Ditas doubles down on suezmaxes with Samsung brace

Turkish tanker owner Ditaş has been linked to a second suezmax newbuilding deal in a week, taking its South Korean orderbook to four ships worth more than $370m. Samsung Heavy Industries disclosed on Monday that it had signed a KRW268bn ($188m) contract with an unnamed European owner for two crude oil tankers. The ships are understood to be 158,000 dwt suezmaxes and are due for delivery by August 2029, with market sources naming the Tüpraş shipping arm as the buyer. The latest deal follows an order for two 157,000 dwt suezmaxes at compatriot DH Shipbuilding revealed a week earlier. That pair, priced at KRW271.3bn ($196m), is scheduled to deliver by the end of 2029. Ditaş has not publicly identified itself as the owner behind either yard contract. Parent company Tüpraş has, however, confirmed the wider four-ship programme. The Turkish refiner said on July 31 that four 157,000 dwt suezmaxes were being built in South Korea at a total investment of more than $370m, with all four set to join the fleet during 2029. Tüpraş did not name the yards. The additions will triple Ditaş’s suezmax fleet from two ships to six and lift its capacity in the segment from about 315,000 dwt to nearly 943,000 dwt. The Istanbul-based company currently owns the scrubber-fitted, 2017-built sisters T Sadberk and T Semahat, each of 157,453 dwt. Ditaş has also been expanding elsewhere, recently adding the 114,800 dwt aframax T Riva and the 2020-built tanker T Kilyos. Two 12,000 dwt chemical tankers are under construction at Koç-owned RMK Marine. Follow Us Adis Ajdin Adis is an experienced news reporter with a background in finance, media and education. He has written across the spectrum of offshore energy and ocean industries for many years and is a member of International Federation of Journalists. Previously he had written for Navingo media group titles including Offshore Energy, Subsea World News and Marine Energy. Newsletter DAILY SPLASH NEWSLETTER Subscribe now for FREE daily news updates. Subscribe Read Next August 3, 2026 Costamare Bulkers offloads its oldest ship August 3, 2026 BP exit puts fresh pressure on UK over Jackdaw and Rosebank August 3, 2026 Navigator Amon seals financing for ammonia carrier newbuilds August 3, 2026 North Star secures $370m to fuel offshore wind fleet growth August 3, 2026 Tanker asset values stay red hot