Global Ship Lease fell to a bottom-line loss in the fourth quarter as it suffered a decline in revenue and a non-cash impairment charge.

But chief executive Ian Webber is optimistic that the containership market is approaching "equilibrium" that is brightening long-term prospects for the company's mid-size and small vessels.

The New York-listed containership owner delivered a fourth-quarter loss of $55.1m during the period, after logging a $63.1m