Oil Tanker Builders

How Shipyards Develop and Build Modern Oil Tankers

Planning a modern oil tanker always begins with a defined set of priorities. Owners, charterers and shipyards work together to define a design that can trade safely, meet charter requirements and stay competitive on operating costs for many years. In practice, the best oil tanker design usually means a careful balance of:

• Safety and compliance - double-hull structure and systems that meet IMO, MARPOL and class rules.
• Efficient cargo handling - layouts that allow fast loading and discharge, reliable stripping and reduced risk of contamination between different oil grades.
• Fuel efficiency and emissions - hull forms, propellers and machinery selected to cut fuel consumption and support tightening emissions rules.
• Operational flexibility - suitable draught, maneuverability and equipment for the ports, terminals and routes the ship will serve.
• Lifecycle cost and maintainability - access for inspection and repair, robust equipment choices and space for future upgrades or retrofits.

Design work starts with the hull and overall structure. Naval architects shape the bow, stern and midship so the ship moves easily through the water but still stays strong and stable in all loading conditions. Calculations and software are used to decide plate thicknesses, framing and how the tanks are arranged. At the same time, cargo and ballast tanks are laid out so the tanker can carry the planned mix of crude and products while keeping trim and stability within safe limits.

Cargo systems are then layered onto this structure. Shipyards and system suppliers plan the network of cargo pumps, lines, valves, manifolds, tank-washing equipment, crude oil washing systems and inert gas systems so that the vessel can:

• Load and discharge quickly at a range of oil terminals.
• Handle different crude and product grades.
• Maintain safe tank atmospheres during all operations.
• Monitor pressures, temperatures and levels from the cargo control room.

Construction itself is highly modular. Instead of building the ship piece by piece in the dock, shipyards use block construction and parallel outfitting:

• Hull blocks are fabricated and pre-outfitted with piping, cabling and equipment under cover.
• Blocks are joined in the dry dock to form the full hull, which is then structurally completed and painted.
• Outfitting continues alongside testing of machinery, cargo systems and automation on the finished hull.
• Sea trials verify propulsion, navigation, cargo handling and all safety systems before delivery.

This approach allows oil tanker shipbuilding companies to control quality more tightly, shorten construction schedules and deliver series of vessels with consistent performance for owners and charterers.

Finding the Right Oil Tanker Builder on Records Marine

Choosing where to build an oil tanker is as strategic as choosing the ship’s design. On Records Marine, shipowners and technical managers can view shipyards that specialize in crude and product tanker construction. Instead of searching yard by yard, you can review tanker-focused builders in one place, checking their typical deadweight range, dock dimensions and experience with the type of oil tanker you plan to order.

Each listed yard has its own strengths. Some focus on series construction of standardized Aframax, Suezmax or MR/LR designs, offering faster delivery and proven performance. Others concentrate on more customized projects, such as shuttle tankers or specialized ice-class crude carriers, or combine newbuilding with major repairs and conversions.

The platform is designed to support practical decisions. Shipowners, fleet managers and newbuilding teams can use Records Marine to identify oil tanker builders in their preferred region, shortlist candidates with suitable capacity and references, and then open direct communication channels with the yards themselves. Whether you are exploring options for a new Aframax, planning a series of MR product tankers or considering future fleet renewal, Records Marine helps you connect with established oil tanker shipyards and compare them more easily, so you can move from early planning to a concrete shipbuilding strategy with greater confidence.