NYK Stolt Tankers orders six battery- and methanol-ready chemical tankers in China

NYK Stolt Tankers (NST), a joint venture between shipping companies NYK Line and Stolt Tankers, has reached an agreement with Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard in China to build six 38,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers.

The 19,600 GT units are planned for delivery between late 2026 and 2029.

As informed, the vessels are sisterships to Stolt Tankers’ six newbuilds ordered at Wuhu Shipyard in November 2023.

The ships feature 30 cargo tanks, offering a range of cargo flexibility and are designed to maximize fuel efficiency using a wide range of energy savings devices and shore power connection. They can also be retrofitted for battery and methanol propulsion, supporting Stolt Tankers’ commitment to the energy transition.

“I’m pleased to announce this order for six 38,000 deadweight tonne chemical tankers with our long-standing joint venture partners NYK Line. These newbuildings will replace ships retiring from our fleet from 2026,” Udo Lange, Chief Executive Officer, Stolt-Nielsen Limited, said.

“This order reflects our strategy to maintain scale of our core 38,000 deadweight tonne fleet by adding newbuildings not otherwise available in the second-hand market in a capital efficient way through our NST joint venture. I would like to thank and congratulate the team at Stolt Tankers, our partners at NYK Line and the Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard for completing this important transaction.”

“I am pleased to have reached this newbuilding order with Stolt Tankers, our long-time partner for over 30 years. By replacing the vessels with ones that are more fuel-efficient, we can provide stable transportation services to our customers while promoting an energy transition. The cooperation of concerned parties for the completion of vessels is needed, and I am confident that the teams of Stolt Tankers, NYK, and Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard will be able to accomplish this task,” Hironobu Watanabe, NYK Line Managing Executive Officer and Chief Executive of the company’s Energy Division, added.