Indonesian oil company Pertamina is planning to add a 300,000dwt very large crude carrier (VLCC) to its fleet.

Pertamina senior vice-president of shipping Suhartoko said the company will make a survey of several international shipyards and launch a tender to buy a VLCC.

In 2002 Pertamina awarded South Korean Hyundai Merchant Marine a contract to buy two VLCCs and later sold the ships to Frontline in 2004.

The company said as well as the VLCC, it plans to buy an unspecified number of smaller tankers, including an 85,000dwt vessel.

Pertamina is currently operating about 170 tankers, mostly hired from other companies.