Nordic American Tankers (NAT) is heading back to South Korea for fresh tonnage, with a letter of intent signed for two suezmax newbuilds worth about $86m apiece.
The Herbjørn Hansson-led company said deliveries are planned for the second half of 2028, with a final shipbuilding contract expected to be sealed in early 2026.
NAT last ordered newbuildings in 2020, when it booked two suezmaxes at Samsung Heavy Industries. Those vessels were delivered in 2022 under a sale-and-leaseback deal with Ocean Yield.
The company has also been expanding its secondhand fleet. Earlier this year, NAT acquired two 2018-built vessels out of Ocean Yield lease agreements and added two 2016-built units from Eastern Pacific Shipping for about $65.6m each.
The New York-listed owner and operator currently controls a fleet of 20 suezmaxes.
