MISC Buys Aframax Tankers

MISC Bhd has bought four Aframax tankers from Japan's Tsuneishi Corp for $260m. The first unit of the 107,500-deadweight tonnage (DWT) tankers will be delivered in 2009, while the rest in 2010, MISC said in a statement.

It added that the continuous expansion of MISC's petroleum fleet under American Eagle Tankers (AET), supported by regional offices in London, Singapore and Houston will provide it with the critical mass to better serve its customers globally. It also took delivery of its eighth 300,397-DWT very large crude carrier (VLCC) from Universal Shipbuilding Corp of Japan for some $65m.

MISC said the delivery of the VLCC, which has a capacity of carrying 340,000 cu m of crude has increased its fleet size to 109 vessels. The group has a total of 31 vessels on order at various shipyards in Japan and South Korea, all of which are due for delivery by 2010. Of these, eight are LNG tankers, 14 petroleum tankers, eight chemical tankers, and one container ship.