The UK-based energy giant BP is said to be under negotiations with Korean shipbuilders for MR product carrier (PC) newbuildings.
BP has made a contact with four Korean shipbuilders, such as Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, Dae Sun Shipbuilding & Engineering and etc., and is proceeding with newbuilding projects for at least five units for both 37,000 dwt and 50,000 dwt PCs, according to TradeWinds.
Particularly, the energy major seems to intend to place orders for eco-friendly tankers with high specification and brokers say that a 37,000 dwt PC is estimated at up to around $39m while 50,000 dwt to cost around $42m apiece.  
As some shipbuilders with enough orderbook are aggressively proceeding with a newbuilding price increase, the newbuilding prices of BP PCs are forecasted to be significantly high considering BP's interest in high specification vessels and so on.  
Meanwhile, the energy giant has many of MR/LR tankers constructed by Hyundai Mipo, and last December it placed orders through its subsidiary BP Shipping for three 160,000 dwt Suezmax tankers plus two options and ten 110,000 dwt Aframax tankers plus six options at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding.
The 13 firm tankers are scheduled for delivery by the end of October, 2015.