G2 Ocean is adding six new open hatch gantry crane vessels and upgrading its existing ships with jet sails as part of its ongoing fleet expansion plans.
As part of G2 Ocean’s fleet renewal programme, the company will add six new open hatch gantry crane vessels to its pool from 2029.
These investments come in addition to the delivery of 10 newbuildings, each with a deadweight of 82,300 tonnes, to G2 Ocean’s fleet between 2026 and 2029. The first vessel, Star Norge, was delivered in January 2026.
“Through investments in both newbuildings and our existing fleet, G2 Ocean is strengthening its long-term service offering, providing cargo owners with safe, flexible, reliable and sustainable cargo solutions,” says Arthur English, Chief Executive Officer at G2 Ocean.
The combined investments reflect a long-term commitment by G2 Ocean’s shareholders and pool participants, Gearbulk and Grieg Maritime Group, to support the company’s growth ambitions and evolving customer requirements across multiple cargo segments.
Flexible fleet
The addition of six new gantry crane open hatch vessels enhances G2 Ocean's operational flexibility by bridging the gap between its larger 72,000 deadweight ton (dwt) gantry vessels and smaller vessels ranging from 36,000-55,000 dwt. This development enables the company to offer an optimal selection of gantry vessels tailored to meet customers’ specific requirements.
“This investment continues the development of our geared fleet of both jib craned and gantry craned vessels. As a global service provider, we believe it is essential to maintain a highly flexible fleet so that we can tailor solutions for our customers’ needs,” English says.
Jet sails on Star Kirkenes
In addition to the newbuilding programme, G2 Ocean and its pool participants are investing in upgrades to the existing fleet.
As part of this effort, the 49,924 deadweight ton general cargo vessel, Star Kirkenes, will be equipped with AirWing™20 jet sails, an advanced wind‑assisted propulsion system.
The installation is scheduled for late 2026 or early 2027, with the potential to expand the technology to other vessels within the fleet.
“The jet sails are designed to harness wind power and reduce fuel consumption, contributing to lower emissions for both G2 Ocean and its customers,” says English.
The jet sails will not interfere with cargo operations or capacity, ensuring G2 Ocean maintains its operational performance.
"This investment demonstrates our continued commitment to renewing our fleet, supporting our customers and strengthening our operational platform while ensuring that we remain competitive for the long term "Kristian Jebsen, Chairman of Gearbulk and G2 Ocean
"The Open Hatch business is the core of our long-term strategy. We are happy to be able to support G2 Ocean in remaining a high-quality, flexible and efficient service provider through this investment " Matthew Duke, Chief Executive Officer at Grieg Maritime Group
About the new gantry crane vessels
- Deadweight capacity of 65,400 tons
- Eight open hatch cargo holds with no overhangs
- Total cargo capacity of approximately 79,400 m³
- Two gantry cranes
- Tween decks in cargo holds, enabling mixed cargo intake
- Future-fuel ready, allowing for alternative fuels such as ammonia or methanol
- Two of the vessels will be owned by Grieg Maritime Group, while four will be owned by Seaspan and chartered to Gearbulk on bareboat terms.
- The vessels will be built at New Dayang Shipbuilding Co. in Yangzhou, China
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