Dubai: South Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (SHI) has signed a $160m contract with Gulf Energy Maritime (GEM) for the construction of two high specification LR2 double-hulled aframax tankers. Upon delivery by end 2011, the two 114,700 dwt vessels will be the first of their kind to join GEM's growing fleet and will be christened Gulf Vision and Gulf Valour.
"This contract reflects GEM's continued expansion and its extensive servicing of regional and international customers, indicative of the company's current fiscal strength," said GEM ceo Ahmed Al Falahi (pictured, right). "These tankers will be state-of-the-art and fitted with the latest equipment and meet all international environment safety requirements of being completely double-hulled."
"By 2012, many refineries in the Middle East will be up and running. The West is slowing down on building new refineries and GEM will be ideally placed by then to transport either dirty or clean petroleum products to the West. With these two aframax orders, GEM has invested for the future."
GEM currently operates a fleet of 11 modern panamax and chemical/product tankers and has another eight vessels on order, all for delivery by end 2009. The company recently secured over $137m in revenues on its existing fleet. [27/02/08]
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Seatrade, a trading name of Informa Markets (UK) Limited. Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.
