Stena Bulk has confirmed an order for two in-house designed Suezmax tankers from Samsung, South Korea for delivery in 2011.
When delivered, the 158,700-dwt vessels, with a length of 274 meters and a beam of 48 meters, will be the largest tankers in Stena Bulk’s fleet. Also included are two optional sister vessels, declarable in spring 2010.
Nearly MUSD 7 extra per vessel has been invested in state-of-the-art technology in order ensure the highest environmental class, including minimum 10% lower bunkers consumption compared with the best Suezmax tankers.
The order of the Stena Superior and the Stena Supreme is part of Stena Bulk’s strategic investment in own high-class tonnage for the Stena Sonangol Suezmax Pool, which is now in its fifth successful year together with the state-owned Angolan oil company Sonangol. The pool consists of around 15 tankers, which will be expanded to about 25 large tankers over a three-year period. The collaboration between Stena Bulk and Sonangol also includes a training program for Sonangol’s employees both at sea and in Stena Bulk’s worldwide network of offices. A new and modern maritime academy school in Angola is also in the pipeline to be progressed jointly between the companies.
Stena Bulk’s offices in Houston, Rio de Janeiro, London, and Singapore are responsible for the commercial operation and chartering of all tankers in the Stena Sonangol Suezmax Pool.
The Stena Sphere has already placed significant and major orders with Samsung Shipyard, including four drillships of the so-called Stena DrillMAX design and two super ferries, in addition to the new Suezmax tankers.