Greece's Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) is ordering up to three shuttle tankers after securing long-term deals that could see it bank $250m.

The New York-listed unit of the Tsakos group said a major European end-user has signed an agreement for the new DP2 suezmaxes, which will be built in South Korea. The shipowner did not reveal the shipyard.

"TEN continues its profitable and market-proven policy of attractive long-term charters to grow its fleet at periods of competitive newbuilding prices," said its chief operating officer George Saroglou.