Shipbroking and market sources indicate the owner has placed an order for six 115,000-dwt Aframax/LR2 tankers at Hengli Shipbuilding, with deliveries scheduled from 2027 onward.
On 18 November, Guangdong Songfa Ceramics disclosed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange that Hengli had secured a contract for six tankers of this size. The company did not reveal the owner’s identity, referring only to an “internationally renowned” shipping company.
According to the disclosure, the contract is valued between US$400M and US$600M, and the six vessels are slated for successive delivery throughout 2027.
In addition to the Aframax order, Hengli also reported a separate deal for two 306,000-dwt VLCCs from another unnamed “well-known European shipowner,” with a total value estimated between US$200M and US$300M.
Mixed fleet
Emarat Maritime currently manages a fleet of 19 vessels, according to information on its website. The company primarily focuses on the Aframax and Panamax segments, while also maintaining a footprint in the dry bulk market through its Ultramax and Supramax units.
The owner last ventured into newbuildings in 2023, when it ordered six Ultramaxes at Chinese yard New Dayang, all of which have since been delivered.
Notably, Emarat Maritime was among the co-signatories – alongside major Greek shipping companies – who publicly voiced “grave concerns” in September regarding IMO’s proposed Net Zero Framework, a decision on which was ultimately deferred.
