Athenian Sea Carriers has recently declared an option for two 46,000 dwt medium-range (MR) product tankers at HMD. The option was declared at the end of March. In November, las year ASC ordered four firm tankers plus two pairs of options. ASC will also go for the last option, which must be declared by July 20.

The first ship is scheduled for delivery in August 2004 and the rest will follow at intervals of two to three months. Suisse-Atlantique and CF Ahrenkiel have returned to HMD to order up to eight more boxships. These two owners have each ordered two firm and two optional 2,800 TEU boxships. Ahrenkiel will take delivery of the first ship in June 2005 and Suisse-Atlantique will get the next vessel in September. The two other firm ships will be delivered in early 2006 and the options are scheduled for delivery later in the same year. The order is a virtual repeat of a deal for eight 2,800 TEU boxships the two owners signed at HMD in 2000. However, that order, for which vessels are still being built, saw Suisse-Atlantique take three ships and Ahrenkiel five.

HMD has also signed the contract for up to two medium-range (MR) tankers with D?lesio on May 20, 2003. HMD now has a newbuilding order backlog in excess of 80 vessels, more than 70 of which are for MR type tankers.