HARPAIN SHIPPING is a shipbroking and shipowning company founded in 1988, dedicated to servicing the Passenger Ship and Ferry as well as the Gas and Chemical Tanker Industry. 

Gas Carrier Background

HARPAIN SHIPPING has a well founded history in the LPG Market, thanks to the founder Rimbert Harpain who contracted several LPG Carriers such as the two 5.600 cbm GAZ NORDSEE and GAZ PACIFIC, the 15.000 cbm TYCHO BRAHE and the DONAU, with its 30.000 cbm still the largest semi-ref in the world, all built by MEYER WERFT in Papenburg.
In the late 90s HARPAIN SHIPPING contracted two 12.500 cbm LPG/E carriers, the CLIPPER VIKING and CLIPPER HARALD again with MEYER WERFT on behalf of the STEENSLAND/ SOLVANG Group in Norway.

Today, HARPAIN SHIPPING operates eight semi-ref LPG/E Carriers:The 1991 built GASCHEM BERGEN and its sister vessel, GASCHEM TANA built 1992, as well as the 1995 and 1996 built "GASCHEM SNOW" and "GASCHEM ICE" together with the 4 x 17.000 cbm newbuildings from Meyer Werft in Germany, GASCHEM NORDSEE, GASCHEM PACIFIC, GASCHEM ADRIATIC and GASCHEM ANTARCTIC, and one semi-ref LPG Carrier, the 2002 built QUEEN ZENOBIA. All vessels are employed successfully in the Gaschem Pool.

Passenger Shipping Background

As Shipbrokers Harpain Shipping has an extensive expertise in the contracting as well as Sale & Purchase of Cruise Vessels as well as Ro/Pax Vessels.

In 1984, the founder, Rimbert Harpain contracted on behalf of HOME LINES the first Cruise Ship, the HOMERIC at the Meyer Werft in Papenburg, soon followed by the CROWN ODYSSEY in 1985 on behalf of the PANAGOPULOS GROUP, suceeded by five vessels for CHANDRIS, today CELEBRITY CRUISES and resulted in the ultimate Kick-off for Meyer Werft being one of the leading shipyards in the cruising sector.

In 1994 HARPAIN SHIPPING contracted on behalf of ATTICA GROUP the first ultra modern ferries for Greece. SUPERFAST I & II built at SSW in Bremerhaven which were the first vessels that would manage to bring the travel time of the tradtitional Ancona - Patras Route under 24 hours. The extensive Newbuilding Programm by of ATTICA consisted of a total of 12 ships and was finalized in 2001. All Newbuildings were contracted by HARPAIN SHIPPING at reputable European yards, and some of them have already been resold mainly through us.