Vela Awards Hyundai VLCC Contract

Vela International Marine, the shipping arm of Saudi Aramco, reportedly has awarded Hyundai Heavy Industries a contract to build four very large crude carriers (VLCCs). The 300,000-dwt VLCCs would each be able to transport two million barrels of crude oil to customers in Europe, the Far East and North America, SPA said. The new tankers, to be delivered between 2002 and 2003, would replace old tankers due to be put out of service. Vela's fleet consists of 15 vessels.