Maersk Line Linked to Purchase of Six Boxships

The world’s largest container shipping company Maersk Line has reportedly invested USD 280 million to acquire six second-hand containerships from German Commerzbank.

Under the deal, reported by Intermodal Research and Valuations, Maersk Line has added two Sub-Panamaxes and four Panamaxes, which were already chartered in by the Danish firm.

The vessels in question have been identified as 13,092 TEU Maersk Eureka and Maersk Edirne, built in 2012 by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). The two ships were previously known as Hanjin Sooho and Hanjin Asia and were part of Hanjin Shipping’s fleet, a former South Korean shipping giant which went bankrupt in 2017.

The ultra large containerships are worth around USD 58 million each, according to the data from VesselsValue.

The smaller vessels acquired by the line are said to be 4,800 TEU HS Shackleton and HS Baffin, both built in 2013 and worth around USD 30 million each.

The remaining two ships are 4,800 TEU Merkur Harbour and 4,255 TEU Rio Connecticut (also known as Merkur Planet), built in 2012, the total value of which is estimated to be around USD 40 million, based on VV’s valuation.

When approached by World Maritime News, a Maersk Line spokesperson said that in the normal course of its business, the company continuously reviews its fleet composition and explores opportunities for chartered ships and newbuildings.

However, the company did not want to comment on the purchase.

World Maritime News Staff