Hanwha Shipping has named the Elandra K2, a 320,000-dwt very large crude carrier (VLCC) and the first vessel in its new fleet. The naming ceremony was held at Hanwha Ocean’s Okpo Shipyard in South Korea, with the vessel built to American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) class.
The Elandra K2 is the first of three 320,000-dwt VLCCs being built for Hanwha Shipping. The second vessel, Elandra Kunlun, is scheduled for delivery in December 2026, while Elandra Kilimanjaro is expected to follow in February 2027.
The new tanker features ABS Fuel Ready Level 1C notations covering ammonia, LNG and methanol, providing flexibility for future alternative-fuel adoption as environmental regulations evolve.
The vessel also incorporates an enhanced cyber-resilience framework based on the IACS UR E26 standard. ABS said the ships were designed with multi-fuel readiness and cyber resilience integrated from the construction stage.
The arrival of the Elandra K2 marks a major milestone for Hanwha Shipping as it establishes its own fleet and expands into ship ownership. The company plans to build on the three-VLCC programme as part of its wider shipping business.