Officially Entering the “Oil Tanker” Market: CIMC Raffles Begins Construction on Four 319,000-DWT Very Large Crude Carriers

On May 15, CIMC Raffles officially commenced construction on a 319,000 DWT Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) project for European shipping investment firm Bruton Ltd. The commencement ceremony was attended by over 50 individuals, including Bruton Ltd's VLCC project team, ABS representatives, the CIMC Raffles project management team, and delegates from relevant EPC departments.

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The ceremony marked the transition of the previously signed four-vessel VLCC construction contract into the substantive building phase. It also signified that, following the successful contract signing, CIMC Raffles has formally entered the construction sector for VLCCs, a core asset class in global large-scale commercial shipping.

It is understood that this project is built upon the proven MARIC 319,000 DWT VLCC design, featuring a length of approximately 330 meters, a molded breadth of 60 meters, and a structural draft of 22.5 meters. Classed by ABS, the vessel satisfies international environmental regulations while striking a careful balance between operational cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. With the project contract officially taking effect on March 20, 2026, the entire construction timeline spans 28 months. The bow section will be constructed at the Haiyang base, while the stern will be built at the Yantai base, where the vessel will ultimately be integrated and delivered.

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Bruton Ltd is an Oslo-listed shipping investment company dedicated to building a modern fleet platform anchored by large oil tankers. Capitalizing on its specialized maritime management expertise and financial acumen, the company is steadily advancing its asset allocation in mainstream vessel types such as VLCCs.

As the global VLCC market is ushering in a new window of opportunity for orders, CIMC Raffles has seized this industry momentum. Its partnership with Bruton Ltd represents a major breakthrough in the large oil tanker segment. Leveraging its established serialized design capabilities and robust batch-delivery systems, CIMC Raffles is poised to ensure the high-quality execution of this project.

Looking ahead, CIMC Raffles looks forward to forging deeper partnerships with outstanding collaborators in future fleet expansions and diverse vessel projects to achieve mutual success, reward client trust with high-quality products and efficient services by steadfastly pursuing "premium engineering", and further enrich its track record in the large commercial shipbuilding arena.