Tanker News Roundup | July 16 – Japanese ammonia bunkering ship, Chinese-built VLCCs and more
Deliveries include a new product tanker for a Greek customer and a Japanese-owned gas carrier. Construction has begun on a new chemical tanker ordered by a UK operator while a VLCC built in China has completed a series of sea trials. Finally, a Japanese firm has placed an order for an ammonia bunkering vessel.
Conventional fuel sea trials completed for new Chinese-built VLCC
China's Dalian COSCO KHI Ship Engineering (DACKS) completed conducting the conventional fuel sea trials of a new very large crude carrier (VLCC) on Friday, July 11.
The trials lasted eight days, during which DACKS completed a number of key tests including a ballast tank test, a main engine endurance test, a speed test, and a steering performance test.
Japan's Itochu to build "world's first" new ammonia bunkering vessel
Japanese trading house Itochu has signed contracts to build a new 5,000-cubic-metre ammonia bunkering vessel, which it describes as the world's first. The contracts were signed through Itochu's Singapore-based subsidiary, Clean Ammonia Bunkering Shipping (CABS).
The vessel will be built by Sasaki Shipbuilding, with Izumi Kogyo contracted to manufacture the ammonia tank plant. CABS has also concluded a loan agreement with Hiroshima Bank to fund the vessel's construction.
New dual-fuel LPG/ammonia carrier delivered to Kumiai Navigation
Japanese shipbuilder Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) delivered a new LPG and ammonia (NH3) carrier to Kumiai Navigation on Sunday, June 29.
The Singapore-flagged Crystal Odyssey has an LOA of 229.9 metres, a beam of 37.2 metres, a depth of 21.9 metres, a deadweight of 56,331, a total cargo capacity of 86,700 cubic metres, and a crew complement of 29.
Keel laid for James Fisher's newest chemical tanker
China Merchants Industry Yangzhou Dingheng Shipyard recently laid the keel of a new chemical tanker ordered by UK-based shipowner James Fisher and Sons.
Orca Fisher will be the first in a series of four vessels that will be powered by alternative fuels. All four ships are scheduled to join the James Fisher fleet from early 2026, fulfilling what the company said is the long-term demand for mid-sized ships in the coastal shipping markets of northwest Europe.
The new tankers will carry oil products and IMO Class II chemicals and will have LNG dual-fuel propulsion capability.
Chinese builder delivers 114,000DWT product carrier to Greece's TMS Tankers
Chinese shipbuilder COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry delivered a new LR2 product tanker to Greek shipping company TMS Tankers on Friday, June 27.
Dune is the second in a series of five 114,000DWT ordered by TMS Tankers from the same builder. Lamu, the lead ship in the series, was handed over last May.
