China Merchants readies four more newbuilds

China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) is continuing to grow its fleet with four more newbuild vessels. 

The Shanghai-listed energy transport unit of China Merchants Group said its board had approved the construction of two 175,000 cu m liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and two aframax tankers.

CMES has not named its yard of choice, which most likely will be Dalian Shipbuilding Industry (DSIC), where the state-owned shipowner currently has six LNG ships and a trio of aframaxes set to deliver between 2024 and 2026. 

In September, CMES signed a deal for two dual-fuel LNG carriers at Dalian and a letter of intent for an additional four units, two of which were approved for construction last December.