NYK Stolt Tankers (NST), a collaborative venture between NYK Line and Stolt Tankers, has finalized an agreement with China’s Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard to construct six stainless steel chemical tankers, each with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 38,000. These vessels, boasting a gross tonnage (GT) of 19,600, are slated for delivery from late 2026 through 2029.
These new vessels are designed as sisterships to the six newbuilds previously ordered by Stolt Tankers at Wuhu Shipyard in November 2023. Equipped with 30 cargo tanks, the ships are optimized for a wide range of cargo flexibility and are engineered to enhance fuel efficiency through various energy-saving devices and the integration of shore power connections. Additionally, they are adaptable for future retrofitting to accommodate battery and methanol propulsion systems, aligning with Stolt Tankers’ dedication to advancing the energy transition.
Udo Lange, Chief Executive Officer of Stolt-Nielsen Limited, expressed his satisfaction with the new order, highlighting the replacement of retiring vessels in their fleet starting from 2026. “This order underscores our strategy to sustain the scale of our core fleet of 38,000 DWT vessels by incorporating newbuilds, which are not readily available in the second-hand market, in a capital-efficient manner through our NST joint venture,” he stated. Lange extended his gratitude to the teams at Stolt Tankers, NYK Line, and Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard for their efforts in sealing this significant deal.
Hironobu Watanabe, Managing Executive Officer at NYK Line and Chief Executive of the company’s Energy Division, remarked on the longstanding partnership exceeding 30 years with Stolt Tankers. He emphasized the benefit of replacing older vessels with more fuel-efficient ones, thereby offering stable transportation services to customers while fostering the energy transition. Watanabe expressed confidence in the collaborative effort of the teams from Stolt Tankers, NYK Line, and Nantong Xiangyu Shipyard to successfully execute this project.
