Recently, Anrun Group’s Anhui Zhongrun Heavy Industry (ZRHI) signed a contract with a Greek shipowner for the construction of 2+1+1+1 41,000 DWT IMO Class II chemical tankers. This marks yet another instance of ZRHI gaining recognition from overseas shipowners in the high-end liquid cargo vessel market and further advances cooperation between China and Greece in the shipbuilding and shipping industries.
Of these, two are firm orders, while the remaining three are options that the shipowner may choose to activate at a later date. Should all five vessels proceed, the project would set a new record for oil/chemical tanker construction at ZRHI. While the specific cost has not been disclosed, the current market price for this type of vessel is approximately US$48 million.
This series of vessels was developed and designed by the Shanghai Ship Research and Design Institute (SDARI). The 41,000 DWT vessel covered by this contract is a mainstream MR oil and chemical dual-purpose vessel in the market. It complies with the International Bulk Chemicals Code (IBC) and features cargo holds treated with a special epoxy coating, enabling the safe carriage of Class II and III hazardous chemicals and refined oil products. The vessels meet IMO Tier III emissions standards and EEDI energy efficiency requirements, balancing fuel economy, cargo flexibility, and environmental performance.
Since 2026, ZRHI has secured orders for multiple vessels. On May 28, the company successfully secured a contract with a South Korean shipowner for the construction of a 14,500 DWT duplex stainless steel chemical tanker; on July 6, it secured an order from a Greek shipowner for a 33,500 DWT chemical tanker, scheduled for delivery in January 2028; and on August 5, it entered into a partnership with South Korea’s DM Shipping and TAIKUN Shipping to sign a contract for the construction of two 33,000 DWT duplex stainless steel chemical tankers.
Located in Wuhu City, Anhui Province, ZRHI Group boasts an annual shipbuilding capacity of 800,000 deadweight tons, covers an area of 860 mu, and possesses 760 meters of Yangtze River shoreline. The company holds a Class I, Level II qualification for the construction of general steel vessels. In recent years, ZRHI has upgraded its infrastructure by adding two 600-ton and four 300-ton gantry cranes, as well as installing 300-ton gantry cranes in the block assembly areas, resulting in significant improvements to both production scale and construction efficiency.