Stena Bulk has confirmed an order for two in-house designed Suezmax tankers from Samsung Heavy Industries, South Korea, for delivery in 2011.
The 158,700DWT vessels, with a length of 274 metres and a beam of 48 metres, will be the largest tankers in Stena Bulk's fleet. Also included are two optional sister vessels.
The order of the 'Stena Superior' and the 'Stena Supreme' is part of Stena Bulk's investment in owning high-class tonnage for the Stena Sonangol Suezmax Pool, which is now in its fifth 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 comprehensive training programme 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 currently also in the pipeline to be progressed jointly between the companies.