Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is exiting the chemical tanker business through an en bloc transaction involving Ace Tankers and Womar Tankers, according to Splash247. The deal, expected to close this week subject to customary conditions, will see ownership of EPS’s 14-vessel chemical tanker fleet transferred between the two operators.
Deal Structure
The fleet comprises vessels ranging from 19,000 dwt to 26,000 dwt, including three newbuildings. All ships have been commercially managed through the Ace Quantum Chemical Tanker (AQCT) pool. Following completion of the transaction, seven vessels will remain under the commercial management of AQCT, while the remaining seven ships, including the three newbuildings, will move under Womar Tankers’ management. The vessels will also be renamed under their new ownership, according to Splash247.
Fleet Distribution
The following table summarizes the post-deal allocation of the 14 vessels:
| Operator | Vessels Retained/Transferred | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Ace Quantum Chemical Tanker (AQCT) | 7 | Existing vessels (19,000–26,000 dwt) |
| Womar Tankers | 7 | Includes three newbuildings (19,000–26,000 dwt) |
All 14 vessels were previously commercially managed through the AQCT pool. The three newbuildings are understood to be among the ships moving to Womar Tankers.
Strategic Rationale
EPS said the disposal is part of a broader portfolio strategy aimed at concentrating resources and capital on its core business areas and future growth opportunities, reported Splash247. The group has been steadily reshaping its fleet in recent years, with a growing focus on segments such as containerships, gas carriers, car carriers and tankers, while also building one of the industry’s largest alternative-fuel newbuilding programmes. EPS currently has an orderbook of more than 150 vessels across multiple shipping sectors.
Implications for Chemical Tanker Capacity
While the transaction does not change the total number of vessels in commercial operation, the shift in management from EPS to Ace and Womar could alter chartering dynamics in the chemical tanker segment. For freight forwarders and logistics managers, this consolidation may affect availability on key routes served by these 19,000–26,000 dwt ships, particularly in the chemical and parcel tanker trade. The transfer also underscores EPS’s pivot toward larger vessel classes and alternative-fuel newbuildings, potentially reducing chemical tanker capacity under the EPS brand but maintaining it under Ace and Womar. Stakeholders in the tanker sector should monitor any changes in commercial management that could influence spot rates or contract terms on chemical lanes.
Watch List
- Completion of the deal and any subsequent renaming of vessels.
- Further moves by EPS to divest non-core assets as part of its portfolio strategy.
- Impact on the Ace Quantum Chemical Tanker pool's size and market influence.
- Newbuilding delivery schedules for the three vessels moving to Womar Tankers.
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