Croatia’s 3. Maj shipyard is to win an all-important newbuilding order in the conventional ship sector.
Yard boss Edi Kucan confirmed Sweden's Wisby Tankers had signed a letter of intent (LOI) for up to six 49,000-dwt MR product carriers.
Shipbrokers estimate the newbuilding price would be around $36m, higher than $32-33m at Korean shipyards.
Some industry sources suggest the deal includes a subsidy while others say the project might be linked to a prospective offset arrangement between the Croatian and Swedish governments.
Meanwhile, Wisby has let an option for two more 30,000-dwt PCs lapse at Korea’s Hyundai Mipo Dockyard.