New York-listed shipowner SFL Corporation has agreed to acquire two container vessels and one very large ammonia carrier for an aggregate purchase price of around $365m, combined with long-term charters to a liner company and a commodities firm. The deal covers two 8,800 teu container vessels scheduled for delivery in 2027, along with one 93,000 cbm dual-fuel very large ammonia carrier (VLAC) due for delivery in 2028. SFL has secured minimum eight-year time charters with a liner company for the two container vessels, with options to extend by up to four more years. The charters include purchase options at the end of years 8, 10 and 12, incorporating a profit share feature. The VLAC has been chartered to a commodities industry company for a minimum of five years from delivery, with an option to extend by up to two further years. The charterer will also have the option to pursue a sale of the vessel during the final two years of the fixed period, subject to a profit share arrangement with SFL. Combined, these charters will add a minimum of around $333m to SFL's fixed-rate charter backlog, a figure that could rise if extension options are exercised. Ole B. Hjertaker, chief executive officer of SFL Management AS, said the company continues to build its asset portfolio by pairing newbuilds with early delivery dates to existing high-quality counterparties. He noted that acquisitions and new charters announced so far this year have added more than $1.6 billion to SFL's fixed rate charter backlog.
