Ray Car Carriers has joined the rush for supertanker tonnage by signing up to build four VLCCs in South Korea.
Shipbuilding sources have linked the Israeli owner, best known as a vehicle carrier tonnage provider, to a $520m deal at HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering.
The 320,000 dwt ships, costing about $130m each, will be built at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries for delivery by December 2027, while most brokers are quoting around $128.5m for similar tonnage.
The Abraham Rami Ungar-controlled company has become the latest name amongst high-profile shipowners to have jumped on available VLCC newbuilding slots as the sector with one of the smallest orderbooks is poised to see only a handful of deliveries this and next year.
Norway’s DHT recently booked up to eight ships in South Korea, costing each about $128.5m on average, while Evangelos Marinakis, John Fredriksen, Tor Olav Trøim and even major charterer Trafigura have VLCCs lined up for construction in China.
Ray Car Carriers is currently listed with a pair of VLCCs snapped up from Oslo-listed Hunter Group in 2022 for $95.5m each. If confirmed, the latest order would mark the company’s second newbuilding project this year, following two car carriers booked at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, delivering by May 2028.
