In a recent client briefing Katja Jancic, an analyst at Sidoti & Company, argued that a payout is a “near-term possibility” if the New York-quoted owner purchases another containership.

“We think GSL could initiate a dividend payment by the end of 2015 if the company acquires a new charter-attached vessel in [the first half of this year],” she told investors.

Today, the researcher believes the owner is in a position to pay a one-time dividend of up to $7.5m,