What Aasen Shipping AS does

Aasen Shipping AS is a Norwegian family-owned integrated shipowner founded in 1981 by Captain-owner Hans Martin Torkelsen, headquartered in Mosterhamn on the western coast of Norway between Bergen and Stavanger. The company operates a fleet of 14 self-discharging bulk carriers ranging from 3,500 to 9,200 deadweight cargo capacity (DWCC), equipped with excavators mounted on travelling gantries that enable independent loading and discharging operations without reliance on shore-based cranes or stevedores. The fleet has been progressively modernized with hybrid propulsion vessels delivered in 2021 (MV Aasfjell) and 2022 (MV Aasfoss), and three methanol-ready hybrid selfdischargers scheduled for delivery starting in 2025 (MV Aasvard, MV Aasland, MV Aasvær), positioning the company at the forefront of environmental shipping technology in the small-to-mid-sized self-discharger segment.

The company's business model centers on three revenue streams: direct chartering of its owned self-discharging fleet to industrial cargo shippers through its wholly-owned subsidiary Aasen Chartering AS (established 1991), in-house ship management services covering technical, crewing, safety (ISM/ISPS), accounting, and insurance functions, and port agency services across all ports between Bergen and Stavanger. Customers are primarily industrial companies requiring transportation of bulk commodities, break bulk cargo, logs, bigbags, and project cargoes that benefit from the operational flexibility of self-discharging vessels. Pricing is quote-based on multi-year contracts with rates depending on cargo specifications, voyage distance, and market conditions; no revenue or pricing figures are publicly disclosed. The company is member of the Norwegian Shipbroker's Association and maintains IACS classification (primarily RINA, with DNV GL for select vessels) plus P&I coverage with Skuld and Gard.

The shore-side organization comprises approximately 11 employees handling chartering, technical management, QHSE, crewing, and accounting, with seafaring crews employed separately. Aasen Shipping carries ISM/ISPS safety certifications, complies with the Norwegian Transparency Act (aligned with GDPR principles), and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 through investments in environmentally friendly vessel technology. Ownership is concentrated within the Torkelsen family, with Torbjørn Torkelsen serving as Managing Director; there is no evidence of external institutional investment, private equity involvement, or public listing.

Name

Aasen Shipping AS

Legal name

Aasen Shipping AS

Website

https://aasenshipping.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aasen Shipping AS is a family-owned Norwegian integrated shipowner operating a fleet of 14 self-discharging bulk carriers (3,500–9,200 DWCC) that transport bulk and break bulk cargo for industrial shippers along the Norwegian coast. The company provides chartering, ship management, and port agency services, with recent fleet investments focused on hybrid and methanol-ready vessels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bulk Maritime Shipping Services

NAICS

Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation (483113), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Dry Cargo Carriers (Capesize/Panamax/Supramax/Handysize) (TLADABAC)

Keywords

• Bulk cargo shipping
• Self-discharging vessels
• Ship chartering services
• Maritime ship management
• Coastal cargo transport

Headquarters

HQ city

Mosterhamn

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Vessel Chartering: Chartering and shipbroking services providing bulk and break bulk cargo transportation through owned fleet of self-discharging vessels. Contracts negotiated professionally on behalf of principals.
2. Ship Management Services: Comprehensive ship management including technical, crewing, safety management (ISM/ISPS), accounting, and insurance services provided to owned fleet.
3. Port Agency Services: Professional port agency services provided in all ports between Bergen and Stavanger.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Aasen Shipping AS is a fully integrated Norwegian shipowner operating a fleet of 14 self-discharging bulk carriers ranging from 3,500 to 9,200 DWCC capacity, transporting bulk and break bulk cargo in Norwegian and regional waters. The vessels are equipped with onboard excavators on travelling gantries that enable independent loading and discharging without shore-based cranes or stevedores. The company also provides chartering and shipbroking services through its subsidiary Aasen Chartering, as well as port agency services between Bergen and Stavanger.

Product overview

Aasen Shipping AS is an integrated shipowner founded in 1981, operating a fleet of self-discharging bulk carriers for transporting bulk and break bulk cargo. The fleet consists of 13 vessels ranging from 3,500 to 9,200 DWCC capacity, with 5 being hybrid-powered vessels. The core selfdischarger vessels are fitted with excavators on travelling gantries enabling efficient and careful loading/discharging without shore facilities. The product portfolio includes traditional selfdischargers (MV Buvik through MV Aastind) as well as hybrid vessels (MV Aasfjell, MV Aasfoss) and hybrid methanol-ready vessels (MV Aasvær, MV Aasland, MV Aasvard). Subsidiary Aasen Chartering provides professional shipbroker services, handling chartering and operations for the fleet and third-party vessels. All management functions (technical, crewing, safety, accounting) are handled in-house through the Ship Management Services division.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MV Buvik Mini selfdischarger with 3,500 DWCC capacity. Fitted with Volvo 4600 excavator, discharge capacity approximately 500 tons/hour, outreach approximately 11m. Year built 1994, GT 2,449. Classified by DNV GL.
• MV Aasheim Selfdischarger with 6,000 DWCC capacity. Fitted with Hitachi ZX800 excavator, discharge capacity approximately 600 tons/hour. Year built 2001, GT 4,112, RINA class, Ice Class IA.
• MV Aasli Selfdischarger with 6,200 DWCC capacity. Fitted with Hitachi ZX850 excavator, 15 airchanges/hour. Year built 2001, GT 3,968, double-skinned steel-floored holds.
• MV Aastun Selfdischarger with 6,300 DWCC capacity. Fitted with Hitachi ZX870 LCH 5 excavator, outreach approximately 16m, 30 airchanges per day. Year built 2006, Ice Class 1A, bowthruster 350 kW.
• MV Aasfjord Selfdischarger with 6,300 DWCC capacity. IMO 9321392, MMSI 255755000.
• MV Aasvik Selfdischarger with 7,200 DWCC capacity. Fitted with Hitachi ZX890 LCR 6 excavator, discharge capacity approximately 700 tons/hour, MAK 6M32c main engine. Year built 2011, Ice Class IA.
• MV Aasnes Selfdischarger with 7,400 DWCC capacity. Year built 1996, GT 4,783, Ice Class 1C, flag Gibraltar.
• MV Aastind Selfdischarger with 7,650 DWCC capacity. Fitted with Hitachi ZC870 LCH-5 excavator, discharge capacity approximately 650 tons/hour. Year built 1997, GT 4,999, Ice Class 1C.
• MV Aasfjell Hybrid Selfdischarger with 9,200 DWCC capacity. Features battery package (620 kWh), Sennebogen 870 electric excavator for noise-free operations, shore power connection for zero-emission port operations. Year built 2021, GT 5,699.
• MV Aasfoss Hybrid Selfdischarger with 9,200 DWCC capacity. Features battery package for peak shaving and propulsion in port without main engine. Year built 2022, IMO 9904869.
• MV Aasvard Hybrid Methanol-Ready Selfdischarger with 9,200 DWCC capacity. Features battery package for peak shaving and propulsion in port without main engine, Wärtsilä 6L25 main engine, methanol-fuel ready. Year built 2025, IMO 1042718.
• MV Aasland Hybrid Methanol-Ready Selfdischarger with 9,200 DWCC capacity. Methanol-fuel ready designation. IMO 1042706.
• MV Aasvær Hybrid Methanol-Ready Selfdischarger with 9,200 DWCC capacity. Features battery package, Sennebogen 870 electric excavator, methanol-ethyl alcohol fuel ready (x1, x2, x5), Wärtsilä 6L25 main engine, bowthruster 545 kW. ISM/ISPS certified.
• Aasen Chartering Professional chartering and shipbroking services provided since 1991. Acts as exclusive broker for Aasen Shipping's fleet and ships owned by others. Handles chartering, operations, contract negotiations, and daily contact between customers, ships and agents. Member of the Norwegian Shipbroker's Association.
• Ship Management Services Integrated in-house ship management including chartering, technical management, crewing, safety management (ISM/ISPS), accounting, and insurance.
• Port Agency Services Professional port agency services in all ports between Bergen and Stavanger, providing vessel coordination and support for customers requiring bulk and break bulk cargo transportation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 700 tons per hour discharge capacity
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.

• Skuld (P&I Insurance)coreOthersProtection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance coverage for vessel operations, providing liability coverage for owned fleet.
• Gard (P&I Insurance)coreOthersProtection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance coverage for vessel operations including MV Aasheim and MV Aasvær.
• RINA (Classification Society)coreOthersClassification society providing vessel classification services, ensuring compliance with international safety and quality standards for most of the fleet.
• DNV GL (Classification Society)coreOthersClassification society providing vessel classification services for MV Buvik, ensuring compliance with IACS standards.
• Norwegian Shipbroker's AssociationstrategicOthersProfessional membership organization for shipbrokers. Aasen Chartering operates according to General Terms of Business and Code of Conduct adopted by the association.
• Moster EiendomminorOthersReal estate shareholding investment outside core shipping operations.
• Moster PartnerminorOthersBusiness shareholding investment alongside core shipping activities.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Rødsand Shipping AS: Norwegian coastal bulk carrier operator with self-discharging vessels comparable in size and operating model, serving similar industrial cargo customers in Norway.
• Eidsvaag AS: Norwegian family-owned shipping company operating coastal bulk carriers and general cargo vessels along the Norwegian coast — closely comparable in ownership structure, geography, and customer base.
• Misje Rederi AS: Norwegian coastal shipping company with self-discharging bulk carriers serving Norwegian industrial cargo shippers; operates a similar fleet profile and regional focus.
• Wilson ASA: Norwegian coastal and short-sea bulk carrier operator with a large fleet of self-discharging bulk carriers, directly comparable in service type, vessel configuration, and Norwegian geographic focus.
• Kristian Jebsen Rederi: Bergen-based Norwegian coastal bulk carrier and shipowner with a fleet of self-discharging bulk carriers — directly comparable geography, customer base, and operational model.
• Hagland Bulk AS: Norwegian-headquartered short-sea bulk operator with self-discharging bulk carriers serving Nordic and Northern European industrial customers; comparable vessel technology and cargo focus.

Broad incumbents

• Rhenus Logistics: Large European logistics group with inland and short-sea shipping, including bulk and break-bulk operations across Northern Europe; comparable as a broader freight transport provider serving similar cargo customers.
• Grieg Star AS: Norwegian-headquartered dry bulk shipping group with global open-hatch and bulk carrier operations; comparable as a Norwegian-owned bulk shipping incumbent, though operating at larger scale and broader geography.
• Solvang ASA: Norwegian shipping company with a broader portfolio including gas carriers and chemical tankers; comparable as a Norwegian private/family shipping incumbent, though operating in adjacent segments.

Regional players

• Saga Welco AS: Specialised weldbond and project cargo operator in the Nordic/European region; comparable as a niche European coastal/short-sea carrier serving industrial cargo customers with similar vessel types.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aasen-shipping-as

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aasen Shipping AS