Norway’s Fredriksen Group has canned potential orders for up to eight VLCCs with two Chinese shipyards amid intense market talk that the party is homing in on 10 dual-fuel VLCC newbuildings in South Korea.

John Fredriksen’s interests penned letters of intent (LOIs)with both Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Corp and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding, both for two firm vessels with two optional slots.