Stolt Tankers expands fleet with CMB charter deal for ammonia-ready ships

Stolt Tankers is bolstering its fleet with a series of ammonia-ready 26,000 dwt chemical tankers chartered in from Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB)’s unit Bochem.

The Dutch-based division of Oslo-listed Stolt-Nielsen has taken delivery of the 2023-built
Bochem Houston, with the remaining five newbuilds set to join this year and in 2024.

The Saverys family’s CMB ordered the ships at China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in 2021. The long-term charter and pooling deal, which will bring the Stolt Tanker Joint Service fleet to nearly 90 ships, was struck in June this year.

No further details of the transaction have been disclosed, but Lucas Vos, president of Stolt Tankers, said that it was “an excellent opportunity to further solidify” the company’s ties with CMB and Bochem.

In addition to securing attractively priced tonnage, Vos said these “modern, fuel-efficient ships” will help lower the age profile and carbon intensity of Stolt Tankers’ fleet while offering more flexibility for trade on any of the company’s deepsea routes. 

The ammonia-ready option supports Stolt Tankers’ commitment to reducing its emissions by 50% by 2030 compared to 2008 levels, and Vos added that clients should benefit from this as the company expects the CMB deal to drive further improvements in service and reliability as it modernises its fleet.