New York-listed Global Ship Lease (GSL) is adding three boxships to its fleet in a $48.5m deal.

The company said it is buying the 7,849-teu vessels built in 2004 with a new bank loan on market terms over five years.

The first ship will be handed over in the second quarter and start a five-year charter to Maersk Line.

The other two will join the fleet in the third quarter and have three-year deals arranged with Maersk, with two consecutive one-year extensions attached.