This is not an award for a single transaction, but instead acknowledges the brilliant execution of a strategy. Back in November 2018, Atlas Corp. (then Seaspan Corporation) laid out its plans for the future of the company in its Investor Day presentation.

​

Saying these are challenging times is an understatement. The demand side of the equation in the best of times is uncertain and unknowable today. Owners are taking comfort in the orderbook which today is filled with containerships and LNG carriers. Not exciting for those sectors but comforting to tanker and dry bulk owners.

The strong containership market continues, and Global Ship Lease (“GSL”) has made the most of it, as highlighted in its recent earnings call. In addition to generating strong results, returning capital to shareholders, adding substantial contract coverage, and acquiring new tonnage during the year, the company continues to sculpt its balance sheet.

How does one finance a massive containership order? The simple answer is by picking as many pockets as possible, no matter how challenging.

Data-sharing could unlock billions of dollars in commercial benefits for shipping as well as accelerate decarbonisation. But legacy systems and a restrictive mindset are hindering the industry’s digital transformation and stalling the vital transition to an API economy seen in other industries.

With today’s roiled markets comes opportunity especially for those who have cash and are not too worried about what’s ahead. For Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S this was a moment to buy back its bonds cheaply.

In its recent earnings presentation, BW LPG highlighted the upsizing of its existing $221 million facility with a $40 million sustainability-linked loan to finance the retrofitting of four dual-fuel LPG propulsion engines.

One of the greatest challenges in putting together the Awards Issue is picking the winner in the bank debt category. Bank loans are a commodity and virtually interchangeable with the terms – tenor, pricing, LTV and amortization – varying largely according to credit risk.

It is blatantly unfair to refer to Costamare Inc. as a mouse, but with its preference for maintaining an extremely low profile, like its principal, one often loses sight of the company amongst its more publicly focused peers.

While the pandemic is still exacting a toll, although an end appears in sight, it seemed that inflation was the next major battle to be fought. Little did we know that Russia would decide the time was ripe to expand its borders and invade Ukraine. As one would expect, it was risk on.

KISS, an acronym for “keep it simple, stupid,” is a design principle noted by the U.S. Navy in 1960.