OceanPal, a shipping company that trades on the stock market, will start an artificial intelligence division financed by a USD 120 million PIPE and aims to buy up to ten percent of all NEAR tokens. This step turns the sea transport firm into a mix of private equity, crypto holdings, and AI tools. The announcement dated 28 Oct 2025 signals a strategic pivot from ships and cargo toward data and tokens.
The 28 Oct 2025 update outlines a move from physical operations to digital assets and AI-led processes. In the last quarter, the firm narrowed its loss to eight cents a share, down from one dollar and six cents a year earlier, and booked vessel revenue of USD 5.8 million. The shift as combining private equity financing mechanics, crypto exposure, and AI capabilities.
PIPE provides fast funding from private investors under special terms. PIPE means a private investor buys stock in a public company so the firm gets money quickly, and OceanPal plans to use the USD 120 million cash to accelerate its AI rollout.
The AI work will predict repairs, choose shorter routes, and digitize the supply chain. The company says these tools aim to forecast when ships need maintenance, optimize voyages, and modernize data flows across its logistics network.
Deal overview and strategic shift
OceanPal plans to hold up to 100 million NEAR out of a total supply of one billion, which grows about three percent a year. NEAR hosts a “User-Owned AI” program that lets token holders vote on AI models, and the company says the tokens will serve both as a cash reserve and as a way for ships and ports to share data.
Recent figures show operational tightening alongside the strategic pivot. In the last quarter, the loss narrowed to eight cents per share and vessel revenue reached USD 5.8 million, framing the financial context for the PIPE-funded initiative.
The deal mixes quick cash from the PIPE, a large crypto position, and an AI rollout. OceanPal links private financing with a treasury shift into tokens and a technology drive at sea.
OceanPal is using private money and crypto tokens to speed its digital shift. The outcome will hinge on AI execution, market swings in NEAR, and how oversight evolves as the company blends shipping, finance, and on-chain governance.
