Wuchang Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), has once again secured an order from a long-standing client, with contracts for five stainless-steel chemical tankers coming into effect.
According to shipbroking reports, SC Shipping—a subsidiary of Inner Mongolia Junzheng Energy & Chemical Group—has exercised options with Wuchang Shipbuilding to confirm the order for five 25,900 DWT stainless steel chemical tankers, at a price of approximately US$44.2 million per vessel.
With this move, the contracts for all ten 25,900 DWT stainless steel chemical tankers agreed upon between SC Shipping and Wuchang Shipbuilding have now become effective. Based on the aforementioned unit price, the total cost for the ten new vessels is approximately US$442 million.
In May 2024, Junzheng Group signed a contract with Wuchang Shipbuilding—through a wholly-owned subsidiary—for the construction of 25,900 DWT stainless steel chemical tankers under a “5+5” arrangement; the vessels that have now become effective are the five optional ships included in that order. Delivery of this batch of ten new vessels is scheduled for the period between 2026 and 2028.
According to the shipbuilding schedule released by Wuchang Shipbuilding, the first vessel of SC Shipping’s series of 25,900 DWT stainless steel chemical tankers was delivered on January 28, 2026, and the second vessel on June 30. The third vessel completed sea trials on August 18, the fourth was launched on August 20, and the fifth reached the milestone of main engine installation on August 27.
This type of chemical tanker has an overall length of 158.98 meters, a beam of 27 meters, a depth of 14.2 meters, and a design draft of 9.5 meters. It features a cruising range of 18,000 nautical miles, a speed of 14 knots, and is rated for unrestricted navigation. Equipped with 2205 duplex stainless steel cargo tanks—subdivided into 22 independent compartments—the vessel offers excellent cargo compatibility and loading flexibility, meeting diverse chemical transport requirements. Designed to be “methanol-ready” and awarded the “Smart Ship (INF)” notation by ABS, the vessel combines adaptability for future fuels with intelligent operational capabilities.
As a key shipbuilding enterprise under the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), Wuchang Shipbuilding has established a core product portfolio comprising four main categories: small-to-medium-sized chemical tankers, feeder container ships, offshore engineering vessels, and multi-purpose vessels. Since the beginning of this year, Wuchang Shipbuilding has publicly announced orders (including options) for approximately 30 new vessels, primarily consisting of container ships, chemical tankers, and multi-purpose vessels.