Global Ship Lease, Inc. is an independent containership owner formed in 2007 through a spin-off of vessels from CMA CGM, reflecting a strategy to separate asset ownership from line-haul operations. The company subsequently combined that origin with a listing via a merger with a special-purpose vehicle, establishing itself as a dedicated lessor of container tonnage to liner companies. Its corporate materials present a clear lineage from the CMA CGM asset base to a standalone platform focused on contracted employment of ships.
The business model is straightforward: own oceangoing containerships and lease them to global container shipping lines on fixed-rate, industry-standard time charters. This structure creates visibility around utilization and rates while leaving the cargo networks, schedules, and commercial routing to the charterers. Company descriptions consistently emphasize this role as a long-term tonnage provider rather than an operator of liner services.
Operationally, Global Ship Lease focuses on mid-sized and smaller containerships—vessel classes that serve mainline loops as well as regional and feeder trades—allowing the fleet to match a range of charterer needs. Technical management and chartering practices are organized to keep vessels employed under multi-year contracts with major liner counterparties, with the company highlighting diversification across ship sizes and customer relationships.