China’s largest chemical tanker specialist Shanghai Junzheng Shipping has returned to China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou for a series of stainless-steel newbuildings costing $442m.
Shanghai-listed Junzheng Group — the parent company of Shanghai Jungzheng — disclosed the shipping outfit had ordered up to 10 ships in a regulatory filing.
It said the “next-generation” stainless-steel vessels would allow Shanghai Junzheng to stay competitive in the industry and they formed part of the company’s fleet-renewal programme.
Shanghai Junzheng has struck a deal with CMJL Yangzhou for five firm newbuildings plus options for five additional vessels.
It puts the total value of the 10 vessels at CNY 3.2bn ($442m), or $44.2m apiece. It will be taking delivery of the firm ships between 2026 and 2028.
The design for the series is said to follow that of the two newbuildings it has on order at the yard, which are said to be next-generation, environmentally friendly, energy-saving vessels.
The double-bottom ships, which will have 22 tanks, were designed by Shanghai Odely Marine Engineering Co.
The tankers will be 157.99 metres long and 27 metres wide, with a depth of 14.2 metres, and will have a service speed of 14 knots.
They will meet the International Maritime Organization’s Tier III NOx standards and the Energy Efficiency Design Index Phase 3 specifications.
Shanghai Junzheng ordered the duo in 2022 and will take delivery of one vessel this year and the other in 2025.
Shanghai Junzheng’s new stainless-steel chemical tankers will be classed by the American Bureau of Shipping.
Shanghai Junzheng is also building two 9,200-dwt chemical tankers at Wuchang Shipbuilding and one 11,300-dwt stainless-steel tanker at Chongqing Chuandong Shipbuilding. It will take delivery of them this year and in 2025.
Shanghai Junzheng Shipping was formed in 2019 when Inner Mongolia’s privately owned Junzheng Group took over state-owned Sinochem International Logistics, including its 84-ship chemical carrier fleet and a global tank container operation.
Today, Junzheng Shipping operates about 86 chemical tankers ranging from 3,000 dwt to 40,000 dwt. Its total fleet capacity is about 1.14m dwt. The fleet is trading in domestic and international markets.
