Members of the Pelagic Partners team recently attended the Marine Money Ship Finance Forum in London which provided an opportunity for leading minds in maritime finance to gather and discuss the dynamic shipping investment landscape and what the next twelve months might bring.
Taking part in the event, Pelagic Capital’s Executive Director, Tobias Backer, joined a panel of industry leaders to discuss the maritime investment landscape and explore the current opportunities for fresh investment.
The discussion focused on one fundamental question: ‘With the markets strong, vessel values high, and a locked in supply for over two years, where is the opportunity for fresh investment?‘ During the panel discussion, a key area Tobias commented on the difference between shipping and traditional market cycles, highlighting that “…the real beauty of shipping is that it is uncorrelated to pretty much everything else. As an industry, we operate differently, which means that there will be opportunities when other markets peak to counter cyclically invest in the diverse number of shipping segments.
“In conjunction with this, within shipping there are also different asset categories that are uncorrelated to each other. For example, what impacts values in the container space, will be completely different to what impacts values in the tanker or bulker market.” Having in-depth knowledge and insight of these differing markets and their changing dynamics, means there are continual investment opportunities to capitalise upon regardless of the volatility within the industry.
As well as focusing on Pelagic Capital’s expectations and returns, Tobias also told the forum what Pelagic Capital can offer as an alternative option for companies seeking to raise capital: “We’re complimentary to everything. This is ultimately a relationship-based business. When entering into conversations with clients, we ask the question ‘What do you need’? And we then try to be more creative and flexible to ensure that we meet those needs.”
The shipping industry continues to experience a period of significant transformation, driven by dynamic market cycles, geopolitical events, and a constantly evolving regulatory landscape. While these shifts present significant challenges for the industry, they also unlock opportunities for agile and forward-thinking investors.
As part of the Pelagic Partners family, Pelagic Capital’s strategy embraces these dynamics by leveraging the extensive expertise of the Pelagic Partners team to offer tailored financial solutions to our clients. With a focus on long-term partnerships, Pelagic Capital is positioned to support the shipping industry with its growing capital need.
Pelagic Capital was launched in September 2024 in response to the critical gap in the maritime and offshore market for scalable, flexible financing solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the shipping industry. Pelagic Capital specialises in sale-and-leaseback transactions, mezzanine loans, and joint venture investments, positioning itself as a key enabler for projects that demand these flexible and dynamic financial strategies.
Pelagic Partners’ approach is underpinned by a clear understanding of the complexities of the shipping industry. From securing and managing newbuild orders backed by long-term charters, to capitalising on emerging growth sectors within the market, we are able to offer adaptability and scale that can help unlock both investment and capital opportunities for the maritime sector.
The team had a fantastic time at Marine Money and would like to extend their thanks to the organisers for putting together such a packed schedule and to all attendees that made the event such an informative and engaging experience.
