Maritime finance provides the capital and financial tools that make shipbuilding, operations, and port infrastructure possible. It covers how shipowners and maritime companies fund vessels, invest in technology, manage cash flow, and handle risk – through a blend of bank loans, leasing, equity, bonds, and increasingly, green finance solutions.
It’s the financial lifeblood of global shipping.
• Shipping banks (e.g., ABN AMRO, KfW, DNB, Citi)
• Leasing companies, especially from China
• Private equity and investment funds
• Export credit agencies
• Multilateral lenders (e.g., World Bank, EIB)
• Insurance-linked funds and fintechs in maritime finance
• Shipowners, of course, play both borrower and investor
• Green shipping finance is booming, driven by ESG policies and IMO climate targets
• Poseidon Principles guide lenders in aligning portfolios with climate goals
• Alternative financing is growing – e.g., sale-and-leaseback, mezzanine capital, digital platforms
• Increased attention to financial resilience in face of geopolitical and market shocks
• Digital risk models and AI in ship valuations and lending risk
Ships and ports cost millions – sometimes billions.
Without maritime finance:
Maritime finance makes the backbone of world trade possible – even if it’s largely invisible.
Financing a new container ship can cost $100–150 million USD, depending on size and tech. To reduce risk, lenders often require a “triple handshake” – financing, insurance, and classification all in place before releasing funds.
How can maritime finance drive the green transition without making it harder for smaller players to compete?
