Norwegian shipowner John Fredriksen has achieved attractive terms for a series of VLCCs at Japan Marine United (JMU) in his first newbuilding play in the big tanker market in almost half a decade.

A price of $97m per vessel is being mentioned for the 320,000-dwt tankers. One newbuilding broker claims VLCCs would normally cost at least $100m, as JMU is considered “the best yard you could get”.

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