Norwegian chemical tanker company Odfjell has signed agreements to purchase four 40,000 dwt fully stainless-steel vessels to be built at Kitanihon Shipbuilding in Japan, in a transaction valued at approximately USD 290 million.

Fleet Renewal at Scale

The vessels will be purchased from a Japanese shipowner upon completion, with deliveries scheduled between the first quarter of 2027 and the second quarter of 2029. Payment terms follow customary industry standards, with instalments due during the construction period and the remaining balance payable upon delivery.

The acquisition forms part of Odfjell’s ongoing fleet renewal programme. The company has recycled three super-segregators since the second quarter of 2025 and recently divested the newbuilding contract for a 26,000 dwt vessel currently under construction in China.

Setting a New Efficiency Benchmark

The four new vessels are designed to comply with the future proposed EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) Phase 5 standards for 2035 and beyond, representing a 50 percent reduction compared to the 2009 IMO EEDI reference line. Their Annual Efficiency Ratio (AER) is approximately 25 percent lower than the most energy-efficient 40,000 dwt vessels currently in Odfjell’s fleet.

Each vessel will be equipped with sails, gate rudder technology, and other advanced energy-saving systems, reflecting the company’s commitment to reducing fuel consumption and emissions across its deep-sea operations.

Harald Fotland, CEO of Odfjell SE, described the newbuilds as a generational step forward for the fleet. “The four acquired vessels will be our next-generation super-segregators, tailored for our core deep-sea trades,” he said. “With a modern design and equipped with sails, gate rudder, and other novel energy-saving technologies, they set a new standard for fuel efficiency.”

For more information visit www.odfjell.com

22 April 2026