Athens-based pool operator and shipmanager Heidmar has announced its first-ever vessel acquisition, marking a strategic shift in the Nasdaq-listed company’s evolution from pure-play management to asset-backed operations.
The Pankaj Khanna-led outfit has struck a deal to buy the 2008-built 1,702 teu feeder containership A Obelix for $25.25m.
The vessel, acquired from Evangelos Marinakis’ Capital Ship Management, is scheduled for delivery between August and September 2025 and comes attached to a roughly 2.5-year charter with a leading operator. The charter is projected to generate an aggregate EBITDA of $17–20m, the company said.
The deal is being executed under Heidmar’s capital-light co-investment model, where Heidmar and select investors will jointly acquire the vessel. Heidmar will provide full commercial and technical management, thereby expanding revenue streams beyond traditional pooling and management services.
“This marks an important milestone for Heidmar as we broaden our platform and offer investors direct exposure to high-return shipping projects,” Khanna said, adding that the feeder container segment presents strong fundamentals, including low fleet growth, a small orderbook, and aging tonnage, all of which support resilient charter markets.
The security of the charter and residual recycling value are expected to effectively cover the acquisition cost in the high-EBITDA case. Heidmar stated it is currently in discussions with potential joint venture partners for the vessel and for additional feeder opportunities going forward.
The acquisition gives Heidmar a foothold in the container market, specifically in the undersupplied feeder segment, where average vessel age exceeds 15 years and orderbook levels remain at a historic low of around 4%.
The deal represents Heidmar’s first vessel purchase since going public and signals a strategic shift beyond its core focus on tanker and dry bulk management. The company said it sees the move as a key part of its long-term strategy to scale its presence across vessel types and revenue models.
