K Shipbuilding books six product tankers worth $368m for 2028 delivery
Two 50,000 dwt MRs and four 74,000 dwt LR1s for European and Middle Eastern owners
K Shipbuilding, a mid-sized South Korean builder, announced on 26 August that it had signed contracts with European and Middle Eastern shipowners for six product tankers across two vessel types, with a total value of approximately KRW 510 billion, or about USD 368 million.
The order comprises two 50,000 dwt MR product tankers and four 74,000 dwt LR1-type product tankers, the latter placed as two firm vessels plus two options. The ships are scheduled for sequential delivery to the owners starting in the first half of 2028.
The vessels will be equipped with energy-saving devices that comply with International Maritime Organization carbon emission regulations, and will carry a design described as ready for eco-friendly fuels such as LNG or methanol, allowing for retrofitting later depending on market demand.
That fuel-ready specification is now standard practice in the mid-sized tanker segment. Committing to a dual-fuel installation at the newbuilding stage costs capital against a bunker supply picture that will not be settled before the ships deliver in 2028. Reserving the space, weight and structural provision instead defers the decision to a point where the owner can see which fuel has actually reached the trades the vessels will work.
"This order reflects the shipowner's high level of trust in K Shipbuilding's extensive construction experience and superior quality in the mid-sized product tanker segment," a company representative said.
The split between MR and LR1 tonnage in a single contract gives the yard work across two adjacent sizes on the same build programme, and the two options attached to the LR1 pair leave room for the order to grow without a fresh negotiation.
