The Hamburg-based shipping group John T. Essberger is expanding its order book for newbuilds in the chemical tanker segment.
At the China Merchants Industry Yangzhou Dingheng shipyard, the option for two further vessels with a deadweight of 7,900 t has been exercised, as Essberger announced on social media.
The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2024, described this as “another important milestone in our fleet renewal programme”. Following the announcement in December 2025 of a contract for 2+2+2 vessels – with the first delivery scheduled for the second half of 2028 – the company can now confirm that the first option for two further vessels has been exercised.
The shipping company currently operates a fleet of 35 chemical tankers, which are deployed from Hamburg as part of the “E&S Tankers” joint service with the Norwegian shipping company Stolt-Nielsen. The newly ordered vessels are also to be deployed from there.
The order book comprises a total of eight chemical tankers: four vessels of 7,900 tdw and four vessels of 13,800 dwt. Delivery is scheduled for the period between mid-2027 and September 2029. “This represents a significant investment in the long-term future of our company,” the statement continued.
