HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 23, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL) ("Ship Finance" or the "Company") today announced the agreement to acquire two 82,000 dwt Kamsarmax dry-bulk carriers built in 2012, in combination with long-term time-charters to a state-owned Chinese charterer.
The vessels are expected to be delivered to SFL within the next two months, and the aggregate annual EBITDA contribution from the vessels is estimated to approximately $7 million on average during the 8-year charter period.
The Company is also pleased to announce long-term time-charters for four 8,700 teu newbuilding container vessels, currently under construction in Korea. The charterer will be a large, European-based container line, and the charter period will be seven years from delivery of each vessel. The estimated annual EBITDA contribution from the vessels is approximately $46 million in aggregate.
Ole B. Hjertaker, CEO of Ship Finance Management AS, said in a comment: "We are pleased to announce acquisitions and long-term charters to top quality counterparties that will continue to build our long-term distribution capacity. The container vessels under construction are currently ahead of schedule, and the charter-rate is reflective of the very high specifications including the latest in eco-design features."
The Board of Directors
Ship Finance International Limited
Hamilton, Bermuda
Questions could be directed to:
Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer, Ship Finance Management AS
+47 23114011
Magnus T. Valeberg, Senior Vice President, Ship Finance Management AS
+47 23114012
About Ship Finance
Ship Finance is a major ship owning company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SFL). Including newbuildings, the Company has a fleet of 73 vessels, including 22 crude oil tankers (VLCC and Suezmax), two chemical tankers, 14 drybulk carriers (including two acquisitions), 24 container vessels (including four newbuildings), two car carriers, six offshore supply vessels, two jack-up drilling rigs, two ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs and one ultra-deepwater drillship. The fleet is one of the largest in the world and most of the vessels are employed on long-term charters.
More information can be found on the Company's website: www.shipfinance.org
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Ship Finance management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Ship Finance believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, Ship Finance cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions.
Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this presentation include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
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