ADNOC Logistics Acquires 6 Very Large Crude Carriers

ADNOC Logistics & Services announced the acquisition of six Very Large Crude Carriers. Two VLCCs have already been deployed into the company’s fleet. ADNOC L&S has placed an order for three newbuild vessels with options, which will be delivered in 2022 and 2023, and purchased one additional existing vessel that will be joining its fleet shortly. The six vessels, each with a minimum length of 330 meters, will have 300,000 metric tonnes deadweight and the ability to carry nearly two million barrels of crude oil, adding a total of 12 million barrels capacity to the ADNOC L&S fleet. Two VLCCs were delivered in December and are already operational on key ADNOC Trading routes and one additional existing vessel purchased this week will join the fleet shortly. These vessels are the first crude carriers to join the ADNOC L&S fleet, adding a total cargo capacity of 12 million barrels.

ADNOC L&S, which is currently the largest integrated maritime logistics and shipping company in the GCC, and owner and operator of the largest shipping fleet in the UAE, is pursuing a major fleet expansion program. This will enable the company to provide better service to its global customers, while also supporting ADNOC as it expands its production and refining capacity and grows its new trading operations. ADNOC has established two new trading companies: ADNOC Trading, which is focused on crude oil and started derivatives trading in September 2020; and ADNOC Global Trading, a joint venture with ENI and OMV that focus on trading of refined products and began operations in December 2020.

The establishment of a new VLCC fleet comes as ADNOC progresses its plans to grow its oil production capacity. The company currently has a capacity of over 4 mbopd, which it intends to grow to 5 mbopd by 2030.

These orders add to ADNOC L&S’s fleet of 120 owned vessels, which includes deep-sea shipping, offshore support and marine services vessels. The ADNOC L&S international trading fleet transports crude oil, refined products, dry bulk, containerized cargo, LPG and LNG on its owned and chartered vessels, supporting ADNOC’s operations locally and facilitating the shipment of commodities to global markets.