Belgian bulker and tanker specialists EuroNav has ordered two new bitumen tankers from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard and Dingheng, both in Yangzhou. 

The vessels will be 17,000 deadweight tonnes, which is twice the size of EuroNav’s current fleet average of 8,000 DWT. 

The ships are set to be fitted with duel-fuel engines, designed to run on green methanol as well as marine gas oil. 

Both ships are expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026, and have already been chartered out to a partner company for 10 years upon delivery.   

The client and the cost were both kept confidential by the Antwerp-based shipping firm.

Euronav is committed to becoming the reference in sustainable shipping by focusing on diversification, optimisation & decarbonisation, according to CEO Alexander Saverys. 

"With the new orders for two state-of-the-art and green newbuilding bitumen tankers, we continue to execute our strategy of diversification and decarbonisation of our fleet. In recent months, we have secured a total of 55 years of time charter cover thanks to the great support of top-class companies.” 

“This proves that our customers are ready to partner up with Euronav and CMB.TECH to develop future-proof solutions for the shipping industry. We will continue to develop innovative low carbon solutions for our customers and will accelerate our investments in the maritime energy transition. Decarbonise today, navigate tomorrow,” he added. 

Euronav is currently listed on both Euronext Brussels and on the NYSE under the symbol EURN.

EuroNav plans to change the group's name to CMB.TECH, but EuroNav will remain the oil tanker shipping company’s name.