NASDAQ-LISTED Diana Containerships, a Greek shipping company, has agreed to pay US$22.2 million apiece for the 2004-built sisterships, the YM March and YM Great, now on time-charters to Yang Ming at $12,000 per day.
Yang Ming (UK) can redeliver YM Great any time between September 7 and March 7 while YM March can be redelivered between November 6 and April 6. Diana expects the sellers to hand over the ships in September and October.
The acquisitions from Japanese owners will lift the Diana fleet of 10 boxships and represent a first use of funds from a recent $92 million share placement, reported Lloyd's List.
Participating in the equity investment were the company's listed dry bulk affiliate Diana Shipping, US investment fund 12 West Capital and insiders, including senior executives.
Meanwhile, the shipping company has posted a first half net profit of $900,000 compared to a year-on-year net loss of $36.8 million, the result of an impairment loss and actual losses arising from the disposal of three vessels.
Time charter revenues, net of prepaid charter revenue amortisation for the six months ending June 30 amounted to $26 million, compared to $27.4 million for the same period of 2013.