Four shipowners plan new ‘Vinga’ product tankers in China

Sweden’s Furetank, Norway’s O.H. Meling, Sweden’s Älvtank, and Canadian Algoma Central Corporation are working together in ordering four ice-class 17,999dwt Vinga-class products tankers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou. The latest contract for the FKAB Marine Design Vinga tankers, originally developed by Donsö Island-based Furetank in Sweden, take the tally for this design to a total of 26 vessels.  

The deal was announced at the naming ceremony of the Fure Vasa, a Vinga-class tanker that has just arrived in Sweden from China. Two of the vessels will be owned by FureBear, a joint venture between Furetank and Canadian Algoma Central Corporation. O.H. Meling is making its first Vinga investment, and Sweden’s Älvtank will add a fourth tanker to three it already owns from 2018 when it participated in the first orders for the new design. 

"The agreement we are signing today shows how future-proof the Vinga vessels have been from the outset,” declared Christian Nilsson, Älvtank’s CEO. “Our three sister vessels have performed exceptionally well, and being part of a long-running series of identical vessels brings many advantages.

“The ships have set a standard in the market and are well-known to many parties,” he added, “from the pilots who guide them into port and the charterers who place their cargoes, to the customers who know we can always source a replacement vessel if needed.”

The dual-fuel tankers are exceptional in a number of ways. They operate on liquid biomethane or gasoil and are fully equipped for shore power. They have a battery-hybrid setup and a series of fuel-saving features that  reduce emissions. The result is the highest EEDI rating in their segment making them some of the most energy-efficient vessels based on IMO metrics.