Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers has cleared up details of its recent newbuilding orders while pouring cold water on claims it has placed a $500m order at Hyundai Heavy Industries.
The Trygve Seglem-headed company has admitted to penning a pair of shuttle tankers at the South Korean yard but has stamped out suggestions a further eight vessels are in the pipeline.
In early April Knutsen NYK had turned to HHI for a 157,000-dwt newbuilding with options for two more.
Early this week reports surfaced that the Norwegian outfit had laid down $500m for five firm vessels with options for an additional three.
John Einar Dalsvag, vice president of chartering at Knutsen NYK, has now set the record straight.
He explains the owner has placed a contract for two firm shuttle tankers at HHI, both against long-term charters.
The first vessel, of around 160,000-dwt, will be rolled out in early 2013, he says. It will then start a contract with Repsol.
A 120,000-dwt tanker will follow in the third quarter of 2013. It also has employment in place, but Dalsvag will not be drawn on who has hired the ship.