Turkish tanker owner Ditaş has reportedly ordered two suezmax crude oil tankers at South Korea's DH Shipbuilding, marking its first move into the segment in around a decade and doubling its suezmax fleet to four vessels, according to Splash247.
Order Details and Vessel Specifications
DH Shipbuilding disclosed a KRW271.3bn ($196m) contract on Monday but identified the customer only as a new European owner. Shipbroking and market sources have since named the Tüpraş shipping arm as the company behind the order. Ditaş has not publicly confirmed the deal, according to Splash247.
The two vessels are 157,000 dwt each and scheduled for delivery by the end of 2029. At about $98m per vessel, the contract would double Ditaş's suezmax fleet from two to four ships.
Ditaş Fleet Expansion
The Istanbul-based owner currently lists the 2017-built, 157,453 dwt sisters T Sadberk and T Semahat in the suezmax segment, out of 17 owned tankers overall. Ditaş has also been adding tonnage elsewhere:
- T Riva: A 114,800 dwt aframax newbuilding due from a CSSC yard in Dalian later this year, in a resale deal reported at around $90m.
- T Kilyos: A 2020-built MR tanker acquired last year for more than $40m.
- Two 12,000 dwt chemical tankers under construction at Koç-owned RMK Marine. The first vessel, T Florya, was launched in April.
DH Shipbuilding Orderbook Impact
The latest suezmax pair has helped DH Shipbuilding lift its 2026 order intake to a record 17 ships worth around KRW2.25trn. The Haenam yard now has 36 vessels on order, filling its construction slots through the end of 2029.
| Vessel Name | Type | Dwt | Year/Status | Price/Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T Sadberk | Suezmax tanker | 157,453 | Built 2017 | Existing |
| T Semahat | Suezmax tanker | 157,453 | Built 2017 | Existing |
| T Riva | Aframax newbuilding | 114,800 | Due 2026 (resale) | ~$90m |
| T Kilyos | MR tanker | ~50,000 | Built 2020 | >$40m |
| T Florya | Chemical tanker | 12,000 | Launched Apr 2026 | Under construction |
| (Two unnamed) | Suezmax newbuildings | 157,000 each | Delivery by end 2029 | ~$98m each |
Shipper and Operator Implications
For tanker operators and freight stakeholders, this order signals continued investment in medium-sized crude carriers despite market uncertainties. Ditaş's fleet renewal and expansion in the suezmax segment could increase its spot chartering capacity on key routes such as West Africa to Europe or the Mediterranean. DH Shipbuilding's full orderbook through 2029 suggests limited available slots for additional orders in that yard, potentially tightening suezmax newbuilding supply in the near term. Operators monitoring fleet availability may need to consider longer lead times for similar tanker orders.
Watch List
- Confirmation of the contract by Ditaş
- Delivery of the two suezmaxes by end of 2029
- Progress on Ditaş's aframax newbuilding T Riva later this year
- DH Shipbuilding's ability to maintain its record order intake pace
Sources:
