NYK Stolt Shipholdings orders 2 parcel tankers

   NYK Stolt Shipholdings, a joint venture company by NYK and Stolt Tankers, the tanker division of Stolt-Nielsen Ltd., has ordered two 12,500-deadweight-ton parcel tankers from Japan’s Usuki Shipyard Co. Ltd.
   The two new vessels are the ninth and 10th vessels ordered, following the eight that the joint venture currently holds and operates, and will be delivered in July and September 2016.
   The vessels, which have 18 stainless steel cargo tanks, will be chartered to Stolt NYK Asia Pacific Services (SNAPS), which is a joint venture company between NYK and Stolt Tankers for operating the vessels. The new tankers will replace tonnage which is currently slated for retirement or redelivery.
   In addition to NYK Stolt Shipholdings and SNAPS, NYK and Stolt Tankers have also developed a parcel tanker company within the deep-sea trade, and currently operate six parcel tankers of 22,000–39,000 DWT under the name NYK Stolt Tankers.