Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) is keeping compatriot shipyards busy. The giant shipping line has just inked contracts for four VLCCs at two local shipbuilders for delivery in 2019 and 2020.
Japan Marine United will build three of the tankers with Namura Shipbuilding tasked with building the final one. No price has been revealed, but brokers suggest NYK is likely paying in the region of $85m per unit.
NYK’s diverse fleet currently includes 29 VLCCs, most of which tend to trade on long term charters to local oil firms.