Seatrade Maritime: Hengli Heavy Industry inks contract for VLAC newbuild pair

Hengli Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Hengli Heavy Industry, has entered into a construction contract with an undisclosed shipowner it described as “globally renowned” for two 93,000 cu metres VLACs. 

The total value of the contract ranges from approximately $200 million to $300 million, with payments to be made in US dollars.

This latest deal is part of a series of significant order wins for Hengli Shipbuilding in recent days. On 24 February, the company secured an order for two Capesize bulk carriers from an undisclosed European shipowner. Shortly after, it received another order for three 306,000 dwt Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), also from a European shipowner.

he combined value of these three orders is estimated to be between $640 million and $1 billion.

In 2024, Hengli Shipbuilding received an order for four VLACs from Hengli Group, its parent company. These vessels are primarily designed to meet the transportation needs of the group’s petrochemical and textile businesses.

This latest contract represents Hengli Shipbuilding’s first VLAC order from an international shipowner.

So far this year, Hengli Heavy Industry has secured contracts for a total of 69+4 new vessels. The breakdown of these orders includes 38 VLCCs, 14 tankers, 8+2 container ships, 7+2 Capesize bulk carriers, and two VLACs.