Newbuilding interest for tankers will be curbed by rising prices and uncertainty over new vessel designs that can meet regulatory requirements, according to a senior analyst.

The newbuilding markets have been active so far this year, with Hyundai Heavy Industries and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering disclosing at least eight VLCC and two suezmax orders between them.

However, Braemar ACM’s global head of research Henry Curra suggested the overall number of newbuilding orders might not pick up much in the coming months with various investment risks.