Baku, Azerbaijan, March 24
By Emil Ilgar - Trend:
Iran has no plan to purchase an oil tanker from China, an Iranian oil official told Mehr News Agency on March 24.
"National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) doesn't plan to increase its fleet capacity, said the Director of Technical and Navigation Operation at NITC Akbar Jebel-Ameli.
He said that NITC is considering replacement for some of its tankers, but hasn't negotiated with Chinese companies.
Iran owns one of the world's largest fleet of oil supertankers consisting of 42 VLCCs (very large crude carriers), each able to carry 2 million barrels of oil.
Jebel-Ameli added that NITC is keen to have a big role in international marine gas transport sphere.
Meanwhile, previously Iranian officials have announced that they are negotiating with western companies to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers or fleeting LNG ships (FLNG).
FLNG ships take natural gas offshore and the gas is chilled to -162°C, shrinking in volume 600 times, and then is transported to markets.