On June 10, CSSC Beihai Shipbuilding and China Shipbuilding Trading Co., Ltd. (CSTC) delivered the 319,000 DWT VLCC MORINI to EURONAV, a subsidiary of Belgium’s CMB.TECH. This green, ammonia-ready crude oil carrier was handed over 10 months ahead of the scheduled delivery date.
The “MORINI” is the fourth of five ammonia-ready VLCCs in the same series built by Beihai Shipbuilding for EURONAV. The vessel has an overall length of 339.5 meters, a beam of 60 meters, and a draft of 30.3 meters. It has a design speed of 14.5 knots and is classed by ABS.
Beihai Shipbuilding stated that the first vessel in this VLCC series was delivered seven months ahead of the contract schedule, while vessels 2 through 4 were delivered eight, nine, and ten months ahead of schedule, respectively, further solidifying Beihai Shipbuilding’s market position in the bulk construction of 319,000 DWT VLCCs.
In August 2023, Beihai Shipbuilding announced it had secured an order for EURONAV’s first batch of 1+1 319,000-ton VLCCs, with the option becoming effective in October of the same year; In November 2023, the two parties signed a contract for the third 319,000 DWT VLCC; in the first quarter of 2024, shipbuilding contracts were signed for the fourth and fifth 319,000 DWT VLCCs to be built under their partnership.