Odfjell's fleet of advanced, energy-efficient supersegregators continues to expand with the official naming and launch of the 40,000 dwt Bow Tanaka on July 29 at the Kitanihon shipyard in Japan. The vessel marks another milestone in the company's extensive newbuilding program, which comes as the maritime industry faces tightening international emissions regulations, including the International Maritime Organization's greenhouse gas reduction strategy and carbon intensity requirements that entered into force in 2023.

The naming ceremony was attended by Odfjell patriarch Dan Odfjell Sr., now 88 years old, and his wife Arnhild Odfjell, who served as the vessel's godmother. Representatives from the shipowner, Odfjell, the shipyard, and key partners gathered for the traditional event.

As one of the founders of modern chemical tanker shipping, Dan Odfjell Sr. reflected on Odfjell's decades-long history with Japan and the company's evolution over the years. Speaking with characteristic warmth and humor, he recalled his first visit to the country:

"I visited Japan for the first time in 1960. That's 66 years ago. It was April and cherry blossom time. I arrived in Yokohama as a seaman of the Wilhelm Wilhelmsen Line, and within three weeks, I shifted over to a very small Odfjell tanker bound for California for another cargo of bulk liquid chemicals," he said.

"As a company, we have come a long way since then. Odfjell is now a large shipping company, and our specialty has become stainless steel tankers, which today's christening ceremony indeed stands as a testament to. I am proud and thankful for our solid and good Japanese relationship," Dan Odfjell Sr. added.

His remarks underscored the enduring ties between Odfjell and Japan, which have developed across generations. The partnership with Kitanihon spans more than twenty years: the yard delivered the first Odfjell vessel, Bow Architect, in the early 2000s and has since constructed several vessels for the company's fleet of high-quality chemical tankers.

Advancing Decarbonization Through Energy-Efficient Technology

The 28-tank stainless steel tanker represents the most advanced design in Odfjell's fleet. Bow Tanaka is equipped with both a gate rudder and foldable wind-assisted propulsion sails, engineered to significantly reduce fuel consumption and emissions while maintaining high standards of safety and operational performance. Wind-assisted propulsion technologies have gained increasing traction across the global shipping industry as operators pursue complementary measures to lower fuel consumption and meet regulatory carbon-intensity targets.

Results from the sister vessel Bow Erikson demonstrate an energy-efficiency improvement of up to 50% compared with the average tanker in the segment.

The vessel's name reflects its pioneering spirit: she is named after Tanaka Shosuke, the first recorded Japanese person to cross the Pacific to the Americas in 1610. The new supersegregator now carries the explorer's legacy forward in Odfjell's round-the-world trade.

Source: Odfjell via Hellenic Shipping News, 07/08/2026.