On June 4, Global Ship Lease (GSL), a New York-listed independent container ship owner and charterer, announced that, subject to certain conditions precedent being met, the Company has agreed individual newbuilding contracts for 10 mid-size, ultra-high-reefer, wide-beam, latest-generation containerships (the “Newbuilds”) for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $917 million.
These highly flexible ships have been designed and specified to ensure a superior fit for existing and future market needs, with deliveries scheduled to take place between 4Q 2028 and 1Q 2030. Upon delivery from the respective yards, the Newbuilds are contracted on multi-year charters, with a TEU-weighted average term of 6.7 years and at rates expected to generate aggregate Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $665 million over their respective charter terms.
Although shipyard information was not disclosed, reports surfaced in late May that Global Ship Lease had ordered eight 6,200 TEU container ships from Chinese shipbuilder Sanfu Shipbuilding. This was reportedly the shipowner’s first order in the newbuilding market and Sanfu Shipbuilding’s first undertaking of 6,000 TEU mid-sized container ships. Global Ship Lease has previously relied heavily on the secondhand market to expand its fleet. Dragon Shipbuilding will continue to monitor the shipyard information for the remaining two new ships.
George Youroukos, Executive Chairman of Global Ship Lease, commented: “We are pleased to have agreed attractive terms for these best-in-class vessels, which we expect to be the workhorses of global container shipping for many years to come, ensuring that our existing “cash cows” are successfully replaced as they begin to age out. Alongside our continuing efforts to renew our fleet with well-specified, on-the-water vessels, we have worked hard to ensure that the next generation represented by these newbuilds reflects the evolving needs of our liner customers for maximum flexibility to adapt to changing trade patterns, as well as highly efficient operation. Consistent with our long-held strategy of mitigating downside risk while unlocking attractive upside potential, we are pleased to have fixed all 10 of the Newbuilds on multi-year charters commencing upon delivery from the yards. Moving on these compelling newbuilding opportunities is facilitated both by our strong balance sheet and our stable platform with existing forward charter cover of $2.1 billion spread over 2.6 years.”
Although shipyard information was not disclosed, reports surfaced in late May that Global Ship Lease had ordered eight 6,200 TEU container ships from Chinese shipbuilder Sanfu Shipbuilding. This was reportedly the shipowner’s first order in the newbuilding market and Sanfu Shipbuilding’s first undertaking of 6,000 TEU mid-sized container ships. Global Ship Lease has previously relied heavily on the secondhand market to expand its fleet. Dragon Shipbuilding will continue to monitor the shipyard information for the remaining two new ships.
Global Ship Lease is a leading independent owner of containerships with a diversified fleet of mid-sized and smaller containerships. Incorporated in the Marshall Islands, Global Ship Lease commenced operations in December 2007 with a business of owning and chartering out containerships under fixed-rate charters to top tier container liner companies. It was listed on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2008.
Our fleet of 71 vessels as of March 31, 2026, had an average age weighted by TEU capacity of 18.2 years. 41 ships are wide-beam Post-Panamax.
As of March 31, 2026, the average remaining term of the Company’s charters, to the mid-point of redelivery, including options under the Company’s control and other than if a redelivery notice has been received, was 2.6 years on a TEU-weighted basis. Contracted revenue on the same basis was $2.05 billion. Contracted revenue was $2.58 billion, including options under charterers’ control and with latest redelivery date, representing a weighted average remaining term of 3.3 years.