Hunter Tankers, a part of Hunter Group ASA, has taken delivery of its first of seven identical ECO design VLCC newbuildings, the Hunter Atla.
The vessel was handed over from Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) in South Korea.
Two additional VLCCs are scheduled for deliveries in 2019, while the remaining four vessels would be delivered between March and July 2020.
Hunter Tankers said that all seven VLCCs “are built to the highest standards and will be fitted with scrubbers.”
As part of a sale and leaseback transaction, revealed in early September, the Hunter Atla was upon delivery from DSME subsequently delivered to and immediately bareboat chartered back from Ship Finance International Limited. SFL acquired Hunter Tankers’ three new 300,000 dwt VLCCs at a price of USD 180 million, or USD 60 million per vessel.
The bareboat rate for Hunter Atla for the first 6 months is USD 11,500 per day. The VLCC will enter the Tankers International Scrubber Pool, and will commence trading in the spot market.