South Korea’s SK Shipping, H-Line swap tankers to create LNG giant

SEOUL - South Korean shipping firms, SK Shipping and H-Line Shipping, are set to engage in a strategic swap that will create one of the world's largest operators of liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers. The companies, both owned by private equity firm Hahn & Co., will exchange 16 LNG vessels and contracts for 12 tankers, contracts and approximately $300 million in cash.

As a result, SK Shipping will become Asia's biggest player in the LNG sector, while H-Line Shipping will emerge as a leading tanker and bulk-shipping company in the region. This deal is part of broader efforts to reshape South Korean shipping, particularly in the wake of geopolitical tensions in the Persian Gulf, which have disrupted energy trade and opened up lucrative opportunities for shipowners, charterers and traders.

By consolidating their fleets and securing long-term contracts, the combined entity will provide relatively stable cash flows in an industry that is otherwise prone to fluctuations in freight rates. Hahn & Co., the entity behind H-Line Shipping, has been actively reshaping the landscape since its inception in 2014, acquiring various long-term dry-bulk operations from Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine.

In 2018, Hahn & Co. acquired nearly 80% of SK Shipping, shifting the company away from speculative spot-market operations and towards vessels backed by secured, long-term contracts.