Huarong Leasing signs for chemical tanker trio at Wuhu

China Huarong Financial Leasing has inked a newbuilding contract with Wuhu Shipyard for the construction of three diesel-electric chemical tankers.

The 6,600 dwt vessels came with a price tag of RMB 133.25m each ($18.5m), with the first unit scheduled for delivery in November 2026 and the remaining two by May 2027.

Huarong Leasing is listed with 30 ships, of which five smaller chemical tankers between 6,800 dwt and 9,700 dwt. According to shipbuilding databases, the company last signed up for a newbuilding project in late 2015 in partnership with Stonepeak’s gas ship owner and operator, Seapeak, for a single VLEC at DSIC Offshore.

No details about the potential bareboat charterer of chemical tankers have been divulged.

As for Wuhu, the largest shipbuilding enterprise in Anhui province, earlier this year penned a collaboration agreement with Wanjiang Financial Leasing and Yingxing Financial Leasing to jointly work on new projects potentially worth more than RMB30bn ($4.1bn).

Both leasing houses had previously been involved in newbuilding projects at the yard and the new long-term cooperation will target multiple fields, including ship financial leasing, development of new energy-efficient vessels, ship asset transfer, and technical consulting services.