Tanker Operator News

Chemical tanker operator Chemship has placed a repeat order with Dutch wind propulsion specialist Econowind for the installation of VentoFoils on two additional vessels, expanding its use of wind-assisted ship propulsion technology.Chemship said Chemical Contender and Chemical Fighter will each be fitted with four 16-meter ATEX-proof VentoFoils in the second half of 2026, as part of efforts to reduce fuel consumption and emissions across its fleet.The decision follows the installation of four 16-meter VentoFoils on Chemical Challenger in early 2024…

Denmark-based chemical and product tanker operator Uni-Tankers reported solid financial performance for the 2024/25 fiscal year, posting a net profit of $39.5 million and a 24.4% increase in revenue, bolstered by fleet expansion, strong contract performance, and continued investment in digitalization and decarbonization.CEO Per Ekmann called the results a confirmation that the company’s long-term strategy is delivering consistent value. “It has been four years since we completed our turnaround, and for the past three years we’ve reported steady profits.

Turkey-based tanker operator Palmali on Friday lost its London lawsuit against the trading arm of Russian oil producer Lukoil over a purported deal to provide oil products.Palmali, controlled by Azerbaijan-born businessman Mubariz Mansimov, first sued Lukoil's Swiss subsidiary Litasco at the High Court in 2017 and was initially seeking nearly $2 billion.The value of Palmali's case was substantially reduced, however, after Litasco succeeded in having much of the lawsuit thrown out in 2020.Palmali was, by the time of the trial earlier this year, seeking just over $120 million for Litasco's alleg

WiseStella has announced that its technology has played a pivotal role in helping a globally trading tanker operator secure a landmark charter agreement with a prominent oil major.By using the WiseStella’s Behavioral Competency Assessment Tool (BCA) prior to a TMSA audit, the tanker crews were able to demonstrate behavioral competencies beyond standard expectations, resulting in the ship manager being recognized for Best Practice by the oil major.The TMSA review highlighted the undisclosed operator’s robust processes for managing organizational change…

Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply, a drive intensified by the latest suspension of Russian flows via Ukraine and U.S. President Donald Trump targeting Europe with liquefied natural gas exports.Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and green hydrogen under decarbonization strategies. A synopsis of changes and additions to Germany's energy plans and infrastructure is listed below:MUKRANMukran…

Germany is expanding its natural gas import options to replace Russian supply. Following are updates on key facilities and terminals being developed to host floating storage regasification units (FSRUs) to receive seaborne liquefied natural gas (LNG). Plans also include shore-based regasification terminals and facilities to import and produce ammonia and hydrogen.STADEState-owned Deutsche Energy Terminal (DET) has said in German media reports that FSRUs at both Stade and Wilhelmshaven 2 will start operations before the winter, without specifying precise commissioning dates.

Marlink, the managed services provider of business-critical ICT solutions, has secured a deal to supply its Sealink NextGen network solution for Brazil’s biggest crude and product tanker operator Transpetro.The hybrid solution includes Marlink’s global VSAT integrated to the high throughput, low latency Starlink solution together with MSS as back-up, to be installed on 26 Transpetro’s tankers.The installation will include Marlink’s XChange network management platform to enable software-defined application routing…

A salvage operation to recover a Greek registered oil tanker stranded in the Red Sea after an attack by Houthi militants is expected to start in the coming days, two sources with knowledge of the matter said on Friday.What was decided yesterday is an initial gameplan, of the operation starting in 48 hours," one of the sources said. A second source said the operation was likely to be complex, since Houthis had rigged the vessel with explosives.At stake is the safe removal of a…

The crude oil tanker market is grappling with an ageing fleet of vessels which need to be replaced, posing a challenge as shipyards are focused on building other types of ships, a top executive with commodity trader Trafigura said on Tuesday.The crude tanker market, including VLCC supertankers, has remained strong in recent months partly due to longer voyages made by some vessels sailing via southern Africa amid Red Sea attacks by the Houthis, which has tightened availability.In addition, up to 850 tankers are estimated to have left conventional trading to transport sanctioned oil including fr

Belgian tanker operator Euronav has concluded the acquisition of 100% shares in cleantech maritime group CMB.TECH for $1.15 billion in cash.The transaction is part of Euronav’s renewed strategy of diversification, decarbonization and accelerated optimization of the its current crude oil tanker fleet, driven by CMB.TECH’s ‘future-proof’ fleet of 106 low carbon vessels, of which 46 are under construction.It was first announced in December 2023, and also entails Euronav’s proposal change its corporate name to CMB.TECH following completion of the transaction and the offer.

Tanker company Stena Bulk halted transits in the Red Sea early on Friday Central European Time, its CEO Erik Hannel told Reuters.It is the latest tanker operator to cease traversing the key shipping corridor following an advisory from the Combined Maritime Forces to stay clear of the region after the launch of U.S. and British air strikes on Houthi forces in Yemen.(Reuter - Reporting by Natalie Grover; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Belgian tanker operator Euronav and its controlling shareholder CMB have entered into a share purchase agreement for the acquisition of 100% of the shares in cleantech maritime group CMB.TECH for $1.15 billion in cash.Euronav said the transaction is part of its renewed strategy of diversification, decarbonization and accelerated optimization of the its current crude oil tanker fleet, driven by CMB.TECH’s ‘future-proof’ fleet of 106 low carbon vessels, of which 46 are under construction.CMB.TECH builds…

Istanbul-based tanker operator Palmali has become the top shipper for Ukraine's Black Sea-borne sunflower oil exports, one of the country's key export products, and plans to expand further, its chairman Mubariz Mansimov said.Azeri-born Mansimov said Palmali was the most active operator in the increasingly dangerous Black Sea, and plans to expand its presence in Ukraine by placing an order for 10 more cargo carriers and starting trading operations early next year. Since pulling out of the U.N.-brokered deal that guaranteed safe shipment of Ukrainian food products in July…

Kongsberg Maritime on Monday announced it has won a contract to supply design, engineering, and equipment for two MGO/biofuel and methanol-ready chemical tankers for Swedish tanker operator Sirius Rederi AB. The low emission 15,000dwt tanker vessels will feature a range of Kongsberg Maritime equipment and can operate on battery-powered hybrid propulsion. Options for further vessels are included.This latest contract builds on a current nine-ship program with fellow Swedish owner Terntank, with a similar design and equipment package.

Siloed data systems represent a “recipe for duplicative and multiplicative cost inside a company and across companies”, an OrbitMI-hosted panel at the recent Shipping Insight event in the US was told, as a Bureau Veritas-backed study highlighted this as a big barrier to data collaboration for digitalization of shipping to cut emissions.Vast amounts of data are generated from ship operations - such as from sensors onboard or vessel performance management systems - as well as from…

Finland-based marine technology group Wärtsilä will supply its EnergoFlow and EnergoProFin solutions for ten Bird Class oil and chemical tankers owned by the Singapore-based global tanker operator Hafnia."The combination of the two Wärtsilä systems ensures an optimized waterflow over and after the propeller, thereby improving propulsion efficiency considerably. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in October 2023," Wärtsilä said.According to Wärtsilä, EnergoFlow is an innovative pre-swirl stator that creates an optimal inflow for the propeller…

Maritime players plotting pathways to data collaboration with digital projects in line with new BV-backed research study.Digital technologies are increasingly being leveraged by shipping players to facilitate data collaboration among different actors in areas like ship design, vessel performance and port calls as a new Thetius research study backed by Bureau Veritas (BV) shows this will be vital to drive decarbonization, an OrbitMI-hosted panel heard at the recent Shipping Insight event in the US.“Data-powered…

MOL Chemical Tankers has reached a deal to acquire the business of Fairfield-Maxwells' Fairfield Chemical Carriers in an all-cash transaction.Under the agreement, MOL Chemical Tankers would obtain 100% of the shares in Fairfield Chemical Carriers for about $400 million, subject to change depending on the price adjustment under the share purchase agreement.Fairfield Chemical Carriers’ fleet of 36 chemical tankers would dovetail with MOL Chemical Tankers’ fleet of 85 chemical tankers.

The winners of Nor-Shipping 2023's top awards are Swedish/Danish tanker operator Terntank, wind power pioneer AlfaWall Oceanbird and Bound4Blue Co-founder and COO Cristina Aleixendri Munoz.Expert judging panels described the competition for the accolades as “fiercer than ever”, reflecting on the “dynamic, ambitious and innovative state of an industry in transition.”Terntank secured the coveted Next Generation Ship Award for its Hybrid Tanker 15,000dwt newbuildings, currently under construction at CMHI Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou, China.

Belgian tanker operator Euronav announced Tuesday that its CEO Hugo De Stoop is stepping down after nearly two decades with the company, including four years as CEO.Euronav said its CFO Lieve Logghe will serve as interim CEO as the company searches for a new CEO. Lieve, who joined the group in 2020, will also continue in her role as CFO.De Stoop will remain available to Euronav as a senior advisor until his permanent successor is appointed, the company said.De Stoop joined Euronav…

Kongsberg Maritime will supply design, engineering and equipment for three MGO/Biofuel and methanol-ready tanker ships being built for Danish tanker operator Tärntank. The 15,000-dwt tanker vessels will feature wind assist technology plus Tärntank’s own battery-powered Hybrid Solution.To be built at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard, Yangzhou and delivered in 2025, Kongsberg's portion totals nearly $12m and includes steering gear, rudders, controllable pitch propellers, tunnel thrusters and thruster control systems…

An oil tanker runs aground off eastern China, leaking fuel into the water. Another is caught in a collision near Cuba. A third is seized in Spain for drifting out of control.These vessels were part of a "shadow" fleet of tankers carrying oil last year from countries hit by Western sanctions, according to a Reuters analysis of ship tracking and accident data and interviews with more than a dozen industry specialists.Hundreds of extra ships have joined this opaque parallel trade…

Tanker operator AET announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Malaysia's PETCO Trading Labuan Company Ltd (PTLCL) to explore a potential collaboration to deploy a future zero-emission Aframax tanker powered by green ammonia.AET said it would be responsible for selecting a suitable shipyard to build the net zero-emission dual-fuel tanker, which would be delivered to PTLCL for long-term charter by 2026.The companies also intend to collaborate on the design…