Germany’s John T. Essberger has bolstered its chemical tanker orderbook with two optional newbuilds at Nantong Rainbow Offshore & Engineering Equipment in China.

The deal takes the Hamburg-headquartered company’s newbuilding programme at the yard to four firm 13，000 dwt 1A ice class units with options available for two more vessels.

No price has been divulged for the series， which will feature engines capable of running on methanol and start delivering from April 2027.

The 132-m-long units are designed by Sweden’s FKAB and classed by DNV.

Once delivered， the ships will be deployed in the E&S Tankers Pool， Essberger’s joint venture with Stolt Tankers.