The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) took delivery of a Suezmax crude oil tanker on Wednesday. The vessel has been named m.t. “Desh Shobha”.
It was purchased from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries, South Korea, on resale basis and has a gross tonnage of 81,334 tonnes and deadweight of 1,58,034 tonnes at scantling draft. The shipping markets are at low levels at present and as a result the shipbuilding industry is also going through a recessionary phase. This has presented opportunities for acquisition of vessels at attractive prices, SCI said in a release.
SCI’s crude oil tanker fleet has increased to 3.63 million dwt and the company’s fleet strength has increased to 78 vessels of 5.69 million dwt. The company has 21 vessels on order at present and seven of these are slated for delivery during the remaining period of 2012.