One of the most aggressive buyers of aframax newbuilds this year is back in South Korea for more. Broker Intermodal lists Russian shipping giant Sovcomflot ordering another two 114,000 dwt aframaxes at Hyundai Samho. The ships are costing $60m each with delivery set for 2019.
In March, Sovcomflot ordered four aframaxes at the same yard – the first ever to run on LNG and have been designed and ordered in association with energy major, Shell.
In late September Sovcomflot joined hands with Rosneft, the State Transport Leasing Company (STLC), and Zvezda Shipbuilding Complex to build five gas-powered aframax tankers on local soil.