Seaspan Corporation announced today that it has exercised options for the construction of five (5) 10,000 TEU class containerships at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. These vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2015 and will be constructed using Seaspan's fuel efficient SAVER design. Seaspan expects to sign long-term time charters for these vessels with one of the liner majors in the near term. The vessels remain subject to allocation in relation to Seaspan's right of first refusal agreement with Greater China Intermodal Investments LLC, an investment vehicle established by Seaspan, an affiliate of global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group, and Blue Water Commerce, LLC, the Company said in a press release.
About Seaspan
Seaspan provides many of the world's major shipping lines with creative outsourcing alternatives to vessel ownership by offering long-term leases on large, modern containerships combined with industry leading ship management services. With a reputation for safety, quality and innovation, Seaspan provides turnkey services in ship design, cadet development, crewing, and newbuilding supervision. Seaspan's managed fleet consists of 104 containerships representing a total capacity of over 790,000 TEU, including 31 newbuilding containerships on order scheduled for delivery to Seaspan and third parties by the end of 2016. Seaspan's current operating fleet of 71 vessels has an average age and remaining lease period (excluding the effect of charterers' options to extend certain time charters) of approximately six years.
Seaspan's common shares, Series C Preferred Shares and Series D Preferred Shares are listed on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbols "SSW", "SSW PR C" and "SSW PR D", respectively.