The 50,000 dwt IMO II tanker Solar Sally was handed over at a delivery ceremony on April 23 at Jiangsu New Times Shipbuilding Co. in Jiangsu Province, China. Solar Sally is the first in a series of eight tankers ordered at New Times Shipbuilding by Shandong Shipping in 2019. The ships will all be chartered to Shell for eight years on delivery and will be jointly inspected by China Classification Society and DNV. The owner and yard also named the second vessel in the series Solar Cheryl.
The LOI signed on April 23 was for a further ten 50,000 dwt IMO II refined oil/chemical tankers. Shandong Shipping said the vessels would “further expand Shandong's shipping capacity, enhance Shandong's long-term revenue stability and sustainable profitability, and consolidate its advantages of scale in the field of petrochemical transportation.”
Shandong Shipping also signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Dalian Maritime University and Shanghai Maritime University.
“After the agreement is implemented, Shandong Shipping will deepen co-operation with the two top domestic maritime colleges in terms of resource sharing, talent training, scientific research co-operation, industrial development, and academic exchanges, focusing on cultivating outstanding industry talents, promoting technological innovation and improving industry management capabilities,” said Shandong Shipping.
The signings were witnessed by Chen Baiwei, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province, Bao Jianying, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Shandong Ocean Group, Sun Yuqing, President of Dalian Maritime University, Song Baoru, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shanghai Maritime University, Yuan Kaifei, Chairman of Jiangsu New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., China Shipbuilding Class Vice President Fan Qiang, and General Manager of Greater China, DNV, Norbert Kray. The ceremony was presided over by Yu Bing, Deputy General Manager of Shandong Ocean Group, and Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Shandong Shipping Co., Ltd. Bao Jianying.
Shandong Ocean group operates 87 ships totaling 12m dwt, the third largest in China.
