05 Aug 11 – Seaspan Corp. has officialized last night a contract for three ships of 10,000 teu, part of a seven ship order concluded in June with the Yangzijiang Shibuilding group (YZJ) by Greater China Intermodal Investments LLC (GCI), a Marshall-based investment vehicle established by an affiliate of the Carlyle Group (a US asset manager) and in which Seaspan holds an 11% ownership interest. The three ship contracts were signed pursuant to Seaspans right of first refusal agreement with GCI.
The seven ships will be chartered to Hanjin for ten years with an option for two additional years. They are scheduled for delivery in 2014 and 2015. They will be built at the Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu site. They will be designed according to Seaspan specifications. Seaspan has options to purchase an additional 18 similar newbuilding vessels, which will also be subject to Seaspans right of first refusal agreement with GCI. GCI plans to invest up to USD 900 M in containership assets, primarily newbuilding vessels strategic to the Peopleļ¼s Republic of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau (summarized as Greater China).
(Source : Press release / Alphaliner)