MISC orders chemical tankers

Malaysia?s biggest shipping group, MISC Bhd, has ordered four chemical tankers from South Korea’s STX Shipbuilding for delivery in 2009. Although MISC gave no value for the orders, STX said on April 3 that it had won orders worth $399.4 million from India and Malaysia to build eight chemical tankers, but did not name the buyers.

MISC, which is 62%-owned by state energy firm Petronas, said the tankers would have a deadweight of 38,000 tonnes and that the newbuildings are aimed at expanding the company?s capacity in chemical and palm oil shipments while also being replacements of single hull vessels in their fleet. Malaysia is the world’s biggest producer and exporter of palm oil and MISC currently has a fleet of 108 vessels, including 18 chemical tankers.