The vessels form part of a five-ship order for 306,000 dwt VLCCs
announced by the Dalian yard last week, with deliveries scheduled across 2029
and 2030. Two of the ships are
linked to Idan Ofer’s EPS, taking the company’s VLCC series at the yard to ten
units.
EPS re-entered the VLCC market in 2025 after a seven-year break,
ordering six 306,000 dwt vessels at Hengli. Those contracts marked the owner’s
first VLCC newbuildings since the 2000-built Maritime Jewel was scrapped in
2018. The move is part of a broader
strategy to rebuild the company’s crude tanker exposure after several years
focused mainly on aframax and suezmax tonnage, followed more recently by a
steady expansion in MR product tankers.
Eastern Pacific has become one of Hengli’s most active customers, with
orders at the yard covering crude and product tankers as well as containerships
and capesize bulkers.