships will be fitted with scrubbers, and it is said that one of them might be fixed for five years to Chevron, the US energy giant.
Sun is known for its close cooperation with oil majors. In November, Chevron chartered the company's 158,000-dwt Achilleas (built 2010) for a year at $34,200 per day.
The Greek owner also has the 318,000-dwt tanker Lita (built 2018) on a seven-year time charter to ExxonMobil, another US oil giant, at $31,000 per day.
As it prepares to take delivery of newer vessels, the company has already started unloading its more vintage tonnage.
In May, Sun sold the 72,000-dwt tanker Amazon Gladiator (built 2001) to an undisclosed buyer for some $9m.
