Diana agrees to time charter with Maersk, reups with CMA CGM

The latest time charter agreement between Maersk Line and Athens-based ship lessor Diana Containerships is for a 6,541 TEU post-Panamax container vessel for a period of up to 18 months.

   Athens, Greece-based transportation services company Diana Containerships, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, has entered into a time charter contract with Maersk Line A/S for one of its post-Panamax container vessels, the M/V Puelo, for a period of eight to 18 months, the companies confirmed July 13.
   The gross charter rate is $10,600 per day for the first eight months, and $12,000 per day for the balance period of the time charter, in each case minus a 5 percent commission paid to third parties. The charter is expected to commence on Aug. 2, 2017.
   The Puelo, which has an overall length of 304 meters (997 feet) and a 40-meter (141 feet) breadth, is a 6,541-TEU, Marshall Islands-flagged container vessel built in 2006.
   Diana Containerships also announced that, also through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has agreed to extend the present time charter contract with CMA CGM, Marseille, for one of its Panamax container vessels, the M/V Centaurus, for a period of minimum eight months and a maximum of 12 months.
   The gross charter rate is $7,950 USD per day, minus a 3.5 percent commission paid to third parties. The new charter period is expected to commence on Aug. 23.
   The Centaurus is a 3,426-TEU container vessel built in 2010. The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel has an overall length of 228 meters (748 feet) and a breadth of 32 meters (105 feet).
   The two contracts are expected to generate about $4.45 million in gross revenue for the minimum scheduled period of the time charters, according to Diana Containerships.
   The time charter contracts will help supplement Diana Containerships’ existing fleet, which currently consists of 11 container vessels, five Panamax vessels and six post-Panamax. The company’s fleet is managed by Marshall Islands-based subsidiary Unitized Ocean Transport Ltd.