v3.26.1
Description of Business
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2026
Description of Business [Abstract]  
Description of Business
1.
Description of Business
 
The Company’s business is to own and charter out containerships to leading liner companies.
 
On August 14, 2008, Global Ship Lease, Inc. (the “Company”) merged indirectly with Marathon Acquisition Corp., a company then listed on The American Stock Exchange, and with the pre-existing Global Ship Lease, Inc. GSL Holdings, Inc., the surviving entity (the “Marathon Merger”), changed its name to Global Ship Lease, Inc. and became listed on The New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”).
 
On November 15, 2018, the Company completed a transformative transaction and acquired Poseidon Containers’ 20 containerships, one of which, the Argos, was contracted to be sold, which sale was completed in December 2018 (the “Poseidon Transaction”).
 
In 2021, the Company purchased 23 vessels. The Company purchased seven containerships of approximately 6,000 TEU each, 12 containerships from Borealis Finance LLC (the “Twelve Vessels”) and four 5,470 TEU Panamax containerships (the “Four Vessels”). Also on June 30, 2021, vessel La Tour was sold.
 
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company purchased four 8,544 TEU vessels for an aggregate purchase price of $123,300, which were delivered on various dates in May and June 2023. Also on March 23, 2023, GSL Amstel was sold.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company agreed to purchase four high-reefer ECO 9,019 TEU containerships (the “ECO 9,019 TEU Vessels”) for an aggregate price of $273,891, of which three were delivered on various dates in December 2024.
 
During the first quarter of 2025, the fourth ECO 9,019 TEU Vessel was delivered in January 2025, and the Company sold also three vessels Tasman, Keta and Akiteta. In May 2025, Dimitris Y was contracted to be sold and was delivered to the buyers on October 13, 2025 (see Note 4). During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company also agreed to purchase three ECO 8,586 TEU containerships (the “ECO 8,586 TEU Vessels”) for an aggregate purchase price of $90,000, of which two were delivered on various dates in December 2025 and the third one on January 9, 2026.
 
During the second quarter of 2026, the Company entered into agreements for the sale of four ships, Ian H, Manet, Kumasi and Julie, for an aggregate sale price of $65,500. The ships are scheduled to be delivered to buyers upon expiry of their respective charters.
 
During the second quarter of 2026, the Company agreed individual newbuilding contracts for 15 mid-size, ultra-high-reefer, wide-beam, latest-generation containerships for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1,329,863. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had a total of 15 container vessels under construction, with scheduled deliveries between fourth quarter 2028 and first quarter 2030.
 
Following the above-mentioned additions and the sale of vessels up to June 30, 2026, the Company’s fleet comprises (i) 71 operating containerships with average age as at June 30, 2026, weighted by TEU capacity, of 18.4 years, and (ii) 15 under construction container vessels.
The following table provides information about the 71 operating container vessels owned as at June 30, 2026.
 
      
Company Name (1) Country of
Incorporation
Vessel
Name
Capacity in
TEUs
(2)
Year
Built
Earliest Charter
Expiry Date
Global Ship Lease 54 LLC
Liberia
CMA CGM Thalassa 11,040 2008 3Q28
Laertis Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Zim Norfolk 9,115 2015 2Q32 (4)
Penelope Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Zim Xiamen 9,115 2015 3Q32 (4)
Telemachus Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Anthea Y 9,115 2015 4Q28
Global Ship Lease 78 LLC (3)
Liberia
Sydney Express 9,019 2016 3Q27 (5)
Global Ship Lease 79 LLC (3)
Liberia
Istanbul Express 9,019 2016 1Q28 (5)
Global Ship Lease 77 LLC (3)
Liberia
Bremerhaven Express 9,019 2015 2Q27 (5)
Global Ship Lease 76 LLC (3)
Liberia
Czech 9,019 2015 2Q28 (5)
Global Ship Lease 53 LLC
Liberia
MSC Tianjin 8,603 2005 3Q30 (6)
Global Ship Lease 52 LLC
Liberia
MSC Qingdao 8,603 2004 4Q30 (6)
Global Ship Lease 43 LLC
Liberia
GSL Ningbo 8,603 2004 3Q30 (6)
Global Ship Lease 72 LLC
Liberia
GSL Alexandra 8,599 2004 3Q28 (7)
Global Ship Lease 73 LLC
Liberia
GSL Sofia 8,599 2003 2Q28 (7)
Global Ship Lease 74 LLC
Liberia
GSL Effie 8,599 2003 3Q28 (7)
Global Ship Lease 75 LLC
Liberia
GSL Lydia 8,599 2003 1Q28 (7)
Global Ship Lease 80 LLC
Liberia
Lotus A 8,586
2010
4Q26 (8)
Global Ship Lease 81 LLC
Liberia
Koi 8,586 2011 4Q26 (8)
Global Ship Lease 82 LLC
Liberia
Cypress 8,586 2011 4Q26 (8)
Global Ship Lease 30 Limited
Marshall Islands
GSL Eleni 7,847 2004 4Q27 (9)
Global Ship Lease 31 Limited
Marshall Islands
GSL Kalliopi 7,847 2004 1Q28 (9)
Global Ship Lease 32 Limited
Marshall Islands
GSL Grania 7,847 2004 1Q28 (9)
Alexander Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Colombia Express 7,072 2013 4Q28 (10)
Hector Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Panama Express 7,072 2013 4Q29 (10)
Ikaros Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Costa Rica Express 7,072 2013 2Q29 (10)
Philippos Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Nicaragua Express 7,072 2013 3Q29 (10)
Global Ship Lease 48 LLC
Liberia
Ateti (ex CMA CGM Berlioz) (11) 7,023 2001
    2Q29 (11)
Aristoteles Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Mexico Express 6,918 2015 3Q29 (10)
Menelaos Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Jamaica Express 6,918 2015 3Q29 (10)
Global Ship Lease 35 LLC
Liberia
GSL Nicoletta 6,858 2002 1Q28
Global Ship Lease 36 LLC
Liberia
GSL Christen 6,858 2002 4Q27
Leonidas Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Agios Dimitrios 6,572 2011 3Q30 (6)
Global Ship Lease 33 LLC
Liberia
GSL Vinia 6,080 2004 1Q28 (12)
Global Ship Lease 34 LLC
Liberia
GSL Christel Elisabeth 6,080 2004 1Q28 (12)
GSL Arcadia LLC
Liberia
GSL Arcadia 6,008 2000 1Q29 (13)
GSL Melita LLC
Liberia
GSL Melita 6,008 2001 4Q29 (13)
GSL Maria LLC
Liberia
GSL Maria 6,008 2001 1Q30 (13)
GSL Violetta LLC
Liberia
GSL Violetta 6,008 2000 1Q29 (13)
GSL MYNY LLC
Liberia
GSL MYNY 6,008 2000 1Q29 (13)
GSL Tegea LLC
Liberia
GSL Tegea 5,994 2001 4Q29 (13)
GSL Dorothea LLC
Liberia
GSL Dorothea 5,994 2001 4Q29 (13)
Drake Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Ian H (19) 5,936 2000 4Q27
Global Ship Lease 68 LLC (3)
Liberia
GSL Kithira 5,470 2009 4Q27
Global Ship Lease 69 LLC (3)
Liberia
GSL Tripoli 5,470 2009 3Q27
Global Ship Lease 70 LLC (3)
Liberia
GSL Syros 5,470 2010 4Q27
Global Ship Lease 71 LLC (3)
Liberia
GSL Tinos 5,470 2010 3Q27
Zeus One Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Orca I 5,308 2006 3Q28
Hephaestus Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Dolphin II 5,095 2007 1Q28
Global Ship Lease 47 LLC
Liberia
GSL Château d’If 5,089 2007 4Q29 (14)
GSL Alcazar Inc.
Marshall Islands
CMA CGM Alcazar 5,089 2007 3Q29 (14)
Global Ship Lease 55 LLC
Liberia
GSL Susan 4,363 2008 3Q27
Global Ship Lease 50 LLC
Liberia
CMA CGM Jamaica 4,298 2006 1Q28
Global Ship Lease 49 LLC
Liberia
CMA CGM Sambhar 4,045 2006 1Q28
Global Ship Lease 51 LLC
Liberia
CMA CGM America 4,045 2006 1Q28
Global Ship Lease 57 LLC
Liberia
GSL Rossi 3,421 2012 1Q29
Global Ship Lease 58 LLC
Liberia
GSL Alice 3,421 2014 2Q28
Global Ship Lease 60 LLC
Liberia
GSL Eleftheria 3,421 2013 3Q28
      
Company Name (1)
Country of
Incorporation
Vessel
Name
Capacity
in TEUs (2)
Year
Built
Earliest Charter
Expiry Date
Global Ship Lease 59 LLC
Liberia
GSL Melina 3,421 2013 4Q29 (15)
Pericles Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Athena I (ex Athena) 2,980 2003 2Q27 (16)
Global Ship Lease 61 LLC
Liberia
GSL Mercer 2,824 2007 1Q27
Global Ship Lease 62 LLC
Liberia
GSL Mamitsa 2,824 2007 1Q28
Global Ship Lease 63 LLC
Liberia
GSL Lalo 2,824 2006 2Q27
Global Ship Lease 42 LLC
Liberia
GSL Valerie 2,824 2005 2Q27
Global Ship Lease 64 LLC
Liberia
GSL Elizabeth 2,741 2006 3Q28 (17)
Athena Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Newyorker 2,635 2001 2Q27
Aphrodite Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Nikolas 2,635 2000 1Q27
Global Ship Lease 65 LLC
Liberia
GSL Chloe 2,546 2012 1Q27
Global Ship Lease 66 LLC
Liberia
GSL Maren 2,546 2014 2Q28 (18)
Aris Marine LLC
Marshall Islands
Maira 2,506 2000 1Q27
Global Ship Lease 38 LLC
Liberia
Manet (19) 2,288 2001 3Q26
Global Ship Lease 45 LLC
Liberia
Kumasi (19) 2,220 2002 4Q26
Global Ship Lease 41 LLC
Liberia
Julie (19) 2,207 2002 3Q27
 
(1) All subsidiaries are 100% owned, either directly or indirectly;
(2) Twenty-foot Equivalent Units;
(3) Currently, under a sale and leaseback transaction (see Note 2h);
(4) Zim Norfolk and Zim Xiamen were forward extended for 60 – 63 months. The extensions are expected to commence between 2Q-3Q 2027;
(5) Sydney Express, Istanbul Express and Bremerhaven Express were delivered in 4Q 2024. Czech, the fourth vessel was delivered on January 9, 2025. Firm charters are followed by three 12-month extension periods at charterer’s option.12-month extension options were exercised in 3Q 2025 for Bremerhaven Express and Sydney Express. 12-month extension options were exercised in 2Q 2026 for Istanbul Express and Czech;
(6) MSC Tianjin, MSC Qingdao, Agios Dimitrios and GSL Ningbo were forward fixed for 36 – 38 months with the new charters expected to commence between 3Q-4Q 2027. MSC Qingdao & Agios Dimitrios are fitted with Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (“scrubbers”);
(7) GSL Alexandra, GSL Sofia, GSL Lydia and GSL Effie. Firm charters are followed by one year extension period at charterer’s option. GSL Sofia and GSL Effie options were exercised in January 2025. GSL Alexandra and GSL Lydia options were exercised in February 2025. The vessels were forward fixed for 24 months +/- 30 days. The new charters are expected to commence in 3Q 2026. During 2Q 2026, GSL Alexandra, GSL Sofia, GSL Lydia and GSL Effie were further forward fixed for 36 – 38 months plus optional period of 24 – 26 months to commence after drydocking. The new charter (firm period plus two-year option) may be cancelled by charterers at any time up to April 1, 2027;
(8) Lotus A, Koi and Cypress. The charters have flexible durations, with latest redeliveries in mid-2030;
(9) GSL Eleni, GSL Kalliopi and GSL Grania were forward fixed for 35 – 38 months to commence after drydocking, after which the charterer has the option to extend each charter for a further 12 – 16 months;
(10) Colombia Express, Panama Express, Costa Rica Express, Nicaragua Express, Mexico Express, Jamaica Express. Firm charters are followed by two twelve-month extension periods at charterer’s option;
(11) Ateti (ex CMA CGM Berlioz) is fixed for 36 – 38 months. The charter commenced in 2Q 2026. On April 25, 2026, CMA CGM Berlioz was renamed to Ateti;
(12) GSL Vinia and GSL Christel Elizabeth are chartered for 36 – 40 months, after which the charterer has the option to extend each charter for a further 12 – 15 months;
(13) GSL Maria, GSL Violetta, GSL Arcadia, GSL MYNY, GSL Melita, GSL Tegea and GSL Dorothea. Contract cover for each vessel is for a firm period of at least three years from the date each vessel was delivered in 2021. Thereafter, the charterer has the option to extend each charter for a further 12 months, after which they have the option to extend each charter for a second time – for a period concluding immediately prior to each respective vessel’s 25th year drydocking and special survey. The first extension options have been exercised for all seven ships. Second extension options were exercised in January 2025 for GSL Dorothea, GSL Arcadia, GSL Melita and GSL Tegea, in April 2025 for GSL MYNY and in September 2025 for GSL Maria. The vessels were forward fixed for 36 – 38 months. GSL Arcadia, GSL Violetta and GSL MYNY new charters commenced in 1Q 2026. The remaining new charters are expected to commence between 4Q 2026 and 1Q 2027;
(14) GSL Château d’If and CMA CGM Alcazar were forward fixed for 36 – 38 months. The new charters are expected to commence between 3Q-4Q 2026;
(15) GSL Melina was forward fixed for 35 – 37 months. The new charter is expected to commence in 4Q 2026;
(16) Athena I. On June 14, 2026, Athena was renamed to Athena I;
(17) GSL Elizabeth was forward fixed for 24 – 27 months. The new charter is expected to commence in 3Q 2026 after drydocking;
(18) GSL Maren is fixed in direct continuation for 24 – 26 months. The charter commenced in 2Q 2026;
(19) During 2Q 2026, the Company entered into agreements for the forward sales of four ships, Ian H, Manet, Kumasi and Julie, for an aggregate sale price of $65,500. The ships are scheduled to be delivered to buyers upon expiry of their respective charters.
The following table provides information about the 15 under construction container vessels owned as at June 30, 2026.
 
   
Company Name (1)
Country of
Incorporation
Expected Delivery
Global Ship Lease 83 LLC
Liberia
4Q28
Global Ship Lease 84 LLC
Liberia
2Q29
Global Ship Lease 93 LLC
Liberia
3Q29
Global Ship Lease 85 LLC
Liberia
2Q29
Global Ship Lease 86 LLC
Liberia
3Q29
Global Ship Lease 87 LLC
Liberia
3Q29
Global Ship Lease 88 LLC
Liberia
3Q29
Global Ship Lease 89 LLC
Liberia
4Q29
Global Ship Lease 90 LLC
Liberia
4Q29
Global Ship Lease 91 LLC
Liberia
4Q29
Global Ship Lease 92 LLC
Liberia
1Q30
Global Ship Lease 97 LLC
Liberia
1Q29
Global Ship Lease 98 LLC
Liberia
1Q29
Global Ship Lease 99 LLC
Liberia
2Q29
Global Ship Lease 100 LLC
Liberia
2Q29
 
(1) All subsidiaries are 100% owned, either directly or indirectly;