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ARTICLE · 11 FEBRUARY 2026

Trends In Ship Finance

The ship finance industry continues to evolve in a manner previewed in years past by regulatory action and evolving lender profiles. This Holland & Knight article explores recent trends in traditional bank lending...

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The ship finance industry continues to evolve in a manner previewed in years past by regulatory action and evolving lender profiles. This Holland & Knight article explores recent trends in traditional bank lending and the rise of direct and private credit lenders. Key topics include the impact of Basel IV in Europe, proliferation of revolving credit facilities, burgeoning role of direct lenders, impact of the Nordic bond market and effects of the suspended U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) port fees on lease finance strategies.

The Impact of Basel IV: A Challenge for Ship Finance

One of the seemingly evergreen narratives in ship finance is the still-unclear impact of Basel IV on lending by European banks. Basel IV, the latest iteration of global banking standards, was implemented in the European Union at the beginning of 2025. It aims to strengthen regulation, supervision and risk management. However, the full extent of the impact of Basel IV on ship finance

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