Odfjell and Nissen Kaiun have announced the establishment of a new joint venture, Odfjell Hakata Maritime AS, dedicated to the operation of chemical tankers from Bergen, Norway. The partnership strengthens the long-standing collaboration between the two companies and combines Odfjell’s global trading platform with Nissen Kaiun’s modern, high-quality tanker fleet to enhance flexibility and capacity for customers worldwide.

“Our new joint venture marks another chapter in the strong partnership between Odfjell and Nissen Kaiun,” said Harald Fotland, CEO of Odfjell SE. “Nissen Kaiun controls an advanced fleet of chemical tankers built to the highest quality and sustainability standards. Their contribution to this venture reinforces Odfjell’s position as one of the world’s leading and most energy-efficient chemical tanker operators.”

Odfjell Hakata Maritime AS will initially comprise ten stainless steel vessels, equally contributed by both companies. Nine of these vessels are already operated by Odfjell Tankers under existing charter agreements, while the tenth is scheduled to join the fleet in early December. Together with ongoing fleet renewal initiatives planned for 2026, this move is expected to result in an approximate 12 per cent increase in commercial trading days compared to 2025.

Odfjell Tankers, Odfjell’s chartering organization, will serve as the commercial manager of the joint venture. All vessels will be fully integrated into Odfjell’s commercial fleet and will operate across major deep-sea trade lanes and global shipping hubs.

“The partnership comes at a time when demand for safe, efficient, and low-emission chemical transportation is growing,” Fotland added. “We are pleased to deepen our collaboration with Nissen Kaiun. Japanese shipyards are frontrunners in quality and energy-saving technologies, and together we continue on a path that expands our fleet, strengthens our services, and keeps decarbonization at the core of our operations.”

Odfjell Hakata Maritime AS will be established as a Norwegian entity headquartered in Bergen and is expected to be fully operational from December 2025.