China Merchants Energy Shipping (CMES) has exercised an option for a second shuttle tanker at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC)， firming up its debut programme in the specialized sector.

The Shanghai-listed owner placed the original order through its Hong Kong subsidiary Associated Maritime Co at the end of last year， signing for one firm 154，000 dwt vessel plus an option. The two-ship package was valued at about RMB1.79bn， or roughly $256m at the time， with deliveries scheduled for 2028.

Procurement documents for the option ship show DSIC was selected in May， with delivery required no later than September 30， 2028. The 154，000 dwt vessel is based on DSIC’s DS05619-OS design and will be built to specifications incorporating requirements for Repsol projects and Petrobras DPST operations.

CMES has already secured long-term time charter employment with core clients for the shuttle tanker programme. Splash reported in January that market sources expected the ships to go on charter to CNOOC.

The move takes CMES beyond the single-vessel entry announced at the start of the year and gives the China Merchants shipping arm a two-ship foothold in a segment focused on transporting crude from offshore production facilities and FPSOs.

The shuttle tanker pair forms part of a much larger tanker newbuilding push at DSIC. In March， CMES signed for ten 306，000 dwt VLCCs worth RMB8.566bn ($1.24bn). The conventionally fuelled， scrubber-fitted ships are due between 2028 and 2030.

Last month， CMES also approved five more scrubber-fitted aframaxes at DSIC， with deliveries starting in 2029. The ships are intended for a new aframax pooling arrangement being developed with major international oil companies.