GE Shipping acquires new crude carrier

Great Eastern Shipping Company Ltd (GE Shipping) has acquired a newly built Suezmax Ice Class 1b crude carrier from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries.

"This 158,344 dead weight tonne (dwt) Suezmax tanker has the capability to ply through routes of severe temperature including lower baltic and Russian route," a senior GE Shipping official said today.

This new tanker with strong hull capacity is named as Jag Lalit and was contracted by the company in May 2003.

Asked about whether this vessel would be deployed on baltic route, he said though the tanker has got the capabilty to ply through those regions, it would be serving the spot market at the initial stage.

With induction of Jag Lalit, GE Shipping's fleet size has grown to 75 vessels comprising 44 ships aggregating 3.22mn dwt and 31 offshore assets.

The company's newbuilding orderbook now consists of 12 vessels including five tankers and seven offshore support vessels (OSVS).