Capital Tankers, an oil tanker operator owned by Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis, has secured an option from its parent company, Capital Maritime & Trading, to acquire 13 newly built oil tankers at the prices set in the original shipbuilding contracts. The option fleet comprises 11 Very Large Crude Carriers under construction at Hengli Heavy Industries and 2 Suezmax tankers being built at HD Hyundai Samho, with deliveries expected between the fourth quarter of 2027 and the third quarter of 2028. A third-party vessel valuation report found that the total market value of the option fleet exceeds the acquisition cost by $253.7 million, meaning Capital Tankers would acquire the vessels well below current market rates. Most comparable newbuild tonnage on the market today is scheduled for delivery from the second half of 2029 onward, making the option fleet notably earlier to market. Under the agreement, Capital Tankers can exercise its purchase option for any vessel at the original contract price until 31 Dec 2026; after that date, the company retains a right of first refusal should any of the vessels be sold. According to its official website, Capital Tankers' total fleet stands at 33 vessels, including 15 already in service and 18 under construction, in addition to the newly disclosed 13-vessel option fleet. The active fleet includes 1 VLCC, 6 Suezmax tankers, 4 Aframax tankers and 4 LR2 tankers, with 9 fitted with scrubbers and 12 featuring LNG dual-fuel propulsion or LNG-ready designs. The 18 newbuilds already on order are scheduled for delivery between 2026 and 2028.