Odfjell SE, Nissen Kaiun form chemical tanker JV

Odfjell SE and Japan's Nissen Kaiun Co., Ltd. have established Odfjell Hakata Maritime AS, a new joint venture for operating chemical tankers. Headquartered in Bergen, Norway, it will be operational from December 2025. This collaboration leverages Odfjell's global trading platform and Nissen Kaiun's modern fleet to boost flexibility and capacity for their international customer base.

The JV will initially operate ten stainless steel vessels, with Odfjell and Nissen Kaiun each contributing five. Nine of these vessels are already chartered by Odfjell Tankers, with the tenth joining in early December. This initiative, combined with Odfjell's other fleet renewal projects, is projected to increase commercial trading days by approximately 12% in 2026 compared to 2025. Odfjell Tankers will serve as the commercial manager, integrating the vessels into Odfjell's existing global fleet.

The partnership underscores a shared commitment to reducing the industry's carbon footprint amid growing demand for efficient chemical transportation. Odfjell SE, with a fleet of approximately 70 ships, reported annual gross revenue of $1249m in 2024. Nissen Kaiun operates a fleet of over 200 vessels.