Tsuneishi Corp News

MISC Bhd has bought four Aframax tankers from Japan's Tsuneishi Corp for $260m. The first unit of the 107,500-deadweight tonnage (DWT) tankers will be delivered in 2009, while the rest in 2010, MISC said in a statement. It added that the continuous expansion of MISC's petroleum fleet under American Eagle Tankers (AET), supported by regional offices in London, Singapore and Houston will provide it with the critical mass to better serve its customers globally. It also took delivery of its eighth 300,397-DWT very large crude carrier (VLCC) from Universal Shipbuilding Corp of Japan for some $65m. MISC said the delivery of the VLCC, which has a capacity of carrying 340,000 cu m of crude has increased its fleet size to 109 vessels.

MISC Bhd said its wholly-owned subsidiary AET Inc Ltd has confirmed its order for four 107,500 dwt Aframax tankers from Japan's Tsuneishi Corp for US$260 million. The first tanker will be delivered in 2009 and the remaining three will be delivered in 2010, it said in a statement. MISC, a subsidiary of national oil company Petronas, said the order was in line with AET's commitment to be one of the premier petroleum logistics provider in the world. (Source: www.bernama.com.my)

Cebu-based shipbuilding company Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu Inc. (THICI) has committed to invest US$ 100 million or roughly P5 billion in the expansion of its shipyard in Balamban town in Cebu's western seaboard. THICI, a joint venture between Tsuneishi Corp. of Japan, one of the world's leading shipbuilders, and Aboitiz and Co., has been building 58,000 deadweight-ton (dwt) bulk carriers since 1995. These ship were sold around the world from their Japan base. Under the expansion plans, the company would add another 86 hectares to its current work area of 40 hectares at the West Cebu Industrial Park in Balamban, Cebu. The expansion would enable THICI to build bulk carriers as big as 170,000 dwt from 58,000 dwt and almost double its production capacity from 14 ships a year to 24.