Griffin Expands Contalnership Fleet

South African-based Griffin Shipping Holdings has expanded its fleet to 15 ships with the purchase of two 1,000 TEU containerships from Unicorn Lines. The vessels Bastion and Maersk Santos, built in 1993 and 1994, respectively, were purchased by Griffin for approximately $40 million. Both vessels were constructed in Szczecin, Poland, to the B183 standard design, and have a service speed of 16.5 knots. The Bastion has a six-month charter with Korean operator Dongnama, and the Maersk Santos has a fifteen month charter with Maersk. The ships will be transferred to the Hong Kong register and managed by the company's Asian division. Griffin Shipping Holdings owns a mixed fleet of dry cargo vessels, including mid-size containerships and handysize bulk carriers, which are managed from its Hong Kong offices.

All of the company's ships are employed on charters in South Africa, Asia, and Europe.