London’s investment platform Hayfin Capital Management confirmed its order for two newbuild 100,000-dwt post-panamax bulkers. The deal was sealed on Monday with Oshima Shipbuilding and Sumisho Marine.
The dry bulk carrier pair will be constructed at Oshima Shipyard in the Nagasaki Prefecture of south-western Japan, and completion is expected to take place within 2026.
No price was revealed, but the UK investment platform said the ships will be delivered to an undisclosed energy trader on a long-term charter.
The project will be funded through Hayfin’s Maritime Yield strategy and managed by Hayfin’s in-house ship management platform, Greenheart Shipping.
The newbuilds will be built to “world-leading standards” differentiating them from most of the current panamaxes that are expected to be non-compliant with IMO regulations in three years’ time, Hayfin noted, adding that the two “highly sought-after slots” were secured through its longstanding ties with key stakeholders in Japan.
The London-based company recently, through a successful fundraise for its Maritime Yield strategy, equipped the firm with the capacity to acquire $1bn in shipping assets through equity and debt financing.
This move gives the company the ability to focus on “on top-specification assets” as Hayfin explains.
Andreas Povlsen, head of maritime at Hayfin, commented: “This transaction is another sign of our firm commitment to the Japanese market and demonstrates the kind of attractive asset exposure we can offer to investors through our Maritime Yield strategy; combining fuel-efficient assets and long-term charters to investment-grade counterparties against a supportive long-term market backdrop with consistent tonne-mile growth and a fleet in urgent need of renewal.”
