Diversified UK shipowner Union Maritime has closed a $130m delivery financing package for two next‑generation LR2 tankers.

The deal was led by Société Générale and the Export–Import Bank of China and arranged through a syndicated facility.

The vessels are scheduled for delivery from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in late 2025 and early 2026.

Each tanker newbuild will feature BAR Technologies’ WindWings wind‑assisted sails and LNG dual‑fuel propulsion, positioning them, according to the company, among the most innovative and sustainable LR2 tankers built to date.

“With the integration of WindWings technology and dual-fuel capability on these vessels, Union Maritime is proud to be setting a new standard for innovation and sustainability in the maritime industry,” the company said in a social media post on LinkedIn.

The financing reinforces Union Maritime’s long‑term strategy of deploying vessels with reduced emissions and operational efficiency fuel savings. The company has already committed to a fleet of 34 wind‑assisted newbuilds, including 14 LR2s, 12 chemical tankers, and eight MR tankers, all equipped with WindWings systems to boost fuel savings and lower CO₂ output.

Union Maritime’s partnership with BAR Technologies has already delivered the world’s first LR2 newbuild fitted with WindWings, Brands Hatch (pictured), which is projected to deliver annual fuel savings of about 1,200 tonnes and reduce CO₂ emissions by over 3,800 tonnes per year — approximately a 30 % improvement compared to modern 2022 vessels.