Angeliki Frangou’s Navios has signed for an optional VLCC at Japan’s top shipyard, Imabari Shipbuilding. Brokers Intermodal report that the tanker will deliver in 2021 with the giant Japanese yard having filled out all slots for next year. No price has been revealed.
In early January Splash reported Imabari received its first VLCC orders from a Greek owner with Navios committing to four firm 311,000 dwt tankers with delivery slated from Q3 2020. The ships are coming with scrubbers fitted.
Navios was recently forced to send a 2001-built VLCC, Shinyo Ocean, for demolition earlier than planned after the tanker was involved in a nasty collision with an Indian LNG carrier off Fujairah.