New York-listed Ardmore has picked up two 2008-built vessels constructed at Onomichi Dockyard, investors are told.

A price of $23m has been placed on each of the 47,500-dwt tankers, which will be delivered in July and October of this year.

Like other ships built prior to 2013 in the Ardmore fleet, the Ireland-based owner will retrofit them to improve their performance.