Swire Shipping has agreed to buy four 12,700-dwt multipurpose heavylift ships from Nordic Project & Finance as it prepares to integrate Swire Projects into the main Swire Shipping brand from November.
The Singapore-headquartered shipowner currently leases six multipurpose heavylift vessels from the Hamburg-based Nordic Project & Finance. Under the new arrangement, Swire Shipping will acquire four of the ships and charter the remaining two for a further two years.
The four vessels covered by the acquisition are 12,700-dwt multipurpose heavylift ships and include the Pacific Excellence. The additional charter period for the other two vessels will allow all six ships to remain available during the transition.
Swire Projects was established in October 2020 to handle shipping activities for energy, renewable and infrastructure cargoes. In November 2021, the division entered into a long-term charter agreement with Nordic Project & Finance for six vessels.
The chartered fleet comprises four 12,700-dwt ships and two 19,600-dwt ships, all built between 2007 and 2011.
From November, Swire Projects will be incorporated into the Swire Shipping brand, bringing liner shipping, logistics, project cargo and heavylift activities under the same brand.
Swire Shipping said the acquisition will give it long-term control of vessels used for cargoes linked to renewables, mining, construction and offshore projects.
Namir Khanbabi, general manager of projects at Swire Shipping, said the integration would support closer coordination between project and heavylift activities and the company’s liner shipping and landside logistics operations, particularly in the Asia Pacific region.
The two vessels not included in the purchase will remain on charter from Nordic Project & Finance for another two years, maintaining heavylift capacity during the integration.
