Scorpio Orders Four Scrubber-Fitted Tankers, Enters VLCC Segment | Mariner News
Scorpio Tankers has placed orders for four new scrubber-fitted tankers, comprising two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and two LR2 product tankers. Concurrently, the company has agreed to sell three existing scrubber-fitted product tankers.
This move marks a significant strategic development for Scorpio, a company predominantly known for its product tanker fleet, as it expands into the crude VLCC segment. The new VLCCs are scheduled for delivery from Hengli Shipbuilding (Dalian) Co. in September and October 2028, at a cost of $135 million each.
In addition to the VLCCs, Scorpio has ordered two LR2 product tankers from Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry Co., priced at $72.8 million each, with deliveries expected in October and November 2029.
The decision to equip all newbuilds with scrubber systems, or exhaust gas cleaning systems, reinforces Scorpio’s commitment to operating on High Sulfur Fuel Oil (HSFO) while meeting the IMO’s global 0.5% sulfur cap. This strategy indicates a continued conviction in the long-term economic viability of HSFO consumption, relying on a sustained price differential against VLSFO.
Separately, Scorpio’s agreement to sell three existing scrubber-fitted product tankers for a combined $180.5 million provides capital and appears to be part of a broader fleet modernization and rebalancing effort. These sales are projected to conclude before the end of 2026.
Scorpio currently manages a fleet of 74 product tankers, consisting of 25 LR2s, 35 MRs, and 14 Handymax tankers, with an average age of 10.2 years. The company also holds existing agreements or letters of intent for five MR newbuildings, eight LR2s, and the four newly ordered VLCCs and LR2s, signaling a period of significant fleet expansion and renewal.
