Norwegian open hatch specialist G2 Ocean is pressing ahead with a major fleet renewal programme, adding six new gantry crane vessels.

The Bergen-headquartered joint venture between Gearbulk and Grieg Maritime Group said the six newbuildings will join its pool fleet from 2029, strengthening its position in the specialised open hatch segment and giving it greater flexibility across a broad range of cargo trades.

The 65,400 dwt vessels will be built at New Dayang Shipbuilding in Yangzhou, China. Two ships will be owned by Grieg Maritime Group, while the remaining four will be owned by Seaspan and bareboat chartered to Gearbulk before joining the G2 Ocean pool.

Each vessel will feature eight open-hatch cargo holds without overhangs, offering a cargo volume of about 79,400 cu m. The ships will also be equipped with two gantry cranes and tween decks and be capable of being adapted for alternative fuels such as ammonia or methanol.

The latest order complements an existing programme that will see 10 larger 82,300 dwt vessels delivered into the G2 Ocean fleet between 2026 and 2029. The first of those ships, Star Norge, entered service in January this year.

Chief executive Arthur English said the investments were aimed at strengthening the company’s long-term service offering while responding to changing customer requirements.

“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,” he said.

The six-vessel programme fills a gap in G2 Ocean’s fleet between its larger 72,000 dwt gantry crane ships and smaller vessels ranging from 36,000 dwt to 55,000 dwt.

English said maintaining a broad mix of geared tonnage was essential for a global operator serving diverse 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,” he said.

Alongside the newbuilding programme, G2 Ocean is also investing in emissions-reduction technologies for its existing fleet.

The 49,924 dwt general cargo vessel Star Kirkenes is scheduled to be fitted with AirWing 20 jet sails in late 2026 or early 2027. The wind-assisted propulsion system is designed to harness wind energy to reduce fuel consumption and emissions without affecting cargo capacity or loading operations, the company said, adding that the installation could become a blueprint for wider deployment across the fleet if performance targets are achieved.

Founded in 2017, G2 Ocean operates a fleet of around 125 open hatch and bulk vessels ranging from 23,500 dwt to 73,000 dwt, making it the world’s largest operator in the open hatch segment.

Gearbulk chairman and G2 Ocean chairman Kristian Jebsen said the programme would strengthen the company’s competitive position while supporting customers’ future transport needs.

Grieg Maritime Group chief executive Matthew Duke added that open hatch shipping remains central to the group’s strategy and that the new vessels would help ensure G2 Ocean remains a flexible and efficient service provider in the years ahead.