Odfjell has officially named and launched its newest 40,000 dwt stainless steel chemical tanker, the Bow Tanaka, at the Kitanihon shipyard in Japan. The ceremony was celebrated by company patriarch Dan Odfjell Sr., honoring decades of partnership between Odfjell and Japanese maritime builders. Equipped with a gate rudder and foldable wind-assisted propulsion sails, the advanced supersegregator aims to deliver up to a 50% improvement in energy efficiency compared to standard segment tankers.
Bergen, Norway | August 4, 2026 – Odfjell has officially named and launched its newest 40,000 dwt super-segregator, the Bow Tanaka, at the Kitanihon shipyard in Japan.
The July 29 ceremony marked a significant milestone in Odfjell’s ongoing newbuilding program, made especially memorable by the presence of company patriarch Dan Odfjell Sr. and vessel godmother Arnhild Odfjell, alongside representatives from the shipowner, shipyard, and key industry partners.
A Historic Bond Celebrated Across Decades
As one of the foundational figures of modern chemical tanker shipping, 88-year-old Dan Odfjell Sr. shared a reflective and lighthearted look back at his deep-rooted history with Japan, recalling his very first voyage to the country in April 1960 as a seaman before joining the Odfjell fleet.
“As a company, we have come a long way since then,” reflected Dan Odfjell Sr. “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.”
The christening also highlighted a partnership of over two decades with Kitanihon, which built Odfjell’s historic Bow Architect in the early 2000s and has since remained a trusted construction partner for the company’s high-quality chemical tanker fleet.
Cutting-Edge Technology and Decarbonisation
The 28-tank stainless steel chemical tanker represents the pinnacle of Odfjell’s advanced vessel design. Engineered for maximum sustainability, the Bow Tanaka features:
- Gate Rudder System: Optimising hydrodynamic performance and maneuverability.
- Foldable Wind-Assisted Propulsion Sails: Harnessing clean wind energy to slash fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Proven performance data from sister vessel Bow Erikson indicates that these advanced efficiency measures can yield energy-efficiency improvements of up to 50% compared to the average chemical tanker in this segment.
Honoring a Pioneer’s Legacy
The vessel’s name pays homage to Tanaka Shosuke, the first recorded Japanese explorer to successfully cross the Pacific Ocean to the Americas in 1610. True to its namesake, the newly launched Bow Tanaka will carry that spirit of exploration forward as it joins Odfjell’s global round-the-world trade routes.
About Odfjell
Established in 1914 and headquartered in Bergen, Norway, Odfjell is a global market leader in the seaborne transportation and storage of chemicals and other specialized bulk liquids. Operating a highly sophisticated fleet of approximately 70 vessels and four terminals worldwide, Odfjell pioneered the chemical tanker trade and is committed to safe, efficient, and sustainable logistics.
Source: Odfjell