On June 9, MOL Chemical Tankers, a chemical tanker operator under Japanese shipping giant Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), announced that it had received the fourth 26,000 DWT fourth LNG dual-fuel stainless steel chemical tanker “Fairchem Pinnacle”. The vessel was built by Fukuoka Shipbuilding in Japan.
The 158.4-meter-long vessels are powered by environmentally friendly LNG dual-fuel engines, which are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 25 percent compared to conventional marine fuels. The first vessel in the series, Fairchem Pathfinder, was delivered in May 2024; the second vessel, Fairchem Pioneer, was delivered in July 2024; and the third vessel, Fairchem Prestige, was delivered in November 2024.
Notably, the series of chemical tankers was first ordered by US chemical tanker operator Fairfield Chemical Carriers (FCC), but the company was acquired by MOL Chemical Tankers in early 2024 for $400 million.
Through this acquisition, MOL Chemical Tankers’ chemical tanker fleet is integrated with Fairfield Chemical Carriers’ chemical tanker fleet, bringing the fleet to 117 vessels, making it the world’s largest fleet of chemical tankers, all in stainless steel, transporting a wide range of liquid chemical cargoes, animal and vegetable oils and lubricating oils. All are stainless steel and carry a wide range of liquid chemical cargoes, animal and vegetable oils and lubricants.