Hayfin Capital Management has re-entered the LNG carrier market through a newbuilding agreement with South Korean shipbuilding conglomerate HD Hyundai
Shipbroking and market sources have linked the London-based alternative asset manager to an order for two 174,000-m³ LNG carriers, with deliveries scheduled for 2029.
Hayfin declined to comment when contacted by Riviera.
The reported deal marks Hayfin’s return to the LNG carrier segment, having previously operated vessels in this market.
Hayfin has been on a notable expansion drive in recent months. Riviera previously reported that the company had contracted HD Hyundai to build four 50,000-dwt MR2 tankers, with deliveries expected to begin in Q1 2028.
The company has also been linked to a move into the container vessel sector through an order placed at Penglai Zhongbai Jinglu Ship Industry for a pair of 3,100-TEU ships, again featuring favourable delivery slots.
Hayfin has maintained a long-standing presence in the shipping industry, with more than US$4Bn invested across the dry bulk, tanker, container, LPG, and LNG sectors. Its maritime investment strategy is led by Andreas Povlsen.
Greenheart Management, Hayfin’s in-house shipmanagement platform, currently oversees 17 vessels, including a mix of tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships, according to Equasis data.
The LNG carrier newbuilding market has gained strong momentum since late 2025. Shipbroking data show that 33 LNG carriers were contracted between January and March 2026, compared with 32 vessels ordered during the whole of 2025.
Orders have continued to accumulate in Q2, with HD Hyundai among the main beneficiaries. Hanwha Ocean and Samsung Heavy Industries have also attracted significant interest.
HD Hyundai has secured orders for 16 LNG carriers so far this year, making the segment its fourth most active by vessel count, behind container vessels, /ammonia carriers, and product tankers.
