Odfjell SE signs agreement to acquire four 40,000 dwt stainless steel newbuildings

Odfjell announces that it has signed agreements to purchase four 40,000 dwt fully stainless-steel vessels to be built at Kitanihon Shipbuilding in Japan.

The vessels will be purchased from a Japanese shipowner upon completion and are scheduled for delivery from 1Q 2027 until 2Q 2029. They are secured at competitive prices with a total transaction value of approximately USD 290 million.

The payment terms follow customary industry standards, with installments during the construction period and the remaining balance payable upon delivery.

This investment is part of Odfjell’s ongoing fleet renewal program. The company has recycled three super-segregators since 2Q25. In addition, Odfjell has recently divested the newbuilding contract for a 26,000 dwt vessel currently under construction in China.

The vessels will be compliant with the future proposed EEDI (Energy Efficiency Design Index) Phase 5 for 2035 and onwards, with a 50% reduction compared to the 2009 IMO EEDI reference line. In sum, this implies that their AER (Annual Efficiency Ratio) is approximately 25% lower than the most energy-efficient 40,000 dwt vessels in Odfjell’s current fleet.

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