Market sources tell TradeWinds that VernicosZouros is paying approximately $4.8m a piece, a price tag industry observershave described as “competitive” in today’s market.
It’s unclear where the duo will be builtbut it is widely believed that the counterparty is a shipyard based in Guangzhou,the capital city of Guangdongprovince.
Market sources say the 5,500-bhp vesselswill be equipped with state-of-the-art fire fighting systems and are due for deliveryin the fourth quarter of 2014.
When the units hit the water observerssay they will likely be used to safeguard and assist tankers that call on Greekoil refineries but will be also capable of handling 18,000-teu containerships thatare becoming increasingly active in the region.
The signing of the letter of intentsuggests that Vernicos Zouros probably lined up financing backed by theExport-Import bank of China or another state-controlled institution tasked withaiding Beijing’s ailing shipbuilding industry by funding orders on favourableterms.
As TradeWinds has reported, the Athens-based towage and salvage consortiumstarted to accelerate its fleet expansion campaign when local lawmakers passed regulations thatrequire the use of twin-screw and tractor tugs at many Hellenic refineries.
Vernicos Zouros overseesa fleet of nearly two dozen tugs that dominate the towage market in NorthernGreece. The company is backed by Greek compatriots Vernicos Argonaftis andZouros Maritime, which forged a joint venture in June of last year.
