China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) has announced its entry into the shuttle tanker segment with an order for up to two new vessels from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC). The firm order covers one 154,000 dwt shuttle tanker, with an option for a second, and marks a significant move to support deepwater oilfield developments for CMES’s core clients. The project, valued at approximately $256 million, is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and is backed by long-term time charter contracts, reportedly with CNOOC. The company’s board approved the project in December 2025, reflecting a strategy to diversify and expand its tanker fleet amid rising demand in the offshore shipping sector.