Ship Finance International acquires 5,800-TEU ships

   Ship Finance International Limited said Tuesday it will acquire two 5,800-TEU container ships built in 2001 and 2002 in combination with long-term charters.
   “The vessels are expected to be delivered to SFL over the course of the next few weeks, and the annual EBITDA contribution is estimated to be approximately $5.5 million on average during the charter period. The charters include a purchase option with profit share after five years,” the company said.
   The purchase follows the acquisition of seven 4,100-TEU container ships last week. Ole Hjertaker, chief executive officer of Ship Finance, said all nine of the container ships were “sourced from the German KG market.”
   “While the capital to be invested in the vessels is limited, the risk/reward profile of the transactions is viewed as attractive,” he said.
   Ship Finance has a 73-vessel fleet, including ships on order: 22 crude oil tankers (VLCC and Suezmax), two chemical tankers, 12 drybulk carriers, 24 container vessels (including six new), two car carriers, six offshore supply vessels, two jack-up drilling rigs, two ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs and one ultra-deepwater drillship.
   The company also said it had settled a claim relating to four Handysize dry bulk carriers, which were re-delivered to it in 2012.