Ian Webber News

Global Ship Lease (GSL), a leading independent owner of containerships with a diversified fleet of mid-sized and smaller containerships, said that  S&P Global Ratings has raised its long-term issuer credit rating.According to the London-headquartered company, its  first priority senior secured notes to B+ from B on the basis of new charters at favorable rates, extended debt maturities, rebalancing supply and demand conditions, and an improved leverage profile.Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, commented, “This important acknowledgement from S&P reflects the significant enhancements that we have made over the last year…

Global Ship Lease (GSL), UK-based holding company and containership charter owner, has now settled a five-year refinancing of its debt.According to the container ship owner, the new syndicated $268m credit facility is signed with a number of commercial lenders including Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, ABN AMRO Bank, CIT Bank, Hellenic Bank and Siemens Financial Services.GSL expects to draw down the first tranche of the New Senior Loan, in full, of $230 million shortly and will use the proceeds to refinance five existing senior credit facilities with maturities in December 2020 and April 2021, thereby reducing its cost of debt…

Marshall Islands-incorporated Global Ship Lease (GSL) has agreed a new charter for the 2003-built, 2,207 TEU GSL Keta.The containership charter owner said in a press release that commencing in late July, the vessel will be chartered for minimum 50 days / maximum 90 days to Hong Kong-based container shipping and logistics service company Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) at a fixed rate of $8,700 per day.Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, said, “We are pleased to have signed this charter at an improved rate with a top-tier counterparty in OOCL. With strong fundamentals driving continuing improvements across the ship sizes that make up our fleet of high-quality…

Marshall Islands-incorporated Global Ship Lease (GSL) announced that it has agreed to acquire three 2004-built, 7,849 TEU containerships for an aggregate purchase price of $48.5 million.Upon delivery during the second quarter, the first vessel will commence a five-year charter with Maersk Line, said a press release from the owner of containerships with a diversified fleet of mid-sized and smaller containerships.The two other vessels are expected to be delivered during the third quarter and will commence three-year charters with Maersk Line, with two consecutive one-year extensions at the charterer’s option.The three vessels are expected to generate Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $32 million in aggregate for the median firm period, and a total of $47 million if all options are exercised.

The containership charter owner Global Ship Lease (GSL) has agreed minimum 21-month / maximum 24-month charters with ZIM Integrated Shipping Services for the 2000-built, 5,936 TEU containerships Dimitris Y and Ian H.The new charters are expected to commence in June and July 2019, in direct continuation of their current charters, and to generate approximately $4.4 million of adjusted EBITDA per vessel for the median firm period.George Youroukos, Executive Chairman of Global Ship Lease, said: “Amid strong demand for our high-specification post-panamax containerships, we are making important progress in securing long-term employment across our fleet…

UK-based containership charter owner Global Ship Lease (GSL) has agreed a minimum 30-month / maximum 38-month charter with Maersk Line for the 2000-built, 5,936 TEU containership Tasman.The new charter is expected to commence in July 2019 on the completion of the current charter and is subject to a further 12-month extension at the charterer’s option.The charter is expected to generate approximately $5.3 million of Adjusted EBITDA for the median firm period and an additional $4.4 million if the 12-month extension option is exercised.George Youroukos, Executive Chairman of Global Ship Lease, said, “Our focus in 2019 has been to draw upon our highly experienced chartering team…

Marshall Islands-incorporated  containership charter owner Global Ship Lease (GSL) has agreed a three-year charter with Hapag-Lloyd for the 2015-built, 9,115 TEU containership UASC Al Khor.The new charter is in direct continuation of the current charter and is expected to commence in June, 2019, with re-delivery in the second quarter 2022, said the owner of containerships with a diversified fleet of mid-sized and smaller containerships.The charter is expected to generate approximately $28 million of Adjusted EBITDA.Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, stated, “We are pleased to announce another longer-term charter of one of our modern…

UK-based containership lessor Global Ship Lease (GSL) has agreed five-year charters with CMA CGM for the 2015-built, 6,882 TEU containerships UASC Bubiyan and UASC Yas.The containership charter owner said in a release that the new charters, which are in addition to the four similar charters announced on November 9, 2018, will commence upon the expiry of the current charters during the second quarter of 2019, are for a period of five years and are at a rate of $25,910 per day, up from $20,000 per day under the current charters.Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, stated, "These new long-term charters with CMA CGM demonstrate the clear market demand for the modern…

Marshall Islands-based Global Ship Lease (GSL) announced that it has completed the proposed merger deal with Greece's Poseidon Containers.According to a release from GSL, the combined company will have a fleet of 38 vessels with a total capacity of 198,793 TEU, and, as of September 30, 2018, an average fleet age weighted by TEU of 10.7 years, and with the recently announced new charters, contracted revenue of approximately $720 million. "The closing of the merger creates a market leader with an asset base of more than $1.3 billion, which the Company believes will allow it to capitalize on favorable market fundamentals in the mid-sized and smaller containership segments…

Containership lessor Global Ship Lease, announced a new time charter with ANL, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMA CGM, for the 2003-built, 2,207 TEU containership GSL Keta (formerly Delmas Keta).The containership charter owner informed that the new charter, commencing on or around November 20, 2018, is for a period of between seven and 10 months (at charterer’s option) at a rate of $8,450 per day, up from $7,800 per day under the preceding charter.The company incorporated in the Marshall Islands has also exercised options to extend the existing charters of the 2002-built, 2,207 TEU Marie Delmas and Kumasi to CMA CGM through December 31, 2019, at a rate of $9,800 per day.

The containership charter owner Global Ship Lease (GSL) announced that Poseidon Containers, with which it has entered a definitive merger agreement, has agreed five-year time charters with CMA CGM for four of its 6,927 TEU containerships, Mary, Kristina, Katherine and Alexandra.The charters will deliver incremental annualized EBITDA of approximately $11.0 million compared to third quarter 2018 contracted rates. The new charter for Mary commenced recently, and the remaining three new charters will commence upon expiry of their existing charters during the first half of 2019. The new five-year charters are expected to generate total EBITDA of approximately $135 million over the five-year contract period.Ian Webber…

Global Ship Lease announced a new time charter with Maersk Line for the 2004-built, 8,063 TEU containership OOCL Ningbo, which has been renamed GSL Ningbo, following her redelivery by OOCL on September 17, 2018.The containership charter owner said in a press release that the vessel will be chartered, commencing on or around September 21, 2018, for a period of between two and 12 months, with a subsequent option for an additional 12-month extension (at charterer’s option).During the first three months, the charter is at a rate of $11,500 per day; during months four to six, at $12,100 per day; during months seven to 12, at $12,400 per day…

Global Ship Lease, a containership charter owner, announced that the Company has taken delivery of a 2005-built, 2,800 TEU containership, now named GSL Valerie. Shortly after delivery, and as agreed at the time the Company contracted to purchase the vessel, GSL Valerie will commence charter employment with CMA CGM for a period of 12 months at a fixed rate of $9,000 per day. The Company’s fleet now comprises 19 vessels with a total capacity of 85,112 TEU. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, commented, “The high-specification GSL Valerie is an excellent addition to the GSL fleet, expanding our exposure to a resurgent market for mid-sized and smaller containerships at significant discount to newbuild parity.

UK-based containership owner  Global Ship Lease (GSL) reported a loss of $99.1 million in its fourth quarter. It posted revenue of $37.9 million in the period. For the year, the company reported that its loss widened to $74.3 million, or $1.61 per share. Revenue was reported as $159 million. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, stated, “In 2017, we continued to benefit from our attractive long-term charters and strong relationships with top-tier liner companies. "Alongside improving market fundamentals, this consistent track record of performance enabled us to refinance all of our outstanding debt on improved terms, not only generating ongoing savings, but also securing Global Ship Lease’s long-term financial strength and flexibility,” he added.

UK-based containership charter owner Global Ship Lease announced that it has agreed to acquire a 2005-built, 2,800 TEU containership for a purchase price of USD 11.3 million. Following delivery, which is expected to be during the second quarter of 2018 once the existing charter terminates, the vessel will be renamed and will commence charter employment with CMA CGM for a period of 12 months at a fixed rate of $9,000 per day. With this addition, the Company’s fleet will comprise 19 vessels with a total capacity of 85,112 TEU. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, commented, “We are pleased to have expanded our fleet in a strengthening market with the acquisition of this high-specification vessel at an attractive price.

Global Ship Lease, a containership charter owner, today announced that it has agreed to an extension of its charter with OOCL for the OOCL Qingdao, a 2004-built, 8,063 TEU containership. The extension commences in direct continuation of the current charter with effect from March 11, 2018, at a fixed rate of $14,000 per day. Earliest redelivery is now January 1, 2019, with latest redelivery March 15, 2019 (at charterer's option). 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.

The London-based Global Ship Lease (GSL) said that it  is well-positioned as one of few publicly listed containership leasing companies to acquire attractive portfolios of ships, attract growth capital or find a complementary merger partner. The containership charter owner has engaged Evercore to act as financial advisor to assist in reviewing strategic alternatives focused on maximizing shareholder value. GSL has successfully refinanced of all of the its indebtedness in October 2017 and with a strengthening market backdrop. These alternatives include, among other things, a corporate acquisition, a business combination or a partnership, while continuing to develop vessel purchase opportunities.

Global Ship Lease, a containership charter owner, announced that it has agreed to an extension of its charter with CMA CGM for the GSL Tianjin, a 2005-built, 8,063 TEU containership. The vessel will be chartered for a period of eight to twelve months (at the charterer's option) at a fixed rate of $11,900 per day, commencing in direct continuation from its current charter on January 26, 2018. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, commented, "We are pleased to have secured this extension with CMA CGM for the continued employment of the GSL Tianjin. Global Ship Lease owns 18 vessels with a total capacity of 82,312 TEU and an average age, weighted by TEU capacity, at December 31, 2017 of 13.0 years.

Global Ship Lease (GSL), a containership charter owner, announced that it has agreed to a new time charter with CMA CGM for an 8,063 TEU containership, the 2005-built OOCL Tianjin, which will be renamed GSL Tianjin. The vessel will be chartered for a period of three to eight months (at the charterer's option) at a fixed rate of $13,000 per day, commencing immediately upon re-delivery from its current charter on or around October 25, 2017. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, commented, "We are pleased to have secured continued  employment for the Tianjin on an EBITDA positive basis with one of the most active charterers in the market, CMA CGM.

Global Ship Lease, Inc., a containership charter owner,  has announced that it has signed time charter extensions with CMA CGM for two 2,207 TEU containerships, the 2002-built Julie Delmas and the 2003-built Delmas Keta. The vessels will be chartered for a period of 12 months (plus or minus 45 days at charterer’s option) at a fixed rate of $7,800 per vessel per day, commencing immediately upon expiration of the current time charters on September 11 and 20, 2017, respectively. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, said, “We are delighted to have secured extensions for these two time charters with the current charterer, CMA CGM, on an EBITDA positive basis.

The London-based Global Ship Lease (GSL) on Monday reported second-quarter profit of $7.6 million. The containership owner posted revenue of $40.3 million in the period. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, stated, "During the second quarter of 2017, we remained focused on generating strong cashflows from stable, fixed-rate contracts with industry-leading counterparties. "We remain encouraged by the upward movement of the spot charter market throughout 2017 and believe that this should benefit those of our vessels due to become open later this year and early next," he concluded. Global Ship Lease owns 18 vessels with a total capacity of 82,312 TEU and an average age, weighted by TEU capacity, at June 30, 2017 of 12.5 years.

The containership charter owner Global Ship Lease (GSL) has reported first-quarter net income of $6.8 million. Its revenue stood at $39.6 mln for the Quarter. Ian Webber, Chief Executive Officer of Global Ship Lease, stated, "During the first quarter of 2017, we continued to execute our core strategy, maximizing the value of our long-term time charters with high-quality counterparties, maintaining high levels of vessel utilization and closely controlling costs. The fleet generated operating revenues from fixed-rate time charters of $39.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017, down $3.0 million or 7.0% on operating revenues of $42.6 million for the comparative quarter in 2016.

UK-based containership owner Global Ship Lease (GSL) has reported a fourth-quarter loss of $54.3 million, after reporting a profit in the same period a year earlier. It posted revenue of $41.4 million in the period. Operating revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016 were $166.5 million. For the year, the company reported that its loss widened to $65.1 million. At December 31, 2016, Global Ship Lease owned 18 vessels with a total capacity of 82,312 TEU and an average age, weighted by TEU capacity of 12.0 years. All vessels are currently fixed on time charters, 15 with CMA CGM. The average remaining term of the charters is 3.9 years or 4.0 years on a weighted basis.