Wedoany.com Report-Oct. 25, UK-based shipowner Zodiac Maritime has placed a landmark order with Samsung Heavy Industries’ newly controlled Vietnam shipyard, becoming the yard’s first client. The company committed to three conventionally fueled suezmax tankers, each priced at $80 million, with deliveries scheduled for 2028. Options for additional vessels were also included in the deal.

Each tanker will have a deadweight capacity of approximately 157,000 dwt and will be built at Samsung Heavy’s PVSM shipyard in southern Vietnam. The yard is being developed in collaboration with PetroVietnam, marking a strategic step in Samsung Heavy’s international shipbuilding expansion.

Zodiac Maritime has a history of milestone orders with shipbuilders. The company previously placed first-of-type contracts with Yangzijiang for LR2 tankers and with Raffles and Xiamen for car carriers. These orders underscore Zodiac’s approach of engaging emerging shipyards and pioneering new builds in different segments of the shipping industry.

Samsung Heavy Industries’ Vietnam shipyard represents a new phase of South Korea’s global shipbuilding expansion. South Korea’s leading shipyards, including HD Hyundai, have maintained long-standing facilities in Vietnam, reflecting a broader trend of international growth as domestic order books extend toward the end of the decade.

Zodiac’s commitment to the PVSM yard signals confidence in the capabilities of the new facility and its strategic partnership with PetroVietnam. The suezmax vessels, designed for conventional fuel operation, will enhance Zodiac’s tanker fleet capacity while supporting the company’s ongoing fleet renewal and modernization objectives.

The deal also highlights the continued importance of Vietnam as a growing hub for large-scale shipbuilding. By leveraging partnerships between South Korean shipbuilders and local entities, global operators like Zodiac gain access to competitive construction costs, modern infrastructure, and expanded production capacity.

This order complements Zodiac Maritime’s broader strategy of maintaining a diversified fleet across different vessel types, sizes, and operational segments. It also reinforces Samsung Heavy Industries’ position in the international shipbuilding market, as it develops new capacity in Vietnam alongside its established domestic yards.

With deliveries set for 2028, the three suezmax tankers will provide Zodiac with additional operational flexibility and strengthen its service offerings in global oil transportation. The inclusion of options for further vessels allows the company to respond to market demand while optimizing fleet deployment and long-term planning.

Overall, the agreement marks a milestone for both Zodiac Maritime and Samsung Heavy’s PVSM shipyard, demonstrating the evolving dynamics of the global shipbuilding industry and the growing role of Vietnam as a strategic location for large commercial vessel construction.