Hengli Heavy Industries’ market competitiveness in the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) market has been reaffirmed.
On November 19, Hengli Heavy Industries’ listed entity *ST Songfa announced that its subsidiary shipyard had secured orders for two additional Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).
An announcement disclosed that Hengli Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of *ST Songfa, recently signed and finalized contracts for the construction of two 306,000 DWT VLCCs. The order comes from a prominent European shipowner, with a total contract value of approximately US$200-300 million. Based on this calculation, the cost per vessel is estimated at US$100-150 million. Deliveries are expected to commence in the first half of 2028.
The 306,000 DWT VLCC contracted by Hengli Heavy Industries represents the international mainstream large crude oil carrier design, featuring high loading capacity, strong endurance, and superior operational efficiency.
This vessel design balances route adaptability with loading flexibility, enabling efficient compatibility with loading/unloading equipment at major crude oil ports worldwide. It meets the demands of transoceanic long-distance crude oil trunkline transportation and large-scale transport from major oil fields to refineries. As a crude oil carrier aligned with the latest international tanker design concepts, it fulfills the current global shipping market’s requirements for large-scale, low-carbon transportation.
*ST Songfa stated that this contract will enhance the company’s medium-to-long-term market competitiveness and profitability, further solidifying its competitive edge in the market.
According to incomplete statistics, with the announcement of the latest two new vessels, Hengli Heavy Industries has accumulated approximately 25 VLCC orders this year. Estimated at US$100-150 million per vessel, the total value reaches US$2.5-3.75 billion, with delivery scheduled between 2026 and 2028. In the mainstream bulk carrier and tanker markets, Hengli Heavy Industries secured 18+2 vessels in November alone.