Recently, Capital Tankers, an oil tanker operator owned by Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis, announced on its official website that it will acquire three very large crude carriers (VLCCs) from its parent company, Capital Maritime & Trading (hereinafter referred to as “Capital Maritime”). The vessels are currently under construction at Hengli Heavy Industries and are expected to be delivered in 2027.
As reported, this batch of VLCCs was originally ordered by Hengli Group, the parent company of Hengli Heavy Industries, and subsequently resold to Capital Maritime. The new vessels are expected to be delivered in September, October, and November 2027.
Under the recently signed purchase agreement, Capital Maritime sold three VLCCs to Capital Tankers at the original contract price of $122 million per vessel, with an additional $700,000 per vessel to compensate Capital Maritime for financing and other expenses incurred in connection with the three VLCCs. The total purchase price for the three VLCCs was $368.1 million.
According to preliminary vessel valuations, the market value of a single VLCC is projected to reach $150 million in 2027, representing an overall increase in asset value of approximately $82 million compared to the acquisition price of the three VLCCs mentioned above.
Capital Tankers is a Marshall Islands-incorporated owner of modern crude and product tankers trading its vessels predominantly in the spot and short-term charter markets. The Company owns a fleet of 33 super-eco vessels — 15 VLCCs, 10 Suezmaxes, and eight Aframax/LR2 tankers — comprising 13 sailing vessels and 20 newbuildings scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2028, with options for 13 additional crude tankers. Twenty-three of the 33 vessels are LNG dual-fuel capable, providing the Company with significant potential fuel and regulatory cost advantages.
For Hengli Heavy Industries, Capital Maritime has become one of its key clients, having ordered dozens of new vessels—primarily oil tankers and bulk carriers—from the shipbuilder. The most notable order was announced in February 2026, when Capital Ship Management—a subsidiary of Capital Maritime—placed a bulk order with Hengli Heavy Industries for 11 VLCCs with a deadweight tonnage of 306,000 each, setting a new record for the largest single VLCC order in Hengli Heavy Industries’ history.