Composition of the fleet

As of 31 December 2019, the Group’s fleet included 147 vessels with a total deadweight of 12,874 thousand tonnes.

Composition of the Sovcomflot Group fleet Including the fleet of joint ventures: 9 LR I product tankers and 4 LNG carriers.
Vessels by type Number of vessels Total deadweight, ‘000 tonnes
31.12.2019 31.12.2018 31.12.2017 31.12.2019 31.12.2018 31.12.2017
Oil tankers 56 53 59 7,424 7,006 7,653
Product tankers 45 Taking into account the transfer of Zaliv Baikal and Zaliv Vostok from the product tanker category to the shuttle tanker category. 48 49 2,814 3,071 3,120
Shuttle tankers 19 16 16 1,552 1,301 1,301
LNG and LPG carriers 13 13 13 887 870 870
Bulk carriers 2 2 2 149 150 150
Multifunctional icebreaking vessels 10 10 9 42 38 35
Seismic exploration vessels, chartered vessels 2 2 2 6 7 7
Total 147 144 150 12,874 Data for 2019 as of 31 December 2019 were updated in comparison with similar data as of 31 December 2018. 12,443 13,136

For more information about the fleet, broken down by operating segments, see section Company profile. Detailed information about the vessels and their technical characteristics is available on SCF Group’s website in the List of vessels section.

In 2019 the Company continued to add new vessels to its fleet in accordance with the adopted strategy and long-term development programme aimed at promoting growth and renewal of the fleet as well as its technological enhancement and improvements in energy efficiency. During the year the SCF Group fleet was augmented by 4 vessels delivered by shipyards under previously concluded shipbuilding contracts (for more details see section of this Annual Report, Implementation of the shipbuilding programme).

The Long-Term Development Programme of PAO Sovcomflot provides for timely disposal of older vessels, as dictated by market conditions and prescribed by conventions, registries, and other national and international requirements (those of the International Maritime Organisation, classification societies, and charterers). In 2019 Sovcomflot Group sold one MR product tanker aged above 15 years in the second-hand vessel market.

Thus, in 2019 the number of SCF Group vessels increased by 2.1 %. The total deadweight of the fleet increased by 431,000 tonnes or by 3.5 %.

The average age of the Group’s fleet at the end of 2019 was 10.8 years, which is 18 % less than the average for leading tanker companies (according to Clarksons).

Age characteristic of the Group’s fleet as of 31 December 2019
Vessels by type Average age in years
Crude oil tankers 13.7
Product tankers 11.7
Shuttle tankers 10.1
LNG and LPG carriers 8.4
Bulk carriers 7.0
Multifunctional icebreaking vessels 7.9
Research vessels and chartered vessels 8.1
SCF Group fleet 10.8