Sweden’s Veritas Tankers has been identified as the buyer behind an order for up to six 13,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tankers at China’s Nantong Rainbow Offshore & Engineering Equipment, Splash247 reported. The package, which includes options, could be worth as much as $248m, although the owner has not publicly confirmed its involvement.
Jiangsu Rainbow Heavy Industries, the yard’s Shenzhen-listed parent, disclosed the agreement with an unnamed European shipowner in a stock exchange filing. It valued the full six-ship package at CNY1.5bn-CNY1.65bn, equivalent to $225m-$248m. Those figures cover both firm vessels and options, rather than a disclosed commitment to build all six ships.
According to Splash247, shipbroking sources named Rederi AB Veritas Tankers as the customer. Rainbow has kept the buyer’s identity confidential for commercial reasons. The group has also left the division between firm orders and optional vessels unspecified, so the number of ships committed under the agreement remains undisclosed.
Deliveries are due to start 28 months after the contract is signed, the Chinese group said. The vessels are intended to carry parcel chemical cargoes, with designs adapted for restricted waterways and northern European operating conditions. The reported order concerns 13,000 dwt chemical carriers, rather than MR or LR product tankers.
The agreement follows another European chemical tanker order at the Nantong yard. Germany’s John T. Essberger previously booked two firm 13,000 dwt stainless steel vessels, alongside options for four more, with deliveries beginning in 2027. Splash247 covered that programme in September 2024, linking it to Essberger’s fleet renewal and investment in the E&S Tankers Pool, which it operates with Stolt Tankers.
Veritas currently operates five chemical tankers, according to the report. Ove Johnsson has held full ownership and control of the Swedish company since 2022. The reported newbuilding package would therefore sit alongside an existing specialist chemical tanker operation.