Ardmore Shipping Corporation has announced it has entered into agreement to acquire six MR product/chemical tankers for a total of US$172.5m.

The vessels, which have an average age of 2.4 years, are scheduled to be delivered to Ardmore on a charter-free basis between September and October 2016.

The acquisition will expand Ardmore's fleet to 28 vessels, or by approximately 32% on a tonnage basis.