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Bahri has signed a SAR1.692 billion, roughly $451 million, contract with International Maritime Industries for three 320,000-dwt VLCCs to be built at Ras Al-Khair on Saudi Arabia's Gulf coast, with phased deliveries in 2029 and 2030. The vessels will be fitted with advanced energy-efficiency technologies, although Bahri has not disclosed their propulsion configuration or detailed specifications. The order is much more significant than three additional tankers: only a year after Saudi Arabia launched its first large-scale oceangoing shipbuilding program with six Ultramax bulkers, the country's domestic yard is stepping up to one of the largest and most demanding conventional commercial ships built anywhere.
The Industrial Jump Is 62,823 dwt → 320,000 dwt
Saudi Arabia is moving from ordering medium-sized bulkers at home to committing its national carrier's largest tanker class to the domestic yard.
What Ras Al-Khair Already Has, and What the VLCC Order Must Prove
The physical yard is enormous. The harder test is converting infrastructure into repeatable large-ship production with competitive quality, schedules and local supply content.
| Industrial Layer | Ras Al-Khair Position | VLCC Relevance | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Newbuild Zone | Approx. 1.6M m² Zone C | Dedicated large-vessel construction area | IN PLACE |
| Heavy Dry Docks | Docks #2 and #3 | Physical construction envelope for very large merchant ships | IN PLACE |
| Goliath Cranes | 1 × 1,650 t + 3 × 500 t | Allows large pre-outfitted hull blocks and tandem lifts | IN PLACE |
| Engineering Know-How | HD Hyundai partnership | Design, production methods, training and knowledge transfer | PARTNER-ENABLED |
| Marine Engines | Separate Makeen engine complex at Ras Al-Khair | Potential future localization of propulsion equipment | LOCAL ECOSYSTEM |
| Steel / Outfitting Supply | Saudi supplier base being developed | Determines how much vessel value actually remains domestic | BUILDING |
| VLCC Propulsion Specification | Not disclosed | Fuel type, engine maker and future-fuel readiness remain unknown | NOT DISCLOSED |
| Actual VLCC Delivery Record | None yet from IMI | Schedule, quality and productivity still need proving at full scale | UNPROVEN |
How “Saudi-Built” Will the VLCC Really Be?
Click through the ship to separate confirmed domestic capability from partner-supplied know-how and equipment that has not yet been disclosed.
Hull construction is the clearest Saudi component
The ships are contracted for construction at IMI's Ras Al-Khair yard, where the large commercial docks, cranes and fabrication infrastructure are located.
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