New York-listed Monegasque shipowner Scorpio Tankers is said to have signed a newbuilding contract to build four very large crude oil carriers, for the first time in its history.

With VLCC market showing a trace of recovery, once sunk into a long-term recession, the shipowner booked an order for four VLCCs at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering of Korea, reported TradeWinds.

Delivery is expected to be as early as late 2015 or beginning of 2016, which seems quite a short term. Newbuilding price is estimated to be above $90m apiece.

Scorpio looks highly possibly to examine additional ordering for newbuilding VLCCs at other Korean shipyards - Samsung Heavy Industries and Hyundai Heavy Industries.