Greek shipowner George Procopiou has ended a 17-year order drought for LR1 product tanker newbuildings by signing up a double order in China.

Shipbuilding sources said Procopiou’s Dynacom Tankers Management placed the order for the 75,000-dwt pair at “tanker newcomer” Yangzijiang Shipbuilding instead of its two favourite Chinese shipyards, Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC) and New Times Shipbuilding

Singapore-listed Yangzijiang is China’s largest privately owned shipyard and is best known as a container ship and bulk carrier builder.