Saudi owner National Chemical Carriers (NCC) has ordered two IMO II/III class 46,200-dwt chemical carriers at HMD.

The two ships will be delivered from HMD's shipyard in April and July 2006.

They are intended to transport products for petrochemical conglomerate Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC) under long-term charter contracts. The industrial giant, which is 70% owned by the Saudi government, produced around 40m tonnes of petrochemical products annually. The newbuilding contract was signed in Ulsan on 15 October in the presence of NCC CEO Abdullah Mohanna and HMD CEO Kwan Hong Yu.

The two ships were options attached to a newbuilding contract placed at HMD by NCC for similar ships in July this year. The first two ships are due for delivery in 2005.

Riyadh-based NCC, which is 80% owned by the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA), says delivery of the four ships will increase its chemical carrier fleet to 16 vessels.