In International Shipping News 11/08/2016
Source: Global Ship Lease
Global Ship Lease, Inc. (GSL) (the “Company” or “GSL”) today announced that it has agreed with CMA CGM to extend the charters of the Marie Delmas and Kumasi, two 2,207-TEU vessels, for a period of up to 3.25 years, at GSL’s option. Under the agreement, a revised rate of $13,000 per day will apply from August 1, 2016 until the charters’ previous earliest expiry dates in September 2017, after which Global Ship Lease has three consecutive option periods, the first of 1.25 years and the second and third of one year each, through December 31, 2020 at a rate of $9,800 per day.
Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, stated, “We are pleased to have secured extended terms through the end of 2020 for two of our earliest expiring charters, increasing our contracted revenue by $19.0 million at a time when much of the container shipping market continues to experience significant distress. Additionally, our successive charter options on these two vessels from late 2017 position us to benefit in a strengthening market, while ensuring a base charter rate that is in excess of the current prevailing spot market rates.”
Mr. Webber continued, “Long-term contracts with high-quality counterparties are a central component of Global Ship Lease’s strategy, and the current market volatility further underscores their importance. Our secured cashflow, together with our solid balance sheet, enables us to create long-term shareholder value both through proactive leverage reduction and by pursuing acquisition opportunities on a highly selective basis.”
Source: Global Ship Lease
