Antwerp-based owner and operator CMB.TECH has been tied to a newbuilding deal in China for up to five tankers.

The Saverys family-led group has reportedly returned to Qingdao Beihai Shipyard for one VLCC and two firm plus two optional suezmaxes.

Brokers estimate the VLCC newbuild at around $135m， while the suezmaxes are costing $96m apiece.

New York- and Brussels-listed CMB.TECH owns and operates a diversified fleet of more than 150 ships， including tankers， bulkers， containerships， offshore wind vessels and tugs.

The company recently sold three of its ageing VLCCs as part of an ongoing fleet rejuvenation programme at a total capital gain of $96.7m.

If confirmed， this will be the company’s sixth VLCC at Qingdao Beihai and the shipyard’s first order in the suezmax segment， bringing CMB.TECH’s VLCC fleet to 16 ships， while the suezmax fleet would surpass the 20 mark.