China's Shanghai Dingheng Shipping is plotting a fleet expansion involving 26 tankers.
It has signed contracts with domestic yard Ningbo Xinle Shipbuilding Group for 16 chemical carriers initially, with talks ongoing for 10 more.
The owner said the first six will join the fleet on a bareboat basis for 10 years, with Xinle building the other 10.
The six chartered vessels comprise three coated 7,500-dwt tankers, a 16,500-dwt coated unit and two stainless steel ships of 13,200 dwt.
