National carrier accelerates fleet renewal after six-year delay.

Shipping Corporation Invites Bids for Two Second-Hand Suezmax Oil Tankers. 

The Shipping Corporation of India Ltd (SCI) has invited bids to acquire two second-hand Suezmax oil tankers as part of its ongoing fleet renewal drive, following a stalled privatisation process that delayed modernisation for over six years. The state-run carrier is seeking tankers aged 7–10 years, with a capacity of 1,40,000–1,60,000 dead weight tons (dwt), built at reputed yards with equipment from original manufacturers or licensed suppliers in Korea, Japan, or Europe. SCI currently operates four Suezmax tankers, two of which are 21 years old and face limited demand from oil loading terminals and charterers, prompting the urgent need for replacements. India’s refiners typically deploy Suezmax vessels for crude shipments to Mumbai and Chennai ports, which lack facilities for larger VLCCs. The move follows SCI’s recent $127 million purchase of two second-hand Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs), marking its first fleet addition in eight years.