Idan Ofer’s Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is pushing further into the VLCC market, lining up two more newbuildings at Chinese yard Hengli Shipbuilding. The Singapore-based owner has booked the 306,000 dwt vessels in a deal valued at between $200m and $300m, according to a stock exchange filing by Hengli’s parent, Songfa Ceramics. Delivery is scheduled from the second half of 2028. The latest order follows a string of VLCC contracts at the Dalian-based yard, with John Fredriksen-linked interests recently signing up for two ships and Greek owner George Procopiou securing four units in a deal valued at $400m to $600m, all with similar delivery windows. EPS returned to the VLCC segment in 2025 after a seven-year absence, ordering six 306,000 dwt units at Hengli. Those contracts marked the company’s first VLCC newbuildings since the scrapping of the 2000-built Maritime Jewel in 2018. The move forms part of EPS’s wider effort to rebuild its crude tanker exposure after several years focused on aframax and suezmax tankers, followed more recently by a steady run of MR product carrier additions. Eastern Pacific has emerged as one of Hengli’s largest customers. Orders placed with the Chinese shipbuilder alone have now topped $2.5bn, spanning multiple segments including tankers, containerships and, most recently, capesize bulkers. Across the Far East, EPS is understood to have more than 140 vessels of various types on order. With the latest VLCC deal, its total business with Hengli Heavy Industry is approaching 30 ships, underlining the owner’s position as one of the most active players in the global newbuilding market. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsSingapore