Bermudian-based supertanker operator DHT Holdings has announced its plans to implement design upgrades for its two newbuildings delivering from the Hyundai shipyard this year.

The company said the upgrades are intended to ensure optimal trading eligibility and enhance the vessels’ commercial flexibility.

Delivery of the DHT Impala is now expected in late July, with the design upgrade fully integrated. This remains well ahead of the original contractual delivery deadline of December 2026.

The DHT Gazelle, which was delivered in March 2026, will complete its current and intended cargo commitments before returning to the shipyard for the planned upgrade in the third quarter of this year.

To ensure uninterrupted service under its long-term time charter, the company will substitute DHT Gazelle with DHT Addax, which was also delivered in March 2026.

The company added that its other new vessels, delivered from Hanwha in January and March 2026, DHT Antelope and DHT Addax, respectively, as well as DHT Oryx, scheduled for delivery in August 2028, are not affected and do not require any upgrades.

DHT’s fleet consists only of tankers in the Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) category, ships that have capacity to transport about two million barrels of oil per voyage.