Greater ChinaTankers

CSSC Shipping continues VLCC buying spree

CS Shipping, a shipowning arm of Chinese shipbuilding giant China State Shipbuilding Corporation, has emerged as the buyer of an elderly VLCC sold recently.

The company snapped up the 1999-built 311,200dwt DS Chief for $25.25m from German outfit Dr Peters’ tanker arm, DS Tanker. The ship was first reported sold some 10 days ago.

Sources tell Splash that CS Shipping has been quietly adding elderly VLCCs to its fleet for storage purposes, using them off Singapore. The unit now has five VLCCs, and while an official from the company declined to comment on specific deals, he did say that they have always been looking for investment opportunities in the market.

Sources have also told Splash that CS Shipping was behind the purchase of another VLCC, the 1998-built 300,000dwt Front Vanguard, sold by John Fredriksen’s Ship Finance International last week for a similar price.

CS Shipping acquired its first VLCC in 2014, spending $25.3m on a 1999-built vessel from JX Shipping of Japan.

Hans Thaulow

Hans Henrik Thaulow is an Oslo-based journalist who has been covering the shipping industry for the last 15 years. As well as some work for the Informa Group, Hans was the China correspondent for TradeWinds. He also contributes to Maritime CEO magazine. Hans’ shipping background extends to working as a shipbroker trainee with Simpson, Spence & Young in Hong Kong.
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