German shipping group GEFO Gesellschaft für Oeltransporte MBH (GEFO) has signed a contract for up to four 7,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers with China’s AVIC Dingheng Shipbuilding.
The contract covers two firm orders and two optional ships to be designed by marine engineering firm FKAB.
The ICE 1A tankers will be equipped with 14 cargo tanks and will be designed specially for the harsh weather conditions in North Western European waters.
The ships’ propulsion system will consist of a four stroke main engine with controllable pitch propeller (CPP). The ships will be LNG and dual fuel ready for gas and methanol, FKAB said. They are designed for very low fuel consumption at ECO speed of 12.5 knots at design draught.
In March this year, GEFO ordered six 3,600 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers from AVIC Dingheng. The newbuilds are scheduled for delivery in 2020 and 2021.
In November AVIC announced that it had delivered a total of 9 chemical tankers in 2018, exceeding the delivery target for this year.