MPC Container Ships to equip five more vessels with scrubbers

Oslo-listed feeder container ships owner and operator MPC Container Ships ASA on Friday (30 November) said it has exercised options to equip additional five vessels with exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) and charters for six scrubber-retrofitted vessels have been agreed.

The charterparties will be initiated after scrubber retrofitting and with a duration into 2022. The agreements are concluded at favourable rates and are expected to yield attractive returns for the company. The scrubber investments are expected to be financed with cash on hand and available debt capacity on the company’s existing fleet.

MPC Container Ships, meanwhile, says it seeks to take advantage of the optionality of its scrubber programme by analysing further retrofits on a vessel by vessel basis. In this context, the company is already in dialogue with various liner companies on further scrubber-linked employment concepts.

“We are excited to have concluded charters for six scrubber-retrofitted vessels in our fleet,” comments CEO Constantin Baack.

“The transaction adds charter coverage at attractive rates and provides significant upside potential post 1 January 2020.

“Equally important, the transaction demonstrates an increasing interest from liner companies for scrubber-linked charters and MPC Container Ships is well-positioned to become a preferred partner for charterers through the platform and the flexibility it has to offer to its customers.”

Related: MPC Container Ships orders five scrubbers, options for 50 more

Published: 5 December, 2018