Ernst Russ AG has taken delivery of its second tanker, Farrie Russ, according to an announcement made by the company on LinkedIn. The 18,500-DWT vessel is an IMO Type II chemical/product tanker with Ice Class 1B notation and a methanol-ready design.

The German shipowner initially announced its entry into the tanker market in April 2026 with an agreement to acquire four intermediate-class methanol-ready chemical/product tanker newbuildings from Wuhu Shipyard in China. All four vessels were fixed on long-term charters running for a minimum of five years from delivery. In September, Ernst Russ expanded the programme to six vessels through the acquisition of two additional 18,500-DWT sisterships, backed by charters of at least three years to Cargill.

Handover of the first tanker, Frankie Russ, took place on 10 September, with TB Marine Shipmanagement taking over technical management. The remaining two vessels in the original four-ship acquisition are scheduled for delivery between the first and second quarters of 2027.

Ernst Russ described the addition of Farrie Russ as “another step forward in our diversification strategy”, adding that the tanker would head to Daesan, South Korea, to load its first cargo.

Hamburg-based Ernst Russ is a publicly listed shipowner with roots dating to 1893. Its fleet remains predominantly container-focused, alongside investments in multipurpose vessels, bulk shipping and, increasingly, chemical/product tankers. Before the delivery of Farrie Russ, its published fleet list comprised 27 fully consolidated vessels: 22 container ships, three multipurpose vessels, one handysize bulker and Frankie Russ. The group combines charter income with selective vessel acquisitions and disposals as it diversifies its portfolio.