Five tankers being built for Stolt Tankers B.V. (Stolt) are "designed to deliver substantial improvements in fuel efficiency" thanks to a relatively shallow draft when fully loaded, the company said, Ship & Bunker reports.
Stolt, a subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen Limited, said it has reached a deal with Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co. Ltd. (Hudong-Zhonghua) and China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd, (CSTC), under China Shipbuilding Group Corporation (CSSC), to deliver the 38,000 deadweight tonne (dwt) stainless steel parcel tankers starting in December 2015.
"This new generation of parcel tankers gives us both improved energy efficiency and the cargo handling flexibility that our contract of affreightment customers require," said Niels G. Stolt-Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer of Stolt-Nielsen Limited.
"The order represents approximately half of our required replacement tonnage through 2016, given Stolt Tankers' present contract portfolio." The ships will replace five parcel tankers built in 1986 that are scheduled for recycling in 2016.
Bunker costs have been significant for Stolt, which reported that its fuel expenses increased $38.9 million in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year, which forced it to increase bunker-surcharge billings.
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