Fairfield Maritime Japan, Neste ink charter deal for WAPS-equipped MR tanker duo

Fairfield Maritime Japan (FMJ) on Wednesday (22 July) said it has signed a long-term charter contract with Neste for two vessels. 

The agreement enables FMJ to fund and manage the construction of two Ice Class 1A medium range (MR) oil and chemical tankers for Neste’s transports to and from its refinery in Porvoo, Finland. Neste is a producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), also refining a wide range of oil products in Porvoo. 

Fairfield Maritime Japan Ltd. is a portfolio company of Fairfield-Maxwell Ltd., a family office for the Sugahara family headquartered in New York City.

The two new ships will each have the capacity to ship 50,000 deadweight tons (DWT) and will be built by HD Hyundai Co., Ltd. of South Korea and delivered in the first and second quarters of 2029.

As Ice Class 1A certified ships, the two new vessels will be capable of navigating in ice conditions with the support of icebreakers, adhering to the Finnish Swedish Ice Class Rules.

These rules encompass the specific requirements for vessels navigating the Baltic Sea during the winter season. The highly ice-resistant ships will be able to approach and depart Porvoo in the winter months, contributing to operational continuity for Neste’s Porvoo facility.

The vessels will utilise low-sulphur fuels and will be capable of being retrofitted to operate on methanol at some point in the future. 

The vessels will be ready for the future with the possibility to connect to shore power when that is available. In addition, the ships will be equipped with wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) to supplement the ships’ main engines. These technologies will reduce fuel consumption, emissions and operating costs.

“We’re pleased to partner with Fairfield Maritime Japan and Fairfield-Maxwell. With these new state-of-the-art vessels, we are continuing our efforts to deliver safe and efficient sea transport to and from our Porvoo refinery,” said Sander Wilgenhof, Head of Chartering, Neste.

“We are proud to be Neste’s long-term partner,” said Ryuichi Osonoe, President, Fairfield Maritime Japan. 

“We believe that our knowledge and expertise will significantly assist Neste in its sea transportation. We are looking forward to seeing these two new ships cross the sea to safely export out of Neste’s Porvoo refinery.”

“Fairfield has been a partner of choice for world-class shippers for nearly 70 years,” said Byron Sugahara, chairman of the board of Fairfield-Maxwell. 

“This agreement with Neste is  confirmation that our family’s legacy in the shipping industry remains strong and provides a solid foundation for continued growth and success.”

Photo credit: Scott Graham
Published: 24 July, 2026