G2 Ocean, a leading global shipping company specializing in open-top multipurpose vessels, officially announced on its website on May 26 that it will 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.
All new buildings will be built at New Dayang Shipbuilding Co. in Yangzhou, China. The new gantry crane vessels feature a deadweight capacity of 65,400 tons, with eight open hatch cargo holds designed without overhangs, offering a total cargo capacity of approximately 79,400 m³. Equipped with two gantry cranes and tween decks in the holds to support mixed cargo intake, these ships are also future-fuel ready, compatible with alternative fuels such as ammonia or methanol. Of the six vessels, two will be owned by Grieg Maritime Group, while four will be owned by Seaspan and chartered to Gearbulk on bareboat terms.
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.
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.
“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.
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.