Norwegian chemical tanker owner Odfjell has entered into a strategic partnership with Japanese shipping company Nissen Kaiun to establish a new joint venture in Bergen dedicated to the operation of stainless steel chemical tankers.
The new company, Odfjell Hakata Maritime, will pool 10 modern stainless steel chemical tankers, contributed in equal shares by both partners. Nine of these vessels are already on time charter to Odfjell Tankers, with the tenth expected to join in early December.
The combined fleet will be integrated into Odfjell’s global commercial platform and deployed across all major long-haul chemical trades, the Oslo-listed company said.
Strengthening Odfjell’s stainless steel segment
Odfjell CEO Harald Fotland noted that the partnership builds on the long-standing relationship between the two companies and further strengthens Odfjell’s position in the stainless steel segment.
“Nissen Kaiun controls a significant fleet of modern chemical tankers built to the highest standards of quality and sustainability. By bringing these vessels into the joint venture, we are reinforcing Odfjell’s position as one of the leading and most energy-efficient operators of chemical tankers in the world,” Fotland said.
The joint venture will also expand Odfjell’s commercial capacity. Taking into account this fleet growth and other renewal initiatives, Odfjell expects trading days to increase by around 12% in 2026 compared with 2025.
Commercial management and focus on low-emission shipping
Odfjell Tankers will act as the commercial manager of the joint fleet, coordinating operations on key deep-sea routes and in major chemical hubs worldwide.
Fotland said the move is driven by:
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continued growth in demand for safe and efficient transportation of chemical cargoes, and
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increasing owner investments in low-emission tonnage.
“We share a common ambition to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint, and Japanese yards are at the forefront when it comes to quality and energy-saving technologies,” he added.
Scale of the partners’ fleets
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Nissen Kaiun operates a fleet of more than 200 vessels across multiple shipping segments.
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Odfjell manages a global fleet of around 70 chemical tankers.
Odfjell Hakata Maritime will be incorporated as a Norwegian company headquartered in Bergen and is scheduled to commence operations in December 2025, reinforcing both partners’ role in specialised, energy-efficient chemical shipping.
