信德海事网-专业海事信息咨询服务平台 登录 | 注册 [ 设为首页 ] [ 加入收藏 ] 中文版 ENGLISH WeChat Mobile --> --> ENGLISH   >   SHIPBUILDING --> China Merchants Energy Shipping steps into the shuttle tanker arena 2025-12-22 08:50 By： xinde marine news 分享： --> --> --> 评论 --> --> China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) is extending beyond its traditional deep-sea crude transport stronghold and entering the shuttle tanker (DPST) segment—one of the most “project-driven” and capability-intensive niches in tanker shipping. According to CMES’ latest board resolution, the company has approved the newbuilding of 1+1 Suezmax DP shuttle tankers and the signing of a long-term transportation agreement. In other words, this is not a pure cycle bet—it is a “contract-backed newbuilding” strategy designed to lock in utilisation and cashflow visibility. What the market is saying TradeWinds and industry sources indicate the vessels could be ~154,000 dwt DP2 newbuilds, potentially at DSIC (Dalian Shipbuilding), tied to long-term employment linked to CNOOC and offshore operations in South America. While CMES has not disclosed the yard or charterer in its announcement, the direction is clear: CMES is positioning itself for offshore-linked crude logistics, not just trading lanes. Shuttle tankers are not “just another tanker type.” They serve FPSOs and offshore fields, operating in harsher environments and more complex loading conditions. The competitive moat is built on DP redundancy, HSE standards, crew competence and project execution. That is why shuttle tanker earnings often come from longer-duration contracts and stronger client stickiness—closer to infrastructure-style logistics than spot-market trading. China has already demonstrated capability in this space. DSIC delivered the “NS Pioneer”—a large DP shuttle tanker built to stringent Petrobras specifications for Brazil’s deepwater fields—highlighting that Chinese yards can compete again in high-standard DP shuttle tanker construction. This shi