Shipbuilding Orders Surge: Abu Dhabi Lands Record $354m Haul as Greek Owner Enters VLCC Market

## Shipbuilding Orders Surge on Two Fronts as Owners Back New Capacity The global shipbuilding sector is seeing renewed momentum this week, with major contract announcements spanning the Middle East and China as owners and yards capitalise on sustained vessel demand. ### Safeen Drydocks Marks Historic Milestone Abu Dhabi-based Safeen Drydocks has secured vessel construction contracts totalling AED 1.3 billion ($354 million), the largest awards in the company's history, according to Splash247. The landmark haul represents a significant step forward for the UAE's broader ambitions to establish itself as a competitive regional shipbuilding centre. Safeen Drydocks operates as a joint venture between AD Ports Group and its partners, and the scale of these latest contracts signals growing confidence in the yard's capabilities and capacity. The announcement aligns with Abu Dhabi's strategic push to diversify its maritime industrial base beyond port operations and logistics, positioning the emirate as a full-service hub for vessel construction and repair across the Middle East and Indian Ocean region. The contracts mark a pivotal moment for domestic shipbuilding in the Gulf, a sector historically dominated by yards in South Korea, Japan, and China. Should Safeen Drydocks deliver successfully on this order book, it could attract further regional and international business to UAE waters. ### Aegean Shipping Makes VLCC Debut In a separate development reported by Splash247, Piraeus-based Aegean Shipping Management has made its entry into the VLCC segment, ordering two very large crude carriers alongside two LR2/Aframax tankers from China's Hengli Heavy Industries — a four-ship newbuilding package in total. While no pricing details were disclosed, the move signals a strategic broadening of Aegean Shipping's tanker portfolio. VLCCs, capable of carrying up to two million barrels of crude oil, represent the upper tier of the tanker market and require significantly greater capital commitment than mid-size vessels. The decision to place the order with Hengli Heavy Industries reflects the continued competitiveness of Chinese yards for large tanker construction. The dual-class order — combining LR2/Aframax and VLCC tonnage — suggests Aegean Shipping is positioning itself to serve a wider range of crude and product trade routes as tanker markets remain broadly supported by ongoing geopolitical shifts in global oil flows. ### Broader Market Context Together, these announcements underscore the continued appetite for newbuilding investment across the tanker and commercial vessel sectors. With orderbook slots at leading Asian yards filling rapidly and vessel values remaining elevated, owners and developers alike are moving decisively to secure future capacity. For the UAE, Safeen Drydocks' record haul offers tangible evidence that Gulf shipbuilding is maturing into a credible force on the international stage.