French tanker owner and operator Socatra has returned to China’s Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) with a fresh order for two MR newbuilds.

The Bordeaux-based outfit has signed up for 180-m-long 40，000 dwt product carriers independently developed and designed by GSI to meet IMO Tier III and EEDI Phase 3 requirements.

Founded in 1977 by the Bozzoni family， Socatra describes itself as France’s last tanker owner. The company， which lists 12 ships on its website， is also involved in general cargo shipping， onshore oil product storage facilities， and tourism.

The order at GSI is the company’s second in about a year. Last August， Socatra， in a joint venture with products tanker giant Hafnia， called Ecomar， commissioned four TotalEnergies charter-backed 49，800 dwt methanol-powered newbuilds for delivery in 2025 and 2026. No price or delivery dates have been revealed for the latest order.

Shipbuilding sources show Socatra also independently ordered four MR2 newbuilds at Hyundai Mipo in South Korea in 2021 and a pair of 18，000 dwt chemical tankers at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard last year.