Norway’s car carrier operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen has acquired the 6,500 ceu 2009-built vessel Morning Celine following the completion of a long-term charter in agreement.
The Oslo-headquartered company said it pre-agreed purchase price is well below the current charter-free valuation of the vessel.
No price was disclosed, but it said that the market value was estimated at $72.5m, using the average of two broker values at the end of the third quarter of 2024.
In line with previous transactions, no financial gains will be booked in connection with the purchase.
The effect on the profit and loss account is expected to be immaterial, Wallenius Wilhelmsen noted, adding that the purchase was financed with cash on hand.
The company operates around 125 ships servicing 15 trade routes to six continents, a global inland distribution network, 66 processing centers and eight marine terminals.
Recently, the car carrier operator decided to exercise options for two additional 11,700 ceu vessels of the so-called Shaper class at China Merchants Jingling Shipyard and to upsize an additional two.
The delivery of the ships is expected in the second half of 2028. As part of the deal, the company will continue to hold options for two more vessels declarable by the second half of 2025.
Additionally, the company intends to upsize two additional vessels from 9,300 ceu to 11,700 ceu, bringing the total of upsized Shaper vessels to eight.
