First new series Stena Bulk Suezmax named in Korea

The first in a series of seven Suezmax tankers has been named Stena Superior in a ceremony at Samsung Heavy Industries’ Geoje, Korea, shipyard. The ship was named by Mrs Rosa José Marie Sumbe, wife of Mr. Baptista Sumbe, Executive Chairman of Sonangol Holdings Ltd.

The 158,000 dwt Stena Superior has  a length of 274 m and a beam of 48 m. Partly designed in-house by Stena Bulk, the tankers in the new Suezmax series have a dramatically improved energy efficiency, reducing bunker consumption by up to 15 percent compared with the most efficient, conventional Suezmax tankers. Most of the seven will join the successful Stena Sonangol Suezmax Pool. The pool was formed in 2005 and is controlled by Stena Bulk and the state-owned Angolan oil company Sonangol. 

“The Pool has today a total of some 20 Suezmax tankers and there will totally be up to some 30 modern tankers with an average age of only 3.5 years once both Sonangol´s five newbuildings and ours have been delivered,” says Ulf G. Ryder, President & CEO of Stena Bulk AB.

The next Stena Bulk Suezmax in the series is the Stena Suède which will be delivered November 15, when it will enter a long term timecharter with the French oil giant Total.

September 21, 2011