Eco-friendly 159,000 dwt tankers launched at New Times Shipbuilding

October 4, 2024, by Sara Kosmajac

Chinese shipbuilder New Times Shipbuilding (NTS) has bid adieu to two eco-friendly 159,000 dwt crude oil tankers as they set sail at the end of September to join Greek shipowner TMS Tankers’ fleet.

As informed, the newly launched tankers, which are the third and fourth of four ships previously ordered by TMS, were engineered to prioritize environmentally friendly operations.

Boasting 274 meters in length, 50 meters in width, and 23.2 meters in depth, the vessels are fitted with TIER3 engines and a 1,200 kW shaft generator. Owing to their design, the tankers are reportedly compliant with Tier 3 nitrogen oxide emissions standards.

According to NTS, the ships, classed by classification society American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), also possess a design draft of 16.1 meters and a structural design of 16.8 meters, with a cargo hold capacity of 180,000 cbm.

With the design draft, engines operating at nominal continuous rating (NCR) power of 11,475 kW, and equipped with pre-shrouded vanes (PSV), which enhance propulsion efficiency by optimizing water flow into the propeller, along with high velocity air fuel (HVAF) technology, the ships are said to maintain a 15% reserve capacity to handle varying sea conditions.

Aside from the two eco-friendly crude oil tankers, NTS had previously built a number of vessels for TMS Tankers. In 2018, NTS built the 157,600 dwt Marshall Islands-flagged Suezmax Freud.

More recently, in August 2024, NTS completed the construction of another Marshall Islands-flagged Suezmax—the 274-meter long 159,200 dwt tanker named Vadela.

To remind, in April this year, NTS delivered the tenth of twelve Newcastlemax LNG dual-fuel bunkers to the Bermuda-based bulk carrier company Himalaya Shipping. Named Mount Denali, the vessel has reportedly been handed to a ‘major commodity trading company’ for an initial charter term until December 31, 2026, with an evergreen structure thereafter.

Himalaya Shipping welcomed the final newbuilds at the end of June this year.