Two Additions to Maersk Tankers Fleet

At a naming ceremony in South Korea Friday the 8th of April 2016, Maersk Tankers christened two more newbuilds at Sungdong Shipyard in Tongyong, South Korea; Maersk Teesport and Maersk Tianjing. Both vessels are 50,000 DWT Medium Range (MR) and join their sister ship Maersk Tangier, who was delivered on 5 February this year.
 
The vessels are a part of the renewal of Maersk Tankers’ fleet. In 2015 Maersk Tankers took delivery of the first two of 10 vessels in total ordered from the Sungdong Shipyard; Maersk Tampa and Maersk Tacoma. Within the next few years approximately 20% of Maersk Tankers fleet will be replaced with newbuilds already ordered. 10 vessels from Sungdong in South Korea and 9 additional MR vessels from Ningbo Shipyard in China. The vessels from Ningbo are expected to be delivered in 2017 and 2018.

 Maersk Tankers has a fleet of 156 vessels – 82 vessels of their own, 24 T/C vessels and 50 vessels in pools.

“It is always a great pleasure to name a new vessel and we are pleased to be able to add more fuel-efficient vessels to our fleet,” says Claus Grønborg, Head of Business Development.
 
Maersk Tankers is continuously looking at opportunities to renew its fleet, both with newbuilds and second-hand vessel. The price levels in the market are being closely monitored to make sure the investments are made at an attractive level.
 
“As part of our Taking Lead Strategy, we have increased our investment in the product tanker business in order to strengthen our fleet. Besides the newbuild order book we have also replaced some of our older vessels with second-hand vessels. We will continue our renewal of the fleet, when we believe that the pricing is at an attractive level again. At the time being the price level is too high,” says Claus Grønborg.