Specialist · VLCC to MR

Commercial tanker projects, properly structured.

Commercial tanker projects, properly structured.

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Single VLCC crude oil tanker at sea in cool pre-dawn light, navy hull riding low in the water, white superstructure aft
Optima · Tanker division
The weight underway

Crude and clean product, on the right ship at the right time.

01 VLCC · Cool pre-dawn

What we do.

Commercial Tanker Projects, Properly Structured

The Tanker desk advises owners and charterers across the full spectrum of tanker chartering and sale and purchase activity, covering spot employment, short and long-term time charters, and secondhand tanker transactions.

The desk operates in close coordination with Sale & Purchase on structured transactions where the asset and its employment are negotiated together, including vessels sold or acquired with attached charter coverage, forward employment, or strategic trading arrangements.

Coverage extends across Handysize, MR, LR, Aframax, and Suezmax sectors, with experience in crude, clean petroleum product, and chemical trades, alongside selective involvement in the VLCC market where market conditions and mandates align.

Six disciplines, one tanker desk.

Key Capabilities

Crude, clean product, chemicals, gas. Each tanker project is six specialist disciplines, coordinated by the same team from spec to delivery.

01 Owner-led specs

Technical specification, drafted with you.

Cargo-by-cargo employment across crude, clean petroleum product, and chemical trades. The desk negotiates freight, laycan positioning, demurrage terms, discharge flexibility, and charter party conditions directly on behalf of owners, maintaining continuous market coverage to identify employment suited to the vessel's trading profile and positioning.

02 Third-party scrutiny

Design review, independent of the yard.

Short and long-term period employment across the tanker sectors, including full negotiation of charter party terms, performance obligations, off-hire provisions, redelivery conditions, and counterparty evaluation. Fixtures are structured with close attention to earnings visibility, operational flexibility, and charterer quality.

03 RFP to contract

Yard selection and negotiation.

Structured transactions executed jointly with the Sale & Purchase desk, where the vessel and its employment are negotiated as a combined commercial package. These mandates involve the acquisition or disposal of tankers with attached time charter coverage, requiring integrated assessment of both asset value and forward earnings profile within a single transaction structure.

04 Weekly photo reports

Newbuilding supervision, on site.

Coverage spans Handysize, MR, LR1, LR2, Aframax, and Suezmax sectors across crude, clean product, and chemical markets worldwide. VLCC activity is undertaken selectively, with focus placed on mandates where transaction structure, employment strategy, or long-standing commercial relationships warrant dedicated involvement.

The watch stays awake.

Track Record

Tanker segments All
  • Handysize
  • MR
  • LR
  • Aframax
  • Suezmax
The segments we work.

Vessel Types We Cover

Our tanker division operates across all major tanker segments and sub-types.

  1. CRUDE OIL TANKERS

    VLCC (300,000+ DWT) · Suezmax (120,000-200,000 DWT) · Aframax (80,000-120,000 DWT). Double hull, crude oil washing systems, inert gas systems, segregated ballast.

  2. PRODUCT TANKERS

    LR2 (80,000-120,000 DWT) · LR1 (55,000-80,000 DWT) · MR (25,000-55,000 DWT) · Handy (10,000-25,000 DWT). Coated tanks, multi-grade capability, heating systems, enhanced cargo segregation.

  3. CHEMICAL TANKERS

    IMO Type I · IMO Type II · IMO Type III. Stainless steel / coated tanks, deep-well pumps, independent cargo lines, advanced vapor recovery.

  4. GAS CARRIERS

    LNG (various capacities) · LPG (VLGC, MGC, small) · Ethylene / ethane carriers. Membrane and spherical tank systems, reliquefaction, boil-off gas management, dual-fuel propulsion.

The phases.

Our Project Management Approach

Every tanker project follows a structured, phase-gated process that ensures nothing is missed and the owner retains full visibility at every stage.

  • PHASE 1: REQUIREMENTS DEFINITION 2-4 weeks. Owner's operational profile and commercial objectives; Regulatory and classification requirements mapping; Technical specification drafting; Budget framework and timeline definition. Deliverable: Approved technical specification and project brief.
  • PHASE 2: YARD SELECTION 4-8 weeks. Shortlist candidate yards based on segment experience; Issue requests for proposal (RFP); Technical and commercial evaluation of yard responses; Yard visits and capability assessment; Recommendation report to owner. Deliverable: Yard recommendation with comparative analysis.
  • PHASE 3: CONTRACT NEGOTIATION 4-6 weeks. Shipbuilding contract review and markup; Technical annex alignment with approved specification; Payment schedule and milestone structuring; Warranty and performance guarantee negotiation. Deliverable: Executed shipbuilding contract.
  • PHASE 4: CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISION 18-36 months (segment dependent). On-site supervisor(s) assigned; Weekly progress reports with photography; Quality control inspections at key milestones; Change order management; Classification society liaison. Deliverable: Monthly project status reports.
  • PHASE 5: DELIVERY 2-4 weeks. Sea trial attendance and performance verification; Documentation review and protocol signing; Delivery acceptance on behalf of the owner; Warranty period commencement. Deliverable: Delivered vessel with complete documentation package.
Frequently asked.

Questions we answer, on every tanker project.

  • 01 What does the Tanker desk cover?

    The Tanker desk handles spot voyages, short and long-term time charters, and tanker sale and purchase transactions across the major tanker sectors. This includes structured deals where a vessel is sold or acquired with attached charter employment. Coverage extends from Handysize through Suezmax across crude, clean petroleum product, and chemical trades, with selective involvement in the VLCC market.

  • 02 Does the desk represent owners or charterers?

    The desk acts for both owners and charterers, depending on the mandate. For owners, this includes spot employment, time-charter-out activity, asset transactions, and structured employment-linked sales. For charterers, the desk handles cargo and time-charter-in requirements where formally appointed. Opposing interests are never represented within the same transaction.

  • 03 How are sale and purchase transactions with charter attached structured?

    These transactions are managed jointly by the Tanker and Sale & Purchase desks. The Sale & Purchase team oversees inspections, memoranda of agreement, closing, and delivery matters, while the Tanker desk manages charter party negotiation, employment terms, performance obligations, and redelivery provisions. The asset and its employment are evaluated and negotiated as a single commercial structure.

  • 04 What tanker segments and trades does the desk focus on?

    The desk is active across Handysize, MR, LR1, LR2, Aframax, and Suezmax sectors, covering crude oil, clean petroleum products, and chemical cargo trades. Market involvement is concentrated on sectors with active chartering liquidity and consistent trading activity, while VLCC mandates are undertaken selectively.

  • 05 How does the desk approach chartering strategy for owners?

    Chartering strategy is developed around the vessel's specification, positioning, trading flexibility, earnings profile, and prevailing market conditions. The objective is not simply to secure employment, but to optimise utilisation, manage counterparty exposure, and position the vessel effectively within the freight cycle and broader asset strategy.

Let's draft the spec.

Discuss Your Tanker Project

Our specialist tanker division is ready to support your next project. Contact us to discuss requirements, timelines, and how we can help.

Contact Tanker Division Or call the Athens desk