Norwegian chemical tanker owner Odfjell is pressing ahead with its fleet renewal drive, securing four 40,000 dwt fully stainless-steel newbuildings from Japan. The Bergen-based group said it has agreed to acquire the vessels from a Japanese owner upon delivery from Kitanihon Shipbuilding, with handovers scheduled between the first quarter of 2027 and the second quarter of 2029. The deal carries a total value of about $290m. The ships will be deployed in Odfjell’s core deep-sea trades and form part of its next generation of so-called super-segregators, a segment where the company has long held a strong position. Chief executive Harald Fotland said the new vessels will raise the bar on efficiency and design within the segment. “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,” he said. The vessels are designed to meet future environmental requirements, including the proposed IMO Energy Efficiency Design Index Phase 5 standards expected from 2035. According to the company, that equates to a 50% improvement on the 2009 baseline and puts the ships around 25% more efficient than the best-performing 40,000 dwt vessels currently in its fleet. The move comes as Odfjell continues to reshape its fleet profile. Since the second quarter of 2025, the company has recycled three older super-segregators and recently offloaded a 26,000 dwt newbuilding under construction in China. Odfjell currently operates a fleet of around 70 vessels and remains a major player in the chemical tanker segment. The company said earlier this year it controls about 14% of the global orderbook in its core trades. In total, the group has 22 newbuildings on order, including both owned and long-term chartered vessels, with deliveries running through to 2029. Ten of those ships are due to join the fleet in 2026 alone. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1_95_0_1_2'); }); TagsNorway