LNG-powered Fairchem Prestige delivered to Fairfield Chemical Carriers

Fairfield Chemical Carriers (FCC), the U.S.-based chemical tanker operator, has taken delivery of the newbuild LNG dual-fuel stainless steel chemical tanker, Fairchem Prestige.

The 26,000 dwt vessel was delivered by Fukuoka Shipbuilding in Japan on November 12, 2024, nearly seven months after the launch.

Fairchem Prestige is the third in a series of four stainless steel chemical tankers powered by LNG being built at the Japanese shipyard for FCC.

The first ship in this series, Fairchem Pathfinder, was added to FCC’s fleet in May 2024.

The second unit, Fairchem Pioneer which received an A rating from certification society ClassNK, was delivered in July this year.

Delivery of the fourth unit, Fairchem Pinnacle, is scheduled for 2025.

According to the shipowner, the vessels could reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25% compared to traditional marine fuels thanks to their LNG propulsion technology.

In early 2024, the U.S.-based FCC was acquired by chemical tanker operator MOL Chemical Tankers, a subsidiary of Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), in a $400 million deal.

This acquisition enabled MOL Chemical Tankers to integrate its fleet of 81 multi-segregated chemical tankers with stainless steel tanks with 36 vessels owned by FCC, making it one of the largest such fleets in the world.