Shell locks in time charters for Aframax tankers

AET and Shell International Trading and Shipping Company have formalised arrangements for the long-term charter of AET’s two LNG dual-fuelled Aframax tankers.

Two LNG-fuelled, 113,000DWT vessels are being built for AET at Samsung Heavy Industries in South Korea and are due for delivery in the third quarter of 2018.

Under the arrangements, Shell will charter both from the fourth quarter.

Both Malaysian-flagged vessels will be fitted with twin LNG tanks, allowing them to trade worldwide, including the 0.1 per cent sulphur SECA regions of North America, north-west Europe and Asia.

Shell Crude Trading Vice President Mark Quartermain said the vessels would primarily move crude oil in the Atlantic basin.