Hengli Heavy Industries has recently achieved further success in the international market, securing contracts to build four Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) for Dynacom—owned by Greek shipping magnate George Procopiou—and two LR2 product tankers for the renowned Italian shipowner Pemont.
Dynacom orders four additional VLCCs.
Reportedly, Dynacom has placed an additional order for four VLCCs with Hengli Heavy Industries, bringing the total number of VLCCs to be built through their partnership to 20. The first four vessels in the series were originally ordered by the Hengli Group for its own fleet but were subsequently resold to Dynacom; these have already been delivered.
Hengli Heavy Industries stated that the VLCC is a mainstream vessel type for international large-scale crude oil transport and noted that it has established a mature, end-to-end production system for these vessels.
In addition to the VLCC project, Dynacom has also placed orders with Hengli Heavy Industries this year for nine 158,000 DWT Suezmax tankers and two 93,000-cubic-meter Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs). This marks Dynacom’s first order for VLACs from Hengli Heavy Industries and signals the shipowner’s official entry into the large-scale liquefied gas carrier market.
According to Clarkson data, Dynacom currently holds orders for 74 tankers (totaling nearly 15 million deadweight tons), with the vast majority being built at Chinese shipyards. Examples include 16 VLCCs and 9 Suezmax tankers at Hengli Heavy Industries; 12 VLCCs at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding; over 10 Suezmax tankers at New Times Shipbuilding; and 4 LR1 product tankers at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.
2026 is shaping up to be a year of surging orders in the VLCC newbuild market. Data from Xclusiv Shipbrokers indicates that, as of the end of July, global shipowners had ordered 162 VLCCs this year—placing this segment far ahead of other tanker categories. In terms of deadweight tonnage, the ratio of the total VLCC orderbook to the active fleet has exceeded 32.5%; there are currently 302 VLCCs under construction (totaling 93.47 million deadweight tons), while the average age of the active VLCC fleet is approximately 13.5 years.
Pemont orders two LR2 product tankers.
In addition to securing repeat orders from existing clients, Hengli Heavy Industries continues to expand its presence in the European market, successfully signing a contract with Italian shipowner Pemont to build two LR2 product tankers.
Hengli Heavy Industries stated that these vessels incorporate the latest eco-friendly design concepts to meet IMO Tier III emission standards; they combine low energy consumption, high safety levels, and excellent operational performance, aligning with the global shipping industry’s green transition.
This marks Pemont’s first order for LR2 product tankers with Hengli Heavy Industry. With its deep roots in the European shipping market, Pemont’s decision to place this order represents a significant breakthrough for Hengli Heavy Industry in expanding into Southern Europe.
The LR2 product tanker has now become one of Hengli Heavy Industries’ standardized vessel types; the company holds a robust order book, characterized by rhythmic production schedules and batch deliveries.
The announcement of these orders further underscores Hengli Heavy Industries’ strong order-winning capabilities. As of the end of July 2026, the company had confirmed orders for over 250 new vessels this year—spanning the full spectrum of container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers, and gas carriers—with delivery schedules extending through 2030. Since resuming shipbuilding operations in the fourth quarter of 2022, Hengli Heavy Industries has secured orders for more than 550 new vessels in just four years, successfully establishing itself as one of the world’s largest private shipbuilders.