Hafina and French joint venture partner Socatra have ordered four methanol-powered MR tankers at Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) in China, kicking off a green round of newbuild investments for the world’s largest operator of product tankers.
The 49,800 dwt dual-fuel ships will deliver in 2025 and 2026. All the ships have been fixed on long-term charter to TotalEnergies. No price has been revealed for the quartet.
On confirming the new order, Søren Steenberg Jensen, Hafnia’s head of asset management, said, “Given the time it takes to build a vessel and the time it takes actually to start moving the needle on carbon emissions, it is important to act now and take proactive steps in decarbonising the maritime industry. It does, however, require partnerships with Charterers, to make the financials work. The cost of the new fuels’ technologies, if unsupported by long-term contracts, will have most owners refrain from taking the financial risk of the future fuel’s technology alone on otherwise already expensive assets.”
