K Line, KLPL Place Orders for Five Tankers

Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” Line) and “K” Line Pte Ltd. (KLPL) have signed ship building contracts for three next generation Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and two Aframax tankers.

Orders for two 311,360 dwt VLCCs were placed by “K” Line with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI). The vessels, which will feature a length of 339.5 meters and a width of 60 meters, are expected to join their owner in 2017 and 2018.

The company’s third VLCC order was placed with with Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., and is scheduled for delivery in 2018.

Orders for two 113,000 dwt Aframax tankers were placed by KLPL with Namura Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. Scheduled for delivery in 2018 and 2019, the Aframaxes will be 243 meters long, 42 meters wide, and will have a tank capacity of 125,400 m3.

“These VLCCs and Aframax tankers are designed to comply with all existing regulations as well as forthcoming rules such as the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship’s Ballast Water and Sediments,” the companies said.

According to the parties, the orders are in line with their fleet upgrading plan under the newly-reformed Medium-Term Management Plan.