Carisbrooke & Royal Wagenborg Partnership Leads Up to 10 Newbuilds

8th July 2026

Jehan Ashmore

The Ice-class 1A vessels will be built at the shipyard in China based on a design by Groot Ship Design and incorporating a predominantly European makers list. Delivery of the first 8 units is scheduled between the third quarter of 2027 and early 2029, with two optional units mid-2029. Credit: Royal Wagonborg-Linkedin

A series of 7,000 dwt newbuilds currently on order at Dajin Shipyard, China, follows a partnership between shipowners Carrisbrooke Shipping of the Isle of Wight and Dutch operator Royal Wagenborg.

Under the agreement, the Cowes-based shipping company Carisbrooke will remain responsible for technical and crewing management, while Dutch shipowner Royal Wagenborg will take on the commercial management of the newbuilds.

The partnership brings together Wagenborg’s commercial reach with Carisbrooke’s long-standing experience in ship management and newbuilding supervision. Wagenborg is a large, well-established company with a strong presence in the Baltic region (see related Irish link).

This is a positive development for Carisbrooke Shipping, supporting fleet growth (incl. owned newbuilds) while maintaining financial strength and operational focus.

“We are pleased to partner with Wagenborg Shipping on this newbuilding programme,” said Helen Tveitan, Director at Carisbrooke Shipping. “This partnership supports the continued growth of our fleet and brings together two privately owned shipping companies with strong maritime experience and shared practical values.”

The UK company looks forward to working closely with its Dutch partner as the new vessels progress through construction and delivery.

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About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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