The aframax tankers of 820ft long, 115,000 deadweight ton, are intended to be used to transport Alaskan North Slope crude oil from Prince William Sound to the US West Coast.

Project planning work is currently underway in conjunction with APSI’s technical partner, Samsung Heavy Industries.

APSI will begin construction on the first vessel in mid-2012 and both vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2014.

APSI said the vessels will be equipped with double hull protection, the latest navigation and communications equipment, and energy efficient engines.

It is expected that the parties will enter into definitive agreements based on the letter of intent during the third quarter of this year.