Hayfin Capital Management is making another significant move in global shipping, this time strengthening its position in the LNG carrier market.
The London-based investment platform has reportedly ordered two 174,000-cbm LNG carriers at South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, marking its first direct move into LNG carrier newbuildings after years of involvement through financing and secondhand vessel investments.
According to shipbroking and market sources, the vessels are scheduled for delivery by the end of March 2029.
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering, the parent company of the shipyard group, confirmed on Thursday that it had secured a new LNG carrier contract from an Oceania-based client. While the company did not officially name the buyer, industry sources widely linked the order to Hayfin.
The contract is valued at KRW743.9 billion, or approximately $497 million, putting the price of each vessel at around $248.5 million.
The deal signals a broader expansion strategy for Hayfin’s maritime division, which is led by Andreas Povlsen and has become increasingly active across several shipping segments over the past two years.
Earlier this year, the investment platform also placed an order at HD Hyundai for four 50,000 dwt MR2 product tankers, with deliveries expected to begin from the first quarter of 2028.
At the same time, Hayfin has been steadily building its presence in the secondhand shipping market, particularly in dry bulk. Over the last two years, the company acquired several capesize vessels as part of a wider fleet growth strategy.
The group has also been active on the asset trading side.
More recently, Hayfin sold two suezmax tanker newbuildings to Greece’s Capital Group at a profit, underlining its increasingly opportunistic approach to shipping investments.
Sources close to the market further revealed that Greek owner Evalend Shipping had transferred two LNG carrier construction slots at Hyundai Heavy Industries to Hayfin for 2029 delivery. The move further reinforces the company’s return to the LNG shipping segment at a time when demand for modern gas carriers remains strong.
The latest LNG carrier order also comes during another busy period for South Korean shipbuilders, which continue attracting strong interest from owners and investors seeking exposure to the expanding global gas trade.
Earlier this week, the gas shipping division of Singapore-based BW also signed contracts for two additional LNG carriers at HD Hyundai Samho, highlighting the sustained momentum currently driving the LNG newbuilding market.
