Greek shipowner Venergy Maritime has confirmed two additional Suezmax tanker newbuildings at Hengli Heavy Industries, bringing its series orders at the Dalian shipyard to four and expanding its overall newbuilding programme to 30 vessels.

The company, led by Vyron Vasileiadis, exercised options for two 158,000-dwt tankers under a contract signed earlier this year. Brokers estimate the two newbuildings at about $84m each, or $168m in total, with delivery scheduled for 2029.

The latest order follows Venergy’s earlier order at Hengli for two 158,000-dwt tankers, V Leon and V Nikos, which are due for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2028.

In June this year, Hengli’s initial contract included two firm vessels plus two options. Official vessel prices were not announced at the time, but shipbroking market quotes indicated that Chinese-built Suezmax prices were in the $80m-plus range.

With this, Venergy Maritime now has a total of eight confirmed Suezmax newbuildings spread across three Chinese shipyards. In addition to the four at Hengli, Venergy Maritime’s fleet list shows that Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding is building the 158,000-dwt V Dragon and V Georgia, while Guangzhou Shipyard International is building the 157,000-dwt V Titan and V Orion, with deliveries concentrated between late 2028 and 2029.

Since Vyron Vasileiadis began independent shipowning operations, fleet expansion has been very rapid, and this is another major development. Its newbuilding orders cover product tankers, crude tankers and containerships, with total newbuilding investment estimated at nearly $2bn.