Ardmore Shipping Corporation (Ardmore) announced it has exercised the options for two additional 40,500 dwt Handysize product/chemical tankers to be built at Wuhu Shipyard, thereby expanding the original order to four vessels in total on the same terms.
The deliveries of these four vessels are scheduled from late 2028 and onwards. In addition, the Company has also secured two additional options at similar terms.
In April 2026, Ardmore Shipping announced a contract with Wuhu Shipyard for the construction of two 40,500 DWT IMO Type II product/chemical tankers, with options for two additional vessels; the recent activation of these options brings the total order to four ships, with staggered deliveries expected to begin in late 2028. This contract, disclosed in late April, marks Wuhu Shipyard’s first order for chemical tankers in 2026.
Based on the unit price of $44.9 million for the initial two vessels, the confirmed order for four ships is valued at nearly $180 million; including the two additional optional vessels, the total value for all six ships reaches approximately $270 million (roughly RMB 1.8 billion).
Upon confirming the order, Wuhu Shipyard stated that the new vessels would feature eight pairs of cargo tanks plus one additional tank, allowing for the simultaneous transport of eight different types of cargo. The tanks will be coated with MarineLine to meet the requirements for carrying a wide range of chemical products.
Gernot Ruppelt, CEO of Ardmore Shipping, commented: “We are pleased to take a further step in growing the business with these highly versatile, modern assets, which are well matched to Ardmore’s long-term strategy, while deepening our relationship with a quality shipbuilder. We believe these orders represent compelling value, and the additional options provide discretionary flexibility for the second half of the year.”
According to its official website, Ardmore Shipping has been in operation since 2010 and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. The company specializes in the maritime transport of refined oil products, chemicals, and other liquid cargoes. It currently operates a fleet of 25 refined oil/chemical tankers with an average age of 9.8 years, making it one of the youngest fleets in the industry.