Seaspan orders four 10,000 TEU newbuilds

JANUARY 23, 2013 — Seaspan Corporation (NYSE:SSW) is continuing its fleet expansion. On January 16 it announced it had placed an order for five 14,000 TEU containerships with Hyundai Heavy Industries. Today it reported that it has signed contracts for the construction of four 10,000 TEU class newbuilding containerships at Jiangsu New Yangzi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and Jiangsu Yangzi Xinfu Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2014 and will be constructed using Seaspan’s fuel efficient SAVER design. Concurrently with executing the newbuilding contracts, Seaspan signed long term, fixed-rate time charters for these vessels with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (“MOL”).

In connection with this transaction, Seaspan has also agreed to purchase from MOL four 2003-built 4,600 TEU class second hand vessels, for delivery in the second half of 2013 and first quarter of 2014, and has signed short-term fixed-rate time charters for these vessels with MOL.

These four 10,000 TEU class newbuilding containerships and four 4,600 TEU class second hand containerships remain subject to allocation in relation to the 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.