Newbuild Supertanker Orders Hit Record High, Surpassing 2008 Peak
The world’s shipowners have placed orders for a record number of new oil supertankers, surpassing a boom back in 2008 that ultimately led to a glut and a collapse in rates.
Image courtesy DSME
The VLCC Al Kout was delivered last week by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., Ltd. (DSME) as part of a series of vessels constructed for the Kuwait Oil Tanker Company (KOTC).
The 165,178 gross ton vessel was built under ClassNK Rules and Regulations and is the final vessel of the four VLCCs and one Aframax Tanker constructed by DSME as part of this project under ClassNK

The Japanese class society notes this ship is the first in the ClassNK registry to comply with the Performance Standard for Protective Coatings (PSPC) requirements for Cargo Oil Tanks of Crude Oil Tankers.
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