China wins BW VLCCs

Bergesen Worldwide Tankers signed contracts to build two 320,000 DWT VLCCs at Bohai Shipyard. These will be the largest ships of their type ever built in China and delivery is slated in 2009 and 2010.

The specifications were jointly developed between BW Tankers, Bohai Shipyard, part of the CSIC Shipbuilding Group, and DNV. They will be amongst the first vessels built in China to follow the Joint Tanker Project?s Common Structural Rules for Double Hull Oil Tankers.

Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Managing Director of BW Shipping (Singapore) commented: “Given the group?s heritage in China and our work with the Chinese shipbuilding industry since the 1980s, we are delighted to be building these vessels in China.”

BW?s long-standing interest in Chinese shipbuilding capability started with founder Sir YK Pao placing China?s first export orders at the Hudong and Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai in 1979.

BW Shipping also announced the acquisition of eight new product tankers which will be built at Dalian Shipyard in China.