The Military Sea Transportation Service has announced that it will charter nine new tankers from Central Gulf Steamship Company of New Orleans. The initial charter contract is for five years with renewal options of up to 25 years.

Central Gulf has placed a contract totaling $115-million for construction of the approximately 25,000-dwt tankers with Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Sparrows Point, Md. shipyard for the nine ships. All nine ships are expected to be in service within three years. They will replace 16 tankers now in the MSTS fleet.

The initial five-year bareboat charter is valued at approximately $850,000 annually for each ship.