Greece-based bulker owner OceanPal led-by Semiramis-Paliou is investing in Norwegian entity ordering chemical tankers in China.
The shipowner has struck a deal to become a partner and invest in a Norwegian entity, RFSea Infrastructure II AS, that will construct at Wuhu Shipyard in China, under two separate newbuilding contracts, a pair of 6,600 dwt methanol-ready stainless steel vessels.
The Nasdaq-listed company is partnering with a private London-based alternative investment and commercial management firm focusing on the maritime industry and other partners and investors. In the deal Fearnley Securities AS acted as the project arranger.
The chemical tankers are expected to be delivered during the fourth quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, respectively.
The chief executive of OceanPal Robert Perri revealed the intention of the company to invest in the chemical tanker segment which has the “fundamentals”, as he said, to improve in the next several years.
“We are pleased to invest in these state of the art, methanol-ready chemical tankers, in a chemical tanker market where we believe the fundamentals will improve in the next several years. In addition, this investment will improve our environmental footprint, as these newbuildings are expected to be 20-25% more fuel efficient than conventional chemical tankers,” Mr. Perri said.
OceanPal had made a charter deal few months ago, with Pacbulk Shipping for one of its capesize dry bulk vessels, the 2005-built Salt Lake City of 171,810 dwt, as Shipping Telegraph reported, adding $924,000 to the company´s gross revenue.
The company’s vessels currently transport a range of dry bulk cargoes, including such commodities as iron ore, coal, grain and other materials along worldwide shipping routes, and it is expected that its ships will be primarily employed on short term time and voyage charters following the completion of their current employments.
