About the Project
The project will see four Very Large Crude Carriers built with dual-fuel propulsion systems, capable of operating on LNG as well as conventional marine fuels. Each vessel will be designed to meet the highest current standards for efficiency, safety, and environmental performance, while retaining the full cargo capacity and long-haul operational flexibility that VLCCs are relied upon for across global crude trades.
Dual-fuel propulsion allows these vessels to draw on LNG as a lower-emission fuel option when and where it is available, while still being able to operate on conventional fuel when needed — giving the vessels a level of operational flexibility that is increasingly valuable as bunkering infrastructure for alternative fuels continues to expand around the world. Together with the latest generation of hull design, machinery efficiency improvements, and energy-saving technologies, this combination is intended to meaningfully reduce the vessels’ environmental footprint relative to conventionally fuelled tonnage of the same class, without compromising on reliability or earning capacity.
Why This Project Matters
Ordering four vessels as a single project, rather than as individual newbuildings, brings real benefits. It allows for consistency in design and specification across the vessels, efficiencies in procurement and project management, and a coordinated build and delivery schedule that supports smoother integration into the fleet once the vessels enter service. It also reflects a clear strategic commitment: this is not a one-off trial of dual-fuel technology, but a considered decision to build meaningful scale around it.
The VLCC segment sits at the heart of global crude oil transport, and decisions made in this segment carry weight across the wider tanker market. Bringing dual-fuel capability to vessels of this size is a meaningful step in aligning large crude carrier operations with the industry’s broader transition toward lower-emission shipping, while continuing to meet the demanding operational expectations that charterers and cargo owners place on VLCC tonnage.
This project also builds on lessons learned from our existing dual-fuel operations. Experience gained from operating LNG dual-fuel vessels in real-world trading conditions — managing fuel-switching procedures, coordinating bunkering logistics, and monitoring performance across long-haul voyages — feeds directly into how we approach the design, specification, and operational planning for this new project. It is very much an evolution of an existing capability rather than a first step into unfamiliar territory.
What Comes Next
With the project now announced, the work ahead moves into the detailed design, engineering, and construction phases that will carry these four vessels from contract to delivery. That will involve close, ongoing collaboration between our technical, operational, and commercial teams and the shipyard responsible for construction, along with the equipment manufacturers and suppliers who will provide the machinery, systems, and materials the vessels require.
As with any newbuilding project of this scale, careful coordination across every stage — design review, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning — will be essential to keeping the project on track and ensuring each vessel meets the specification and quality standards set at the outset. We will share further updates as the project progresses and key milestones are reached.
Looking Ahead
The addition of four DF-VLCCs represents an important investment in the future shape of our fleet — one that positions us to continue serving the global crude trade with vessels built for both the operational demands of today and the environmental expectations of tomorrow. We look forward to sharing the project’s progress in the months and years ahead, and to welcoming these vessels into service in due course.