A coalition for ten LNG vessels
While the value of the shares of Zim Integrated Shipping Services dived even below the price of USD 15 per share after the company's IPO at the NYSE in the end of January with an amount of 14.5 million sold shares (less than the 17.5 million shares planned), they have now gained ground to a current level of more than USD 20.
The Haifa-headquartered carrier is now investing in LNG technology to be built at Samsung Heavy Industries.
Zim and Seaspan, an affiliate of Hong Kong's Atlas, recently chartered ten dual-fuel container vessels with a 15,000 teu capacity on a 12 year-basis. According to Zim the long-term charter deal is worth “in excess” of a billion dollars.
Seaspan is currently the owner and operator of a fleet of 127 containerships, representing a total capacity of more than 1 million teu.
Since the Panama passage is limited to vessels with a maximum capacity of 14,000 teu, the ten new units will be deployed in services covering the US east coast from Asia via the Suez canal "to meet growing market demand", as the partner company said in a media release. (cd)