Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. has expanded its crude oil tanker fleet with the addition of four Suezmax vessels. The vessels complement OSG’s crude oil tanker fleet of ULCCs, VLCCs, Aframaxes and Panamaxes. Ranging in size between 120,000 and 200,000 deadweight tons (dwt), Suezmaxes offer greater port flexibility than VLCCs and better economies of scale than Aframax tankers. The addition of the vessel class to OSG’s fleet enhances its ability to offer customers a full range of vessel options when transporting crude oil throughout the world.
OSG has purchased, sold and bareboat chartered-back two Suezmax tankers from Double Hull Tankers, Inc. OSG expects to take delivery of a 2001-built 164,000 dwt vessel in December 2007 and the second ship, a 2000-built 153,000 dwt vessel, is expected to deliver to OSG in the first quarter of 2008. The vessels have been chartered for seven and 10 years, respectively.
OSG has time chartered-in two 156,000 dwt sister ships for three years. The vessels, currently under construction in China, are expected to deliver in the fourth quarter of 2008.