A subsidiary of Grupo Ibaizabal will have four LNG carriers of 18,500 m3 built in China

Ondimar Transportes Marítimos, a subsidiary of Grupo Ibaizabal, has contracted the construction of four LNG bunker supply vessels of 18,500 cubic meters each, in an estimated operation of 400 million dollars, which is financed by BBVA. They will be built in China and according to international press reports, several of them will have a long-term contract with the French company Total Energies.

The forecast is that the four vessels will be delivered within a year, starting from January 2027. They will be intended for bunkering service, although the possible location of each of them has not been specified. If tradition continues, the new vessels will bear names of mountains.

Grupo Ibaizabal aims to cover a key activity in light of the increasing demand for maritime transport and the evolution of international traffic. With this, the shipping group led by Alejandro Aznar Sanz expands its capacity, positioning itself more strongly in the LNG sector, which requires high technical specialization and a global dimension.

BBVA has formalized financing of 290 million euros, thereby strengthening its commitment to the business fabric and, especially, to companies in the Basque Country, where the bank has a solid historical presence and plays a relevant role as a financial partner.

In 2024, Ibaizabal was awarded the contract for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply vessel for Total Energies, with delivery expected by the end of 2026, involving an investment of 83 million euros with the Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua. In May 2025, it was reported that a second similar vessel was contracted for delivery expected in 2027.

Through Ibaizabal Tankers, it has also contracted two suezmax tankers with an option for two more, with the Chinese shipyard Hengli Heavy Industries, with delivery expected in 2028 and a cost of 85 million dollars each.

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