Skip to main content
Clarksons Project Finance is a leading shipping projects facilitator, based in Oslo. Our team is comprised of 16 experts working across project finance, business management and project sales, ensuring clients are supported at every stage.
From structuring and syndication to full lifecycle management, our shipping project finance platform supports transactions across all vessel types and sizes. With options including non-recourse financing, fractional ownership, and preferred equity, we enable capital-efficient growth while mitigating risk and aligning stakeholder interests.
Contact the team$2.5bn
Equity raised since inception
Optional additional wording here
300+
Vessels financed
Optional additional wording here
$261mn
Raised in 2024
Optional additional wording here
We provide shipowners and investors with access to flexible, co-investment-based maritime financing solutions.
Regulated under the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway, we are a full-service project arranger for shipping and offshore projects. Clarksons Project Finance is a stand-alone entity of the world’s largest shipbroking firm, with unrivalled reach, expertise and depth of experience.
Non-recourse ship finance through co-investment
We offer non-recourse ship finance solutions through co-investment structures that protect stakeholders while enabling asset growth. Each transaction is structured through an independent ship-owning company, isolating risk from sponsors and investors. Financing is customised with an optimal mix of debt and equity, determined by the vessel’s value, age, and projected cash flow—ensuring capital efficiency and downside protection. Whether you’re a strategic investor or financial institution, our structure delivers transparent ownership, stable returns, and downside protection.
Flexible capital solutions for shipowners
We offer shipowners access to flexible capital solutions through asset plays, sale-leaseback arrangements, and preferred equity structures. These strategies enable owners to unlock capital, maintain operational control, and expand their fleet by participating in fractional ownership of multiple assets. By diversifying exposure across various projects, shipowners can reduce interdependence risk and build a more resilient, scalable portfolio—all while preserving liquidity and optimising capital efficiency.
Global access to maritime investment opportunities
Our platform is open to both international shipowners and investors, offering a collaborative approach to maritime asset investment. External investors have the opportunity to co-invest alongside experienced shipowners, aligning interests and enhancing deal transparency. We support transactions ranging from USD 5 million to USD 150 million, with no restrictions on vessel segment or age—ensuring flexibility and broad market access across the shipping industry.
End-to-end maritime investment management
We provide full-service investment management—from initial structuring and syndication to ongoing oversight and eventual asset liquidation. Our end-to-end approach ensures transparency, alignment, and execution throughout the entire investment lifecycle. External investors have the opportunity to participate at the board level, typically in a passive capacity, maintaining governance insight without daily operational involvement.
Contact the team
Project arranger in shipping & offshore
Shipping Project Finance is the financing of shipping assets with a combination of debt and equity, based on security in the asset value and the cash flow generated from the project.
Our team sits alongside Business Management who are responsible for following up corporate administration, accounting and reporting of the project company and our Project Sales team who ensures liquidity in our projects by structuring secondhand transactions of shares.
The Norwegian market
Norway has a leading reputation and long-standing history in shipping projects, making it a leading choice across global markets. There is strong governmental support through competitive tax structures and good support from local specialist banks. The projects market has matured and international investors and shipowners are investing, particularly from Germany and Greece.
Project types & capital structures
Depending on your risk appetite, project duration and objectives, our team can support across project types:
- Asset Play - for higher risk, short term projects with equity based capital structures.
- Time charter - for a medium risk, 3-5 year projects with a mix of credit, equity and loan based capital structures.
- Bareboat charter - for low risk, longer term projects, secured largely with bank loan capital structures.
Examples of active projects with different structures
Asset play projects with market exposure
- 8x Handysize, 2x Supramax Bulk Carriers
- Asset Play
- TC coverage: Spot and medium term
- High leverage: 70% LTV
- Current leverage: ~50% LTV
Transaction size: USD 112.0m
- 1x 1,100 TEU Container Vessel
- Asset Play
- TC coverage: 6 months
- Moderate leverage: ~52% LTV
Transaction size: USD 19.5m
Asset play projects with medium- and long term timecharter employment
- 6x Multipurpose/Heavylift vessels
- Asset Play
- TC coverage: 3 years + 1 y + 1y
- High leverage: ~62% LTV
Transaction size: USD 88.0m
- 2x6,700 dwt Chemical Tankers
- Asset play
- TC coverage: 2-Years
- Moderate leverage: 50%
Transaction size: USD 27.0m
Bareboat and sale-leaseback projects
- 2x PX121 PSVs | Offshore
- Bareboat
- Bareboat charter: 5 years + 1 year
- High leverage: ~80% LTV
- Residual: Market exposure / Scrap
Transaction size: USD 35.5m
- 1x Expedition Cruise Vessel
- Bareboat
- Bareboat charter: 5 years
- Moderate leverage: ~57% LTV
- Residual: Purchase obligation
Transaction size: USD 7.4m
- 1x MR Tanker
- Bareboat
- Bareboat charter: 8 years
- High leverage: ~74% LTV
- Purchase obligation
Transaction size: USD 23.0m
View our Market Report for a full overview of all active projects
View full reportCurrent Fleet
6
Container vessels
5
Cruise ships
10
Dry-bulk vessels
1
Fishing boat
8
Multi-purpose vessels
4
Offshore vessels
8
Tanker vessels
Further reading
Market Reports
Read our latest market report, covering the second half of 2024 - another active period for the shipping and offshore project finance markets. During this time the team structured and placed the equity for a total of 3 vessels with a transaction volume of ~USD 49m.
Read the latest report
Compliance
Our Compliance team is dedicated to ensuring that the regulated entities conducts its activities in accordance with applicable laws, standards and other industry related policies.
View documents library
Vacancies
A Clarksons career is fast-paced, rewarding and full of potential. With global reach, we offer a wide range of opportunities across multiple business areas.
View opportunities