Indian yard clinched by Norwegian player to build six fit-for-future chemical tankers

Indian shipbuilder Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has shaken hands with Norway-based shipping company Rederiet Stenersen for the construction of six future-proof 18,000 dwt chemical tankers.

As divulged by SDHI on November 10, the two parties signed a letter of intent (LoI) for the building of the IMO Type II hybrid tankers under a contract worth approximately $220 million. The contract reportedly includes an option for an additional sextet under the same vessel class.

The handover dates for the ships have not yet been disclosed by either party.

According to SDHI, the chemical tankers are going to be designed by Norwegian firm Marinform AS, classed by the Oslo-headquartered DNV, and constructed at the shipbuilder’s facility in Pipavav, Gujarat.

SDHI’s officials have added that each unit is to be built to Ice Class 1A standards and fitted with an “advanced” hybrid propulsion system that will enable the ships to achieve better maneuverability as well as minimal emissions.

As elaborated, each tanker is to be built to allow for future conversion to use methanol or liquefiednatural gas (LNG) as fuel. Owing to these alternative fuel sources, the sextet