On 26 June 2026, Hantong Shipbuilding delivered its first-ever 319,000 dwt VLCC to global commodity trader Trafigura — 40 days ahead of schedule.

The vessel, named VIVE UT VIVAS, is the lead ship of Hantong’s VLCC construction programme and also the first VLCC ever built by the yard. According to Hantong, it is the first unit in the company’s total VLCC orderbook of 46 vessels.

With an overall length of 332.9 metres, a beam of 60 metres and a depth of 30.6 metres, the vessel is the largest ship ever built by Hantong, marking a major step for the yard as it moves into the high-end large tanker segment.

The VLCC is equipped with a Tier III-compliant main engine, SCR system and open-loop scrubber, while featuring double-hull protection, dedicated slop tanks and storm ballast capability. The delivery reflects the growing importance of fuel efficiency, environmental compliance and operational safety in the next generation of crude oil carriers.

For Trafigura, the vessel adds modern large-scale crude tanker capacity at a time when the VLCC market is seeing renewed ordering activity, ageing fleet pressure and rising demand for compliant tonnage.

For Hantong, this is a true “from zero to one” moment in VLCC construction — and a clear signal that Chinese private shipyards are moving further into the global mainstream of large tanker newbuilding.