Seaspan accepts new containership

Seaspan accepts new containership Hong Kong-based Seaspan Corp. said Tuesday it has accepted delivery of the CSCL San Jose.
   The 2,500-TEU containership, constructed by Jiangsu Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Co., brings Seaspan’s operating fleet to 35 vessels with 33 additional new vessels to be delivered over the next three years.
   Seaspan said the CSCL San Jose is subject to a time charter with the Asia division of China Shipping Container Lines Co. for a 12-year period at a fixed rate. China Shipping is the world’s eighth-largest liner company in terms of shipping capacity. Under terms of the fixed-rate time charter for the San Jose, China Shipping is responsible for fuel costs and all cargo operating and related expenses.
   Last month, Seaspan reported a third quarter net loss of $5 million, compared to a net loss of $38.6 million in the same 2007 period. Officials for the firm said they remained confident about the firm's containership chartering business.
   “We recognize that the global economy and the credit markets are experiencing a period of unprecedented and extraordinary volatility,' said Garry Wang, chief executive officer of Seaspan. 'However, container shipping remains the most efficient means to transport goods from areas of manufacturing to areas of consumption. While there has recently been and there may be in the near term less demand for containerized goods, we believe the industry will continue to grow at a healthy rate over the long-term.”