South Korea’s SK Oceanplant has signed its biggest merchant shipbuilding deal in years, securing a Greek owner for up to eight aframax tankers worth around KRW800bn ($583m). The firm order covers six 115,000 dwt newbuilds valued at about $430m, with options for two additional vessels. The ships will be built at SK Oceanplant’s Goseong complex and delivered between 2029 and June 2030, at a unit price of roughly $71.6m each. The contract marks SK Oceanplant’s first newbuilding deal with a Greek shipowner. The customer has asked to remain unidentified, with the yard’s regulatory filing keeping the name confidential until 28 February 2027, and there is no contract deposit or advance payment, with payments instead tied to construction progress.
The $430m firm order equals 61.41% of SK Oceanplant’s 2025 revenue and will significantly expand its orderbook, which stood at KRW1.11trn at the end of June; exercising both options could push the backlog toward KRW2trn. The deal underscores SK Oceanplant’s renewed push into commercial shipbuilding after several years focused on offshore wind foundations, following a July order for two 6,800 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers from a domestic owner worth about KRW71.8bn. Formerly known as Samkang M&T, the Goseong yard was acquired by SK ecoplant in 2022 and renamed the following year; ownership is now shifting again, with SK ecoplant agreeing to sell its 35.62% stake to a consortium led by The Ocean Asset Management for about $299m, a deal expected to close before year-end.
Source: Splash247 — https://splash247.com/sk-oceanplant-lines-up-up-to-eight-aframaxes-for-greek-owner/
Tags: Greek Shipowners, Aframax Tankers, South Korea, Newbuilding Orders, Greek Shipping
