SFL Corporation extends Hapag-Lloyd's charter on six 15,400 TEU vessels by seven years, reinforcing their long-term partnership.
In a further demonstration of strength in the container shipping charter market, SFL Corporation Ltd - the vessel-owning arm of Norwegian shipping magnate John Fredriksen - announced on 11 September that it has reached an agreement with Hapag-Lloyd to extend the charter contracts on six 15,400 TEU container vessels by an additional seven years, with the extended terms running through to 2035 and 2036 respectively.
SFL currently controls a fleet of 61 vessels across multiple asset classes, comprising 16 tankers, two dry bulk carriers, 30 container ships (including five newbuildings), 11 car carriers, and two drilling rigs. With the latest renewal agreements incorporated, SFL's total contracted charter backlog now stands at approximately USD 4.6 billion - a figure that underscores the company's sustained ability to secure long-term revenue commitments from leading global operators.
Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer of SFL Management, affirmed the strategic significance of the agreement: 'We are very pleased to further strengthen our long-term relationship with Hapag-Lloyd, the world's fifth largest container liner.'
According to the latest data from Alphaliner, Hapag-Lloyd ranks fifth among the top 100 global container liner operators, deploying a fleet of 286 container vessels with a combined capacity of 2.396 million TEU - of which 134 vessels are owned and 152 are chartered. The carrier's orderbook stands at 64 newbuildings, representing an additional capacity of approximately 499,000 TEU, positioning Hapag-Lloyd firmly on a trajectory of continued fleet expansion and long-term competitive growth.
