Singapore-listed ship-chartering company Uni-Asia Holdings has acquired a new vessel for approximately US$18.1m.

According to the company's filing to the Singapore Exchange, the 3,500teu second-hand container vessel will be bought by its wholly owned Panama-incorporated subsidiary Fortuna Containership. The seller of the vessel is wholly owned by Akebono Fund, which is a private shipping fund Uni-Asia currently invests in and manages. Uni-Asia stated that no external independent valuation was conducted on the vessel.

"The vessel was successfully delivered on 30 June and is scheduled to be time-chartered to a reputable charterer on 7 July," said Uni-Asia in a corporate statement.

Meanwhile, Uni-Asia is considering several funding options to finance the acquisition of the vessel.

"Such financing arrangements will be finalised after further discussions with third-party financial institutions, which may extend debt financing to Fortuna Containership," Uni-Asia added.