Singapore container carrier Pacific International Lines (PIL) has said further ship sales are on the cards as it confirmed the disposal of six neo-panamax vessels this month.
TradeWinds had reported US-listed shipowner Seaspan Corp snapping up four of the 12,000-teu units for $367m, while Taiwan's Wan Hai Lines took two for $186.8m.
The ships were among the newest and largest in its fleet of more than 130 units.
PIL had refused to comment on market speculation at the time, but said in a statement on Friday that it was "delighted" to have concluded the disposals to the two owners.
The sales were carried out "to better allocate our resources to areas in which we are growing", the company added.
The company said it needs a leaner fleet profile to carry that out.
"We are happy with the prices obtained from the sales, and going forward we will continue with our plan for the remaining excess vessels," PIL said.
"With more resources available, we look forward to serving our customers better by providing high-quality service coverage in our key markets."
PIL also said it is embarking on a "service rationalisation" as part of its aim of improving operational efficiency.
Key markets are the focus
This will see efforts concentrated on Asia, the Middle East, Africa, South America and Oceania.
The company has already pulled out of the transpacific market, and has reportedly offloaded its 60% stake in South Pacific islands operator Pacific Direct Line (PDL), which operates five feeders of between 520 teu and 940 teu.
The company was forced to deny some of its vessels were arrested Singapore earlier this year, blaming instead a lack of low sulphur fuel oil for the prolonged anchoring of a number of ships there.
ICBC Leasing and Shanghai-based China Construction Bank Financial Leasing (CCB FL) told TradeWinds this month that the two companies shared the financing of the four PIL vessels acquired by Seaspan.
PIL bought out the financing for an undisclosed sum in order to sell to Seaspan, they said.
