Asiatic/Atlantic Lloyd (AL Group), Sea Consortium and XT Shipping have emerged as the owners behind the charters of nine midsize container ships to CMA CGM.
The French carrier will charter six 7,100-teu newbuildings being built in China for Singapore and Hamburg-based AL Group due for delivery this year and next.
It is also taking two 7,092-teu ships under construction for Singapore-based Sea Consortium, as well as another vessel in the same design being built for XT Shipping of Israel.
AL Group’s vessels will be chartered to CMA CGM for a period of at least five years at rates in the mid-$30,000 per day region, plus a scrubber premium, according to market sources.
The details emerged following the delivery of the first of the vessel in the series to the tonnage provider.
The 7,100-teu ALS Ceres (built 2023) was delivered on 29 May, although a source close to the deal said charters had been secured earlier on a private basis.
The ALS Ceres and five sister ships of the Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI)’s Sealion design are slated for delivery through to June 2024.
They belong to a series of ammonia and methanol-ready sister ships that Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC) will build for the German-controlled non-operating owner.
CMA CGM is taking three other vessels for three-year periods at rates reported to be around $39,000 per day, in deals also said to include a scrubber premium.
The trio — Sea Consortium’s 7,092-teu MH Pegasus and MH Perseus and XT Shipping’s Pelion — is slated for delivery in the next four months.
All three are under construction at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding.
Alphaliner lists the SDARI Sealion 7100 design as a new ship type that is 255 metres long and 42.8 metres (17 rows) wide, with dwt of 81,000 tonnes and capable of carrying 1,143 reefer containers.
Brokers said liner operators have been securing strategic midsize container ships for long-haul routes well in advance, reflecting a shortage of supply of larger tonnage in the charter market for the rest of the year.
