The specifications were jointly developed between BW Tankers, Bohai Shipyard, part of the CSIC Shipbuilding Group, and DNV. They will be amongst the first vessels built in China to follow the Joint Tanker Project’s Common Structural Rules for Double Hull Oil Tankers.

Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Managing Director of BW Shipping (Singapore) commented: “Given the group’s heritage in China and our work with the Chinese shipbuilding industry since the 1980s, we are delighted to be building these vessels in China.”

BW’s long-standing interest in Chinese shipbuilding capability started with founder Sir YK Pao placing China’s first export orders at the Hudong and Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai in 1979. “Chinese yards will be a dominant force in shipbuilding” said Billy Chiu, Commercial and Operations Director at BW Shipping (Singapore). “They will continue to be good partners for BW.”

Yesterday, BW Shipping also announced the acquisition of eight new product tankers which will be built at Dalian Shipyard in China. “The BW group is committed to all our key markets of tankers, gas, dry bulk and offshore,” said Sohmen-Pao, ”and we continue to look for growth opportunities that will enable us to support our customers’ needs.”