New ultra-modern eco medium range tankers Stena Convoy and Stena Conductor represent valuable additions to growing fleet

Leading tanker shipping company Stena Bulk announced that it is taking two brand new Eco Medium Range (MR) tankers – to be named Stena Convoyand Stena Conductor – on long term time charter from close Japanese partners.

The two ultra-modern MR tankers are being built at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and will be delivered in the first half of 2022. The 50,000DWT vessels will come in at 183m in length and are being fitted with scrubbers to ensure compliance with global emissions regulations.

Stena Convoy and Stena Conductor are just two of the five newbuilds that Stena Bulk will receive on charter in the first half of 2022 and will be nearly 20% more fuel-efficient than the first generation of eco vessels. When delivered, the two ships will be the most fuel-efficient MR tankers at sea.

The news follows the recent announcement that in early 2022 Stena Bulk will also take delivery of the state-of-the-art IMOIIMeMAX methanol-fuelled 49,900 DWT vessel Stena Pro Patria, which is the first of the methanol vessels to be built together with Proman.

Combined, the addition of the new Eco MRs and methanol-fuelled ships to Stena Bulk’s portfolio in the coming months demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to intelligently scale up its fleet in line with customer demand, while aiming for minimum environmental impact.

Erik Hånell, President and CEO of Stena Bulk, said: “The welcome addition of Stena Convoy and Stena Conductor to our fleet on long-term time charter is fully in line with our ongoing commitment to constantly expand and renovate our asset base in alignment with the requirements of our global customer base.  By taking these vessels on a long-term basis we demonstrate a continuous commitment to develop our business and utilise today’s technology to unlock efficiencies.

“We always embrace partnerships because they are a cornerstone of our growth strategy. This deal is a fantastic example of this approach, allowing us to reach another milestone in our long-standing relationship with our close Japanese partners.”