DHT Holdings (NYSE:DHT) announced on January 2, 2026, that it has officially taken delivery of the DHT Antelope, a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) newbuilding from South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean.
The vessel is the first of a strategic four-vessel quartet slated for delivery in the first half of 2026, marking a significant milestone in the company’s fleet renewal and expansion program.
The DHT Antelope is entering the spot market immediately, positioned to capitalize on the recent volatility and strength in freight rates.
Management confirmed that the newbuilding program—which includes three additional sister ships—is fully funded through a combination of existing cash flow and a $308.4 million senior secured credit facility co-arranged by ING Bank and Nordea Bank.
The delivery comes just days after DHT agreed to sell two of its older 2007-built vessels, the DHT China and DHT Europe, for a combined $101.6 million.
This "sell-old, buy-new" strategy is central to DHT’s 2026 roadmap, as the company replaces aging tonnage with "Super Eco-design" vessels that boast significantly improved fuel economics and lower carbon emissions.
The aggressive delivery schedule for the first half of the year is timed to meet a constructive market outlook.
With the global VLCC orderbook at historic lows (under 3% of the existing fleet) and nearly 50% of the world's VLCCs projected to be older than 15 years by year-end, DHT is positioning itself to capture a larger share of compliant, high-spec trades.
The next vessel in the series is currently undergoing final outfitting and is expected to join the fleet in early March 2026.