Aker to Build Four for Stolt-Nielsen

Aker Yards ASA was awarded a $350m contract to build four ships for the Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group BV of Rotterdam. Europe's largest shipbuilder said the ships will be specially designed parcel tankers, with stainless steel cargo tanks, for delivery in late 2008 and early 2009. Parcel tankers can carry bulk chemicals, edible oils, acids and other specialty liquids. The new ships will be 599.5 x 105.5 ft. wide and with a deadweight of 43,000 tons, Aker Yards said in a statement. The company said construction will be split between its Floroe yard in western Norway and its Damen Shipyards Okean in the Ukraine. The fore and after sections will be built in the Ukraine, and the middle sections Norway, where the ships will be completed.