GSL Extends CMA CGM Charters
Global Ship Lease (GSL) has extended the charters of the Marie Delmas and Kumasi, two 2,207-TEU vessels, for up to 3.25 years.
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."
Ian added: "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."
Ian 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."
Global Ship Lease is a containership charter owner. Incorporated in the Marshall Islands, Global Ship Lease commenced operations in December 2007 with a business of owning and chartering out containerships under mainly long-term, fixed-rate charters to top tier container liner companies.
Global Ship Lease owns 18 vessels with a total capacity of 82,312 TEU and an average age, weighted by TEU capacity, at July 31, 2016 of 11.6 years. All 18 vessels are currently fixed on time charters, 15 of which are with CMA CGM.
The average remaining term of the charters, taking into account the recently agreed charter extensions, at July 31, 2016 is 4.3 years or 4.4 years on a weighted basis.
