Evangelos Marinakis-controlled Capital Tankers has secured from Capital Maritime & Trading Corp. (Capital Maritime) a portfolio of 13 acquisition options at shipbuilding contract price (optional fleet), comprising 11 VLCCs under construction at Hengli Shipbuilding and two suezmax tankers under construction at HD Hyundai Samho.
The optional fleet has expected deliveries ranging between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the third quarter of 2028.
By comparison, the majority of newbuilding slots for comparable vessels are currently being offered in the second half of 2029 and onwards.
The company may exercise any option in the optional fleet until December 31, 2026, at shipbuilding contract price, after which it retains a right of first refusal in respect of a sale of any of these vessels.
Based on third-party vessel appraisals as of August 18, the aggregate market value of the optional fleet exceeds the optional acquisition cost by $253.7m.
Capital Tankers continued to grow its fleet in the second quarter as it took delivery of seven vessels, comprising of three suezmax and four aframax/LR2 tankers.
At the quarter-end, the company has taken delivery of two more vessels, comprising of the suezmax Aristodimos (155,378-dwt, dual fuel LNG, scrubber-fitted, 2026-built, New Times SB) and the LR2 tanker Athinagoras (111,791-dwt, dual fuel LNG, 2026-built, New Times SB).
Thus, the sailing fleet now comprises of 15 vessels: one VLCC, six suezmax, four aframax and four LR2 tankers. Of these, nine are scrubber-fitted and 12 are LNG dual fuel capable or ready.
In total, the company owns a fleet of 33 vessels – 15 VLCCs, 10 suezmax, and eight aframax/LR2 tankers – comprising 15 sailing vessels and 18 newbuildings scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2028, with options for 13 additional crude tankers. 23 of the 33 vessels are LNG dual-fuel capable.
