Wagenborg announces a further expansion of its multipurpose fleet through a strategic partnership with Carisbrooke Shipping. As part of this collaboration, Wagenborg will add up to ten newbuilding 7,400 DWT ice-class 1A vessels to its fleet.
This investment supports Wagenborg’s ambition to remain the leading industrial shipping partner for export-driven industries across Europe and beyond. The new vessels form an integral part of Wagenborg’s long-term fleet strategy aimed at standardisation and operational efficiency and reliability.
The vessels will be built at the Dajin Heavy Industries shipyard in China based on a design by Groot Ship Design and incorporating a predominantly European makerslist. Delivery of the first 8 units is scheduled between the third quarter of 2027 and early 2029, with two optional units mid-2029.
With a deadweight of approximately 7,400 tonnes, the vessels will gradually replace older tonnage, contributing to a younger and more efficient, future-ready fleet.
Under the partnership, Carisbrooke will be responsible for technical and crew management, while Wagenborg will provide commercial management and integrate the vessels into its chartering activities.
The addition of these modern vessels will strengthen Wagenborg’s position in the Baltic region, one of its core markets, where reliability under demanding conditions is critical for industrial supply chains. The expansion will provide additional transport capacity, increased flexibility and enhanced reliability for Wagenborg’s customers.
In a market characterised by volatility and rising requirements for reliability, Wagenborg continues to invest in stable, predictable and partnership-driven logistics solutions. Edwin de Vries (Managing Director Wagenborg Shipping) states:
This step confirms our strategy to strengthen our position in the markets where our customers depend on us most. We are pleased to cooperate with Carisbrooke, to build a fleet that delivers reliability, efficiency and long-term value to industrial supply chains.
With a modern fleet, a clear focus on niche markets and an ongoing newbuilding programme including the EasyMax series, Wagenborg continues to position itself as a reliable and forward-looking shipping partner for Europe’s leading exporters.
A major exporter of offshore wind power foundation equipment, Dajin Heavy Industry has expanded its business scope into commercial shipbuilding. The company undertakes the construction of various vessel types, including deck carriers, non-propelled semi-submersible barges, multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels, and dry bulk carriers. Excluding the latest batch of 10 vessels, Dajin Heavy Industry has publicly announced orders for 20 new ships across two categories this year—comprising 18 bulk carriers (210,000 DWT class) and two multi-purpose heavy-lift vessels—with a total contract value of approximately US$1.2 billion; delivery schedules extend through 2029, and all orders originate from overseas shipowners.