20-F

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 20-F

[   ]   REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

[X]    ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

OR

[   ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from

OR

[   ]  SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report

Commission file number	001-32199
Ship Finance International Limited
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
(Translation of Registrant's name into English)
Bermuda
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)
Georgina Sousa Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda Tel: +1 (441)295-9500, Fax: +1(441)295-3494
(Name, Telephone, Email and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to section 12(b) of the Act

Title of each class	Name of each exchange
Common Shares, $1.00 Par Value	New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer's classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

93,468,000 Common Shares, $1.00 Par Value

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

[ X ] Yes  [  ] No

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

[   ] Yes  [ X ] No

Note – Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

[ X ] Yes  [   ] No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

[ X ] Yes  [   ] No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  [ X ] Accelerated filer  [  ] Non-accelerated filer  [   ]

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

[ X ]  U.S. GAAP [   ]  International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board [   ]  Other

If "Other" has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial item the registrant has elected to follow:

[    ] Item 17  [   ] Item 18

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

[   ] Yes  [ X ] No

INDEX TO REPORT ON FORM 20-F

PART I		PAGE
ITEM 1.	IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS	1
ITEM 2.	OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE	1
ITEM 3.	KEY INFORMATION	1
ITEM 4.	INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY	20
ITEM 4A.	UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS	37
ITEM 5.	OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS	37
ITEM 6.	DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES	65
ITEM 7.	MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS	68
ITEM 8.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION	72
ITEM 9.	THE OFFER AND LISTING	74
ITEM 10.	ADDITIONAL INFORMATION	75
ITEM 11.	QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK	84
ITEM 12.	DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES	85
PART II
ITEM 13.	DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES	86
ITEM 14.	MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS	86
ITEM 15.	CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES	86
ITEM 16A.	AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT	87
ITEM 16B.	CODE OF ETHICS	87
ITEM 16C.	PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES	87
ITEM 16D.	EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES	88
ITEM 16E.	PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS	88
ITEM 16F.	CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT	88
ITEM 16G.	CORPORATE GOVERNANCE	88
ITEM 16H.	MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE	88
PART III
ITEM 17.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	89
ITEM 18.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS	89
ITEM 19.	EXHIBITS	90

i

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Matters discussed in this document may constitute forward-looking statements.  The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business.  Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.

Ship Finance International Limited, or the Company, desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation.  This document and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance.  The words "believe", "anticipate", "intends", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "plan", "potential", "will", "may", "should", "expect" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this annual report on Form 20-F and written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or its representatives after the date of this Form 20-F are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statement contained in this paragraph and in other reports hereafter filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.

The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties.  Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections.

In addition to these important factors and matters discussed elsewhere herein, important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include:

• the strength of world economies;

• fluctuations in currencies and interest rates;

• general market conditions including fluctuations in charterhire rates and vessel values;

• changes in demand in the markets in which we operate;

• changes in demand resulting from changes in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries', or OPEC's, petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage;

• developments regarding the technologies relating to oil exploration;

• changes in market demand in countries which import commodities and finished goods and changes in the amount and location of the production of those commodities and finished goods;

• increased inspection procedures and more restrictive import and export controls;

• changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs;

• performance of our charterers and other counterparties with whom we deal;

• timely delivery of vessels under construction within the contracted price;

• changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities;

• potential liability from pending or future litigation;

• general domestic and international political conditions;

• potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events; and

• other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the SEC.

ii

PART I

ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not Applicable.

ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not Applicable.

ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION

Throughout this report, the "Company", "Ship Finance", "we", "us" and "our" all refer to Ship Finance International Limited and its subsidiaries. We use the term deadweight ton, or dwt, in describing the size of the vessels. Dwt, expressed in metric tons, each of which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms, refers to the maximum weight of cargo and supplies that a vessel can carry. We use the term twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEU, in describing container vessels to refer to the number of standard twenty foot containers that the vessel can carry, and we use the term car equivalent units, or CEU, in describing car carriers to refer to the number of standard cars that the vessel can carry. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "USD," "US$" and "$" in this report are to, and amounts are presented in, U.S. dollars.

A. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Our selected income statement and cash flow statement data with respect to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 and our selected balance sheet data with respect to the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements included in Item 18 of this annual report, prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, which we refer to as US GAAP.

The selected income statement and cash flow statement data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the selected balance sheet data for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements not included herein.  The following table should be read in conjunction with Item 5. "Operating and Financial Review and Prospects" and our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included herein.

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013		2012		2011
	(in thousands of dollars except common share and per share data)
Income Statement Data:
Total operating revenues	406,740		327,487		270,860		319,692		295,114
Net operating income	166,046		145,146		117,366		207,620		162,705
Net income	200,832		122,815		89,206		185,836		131,175
Earnings per share, basic	$	2.15	$	1.32	$	1.00	$	2.31	$	1.66
Earnings per share, diluted	$	1.88	$	1.24	$	0.99	$	2.22	$	1.62
Dividends declared	162,594		152,152		109,114		152,009		122,644
Dividends declared per share	$	1.74	$	1.63	$	1.17	$	1.86	$	1.55

1

	Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2013		2012		2011
	(in thousands of dollars except common share and per share data)
Balance Sheet Data (at end of period):
Cash and cash equivalents	70,175		50,818		58,641		60,542		94,915
Vessels and equipment, net (including newbuildings)	1,681,466		1,464,700		1,215,624		1,110,301		1,020,580
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases (including current portion)	511,443		746,531		903,408		1,143,859		1,220,060
Investment in associated companies (including loans)	472,327		399,488		571,702		454,775		444,022
Total assets	3,064,825		3,041,554		3,045,983		2,973,089		2,896,128
Short and long term debt  (including current portion)	1,666,476		1,732,459		1,736,879		1,831,200		1,910,464
Share capital	93,468		93,404		93,260		85,225		79,125
Stockholders' equity	1,241,810		1,153,492		1,191,933		994,768		857,091
Common shares outstanding	93,468,000		93,404,000		93,260,000		85,225,000		79,125,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding	93,449,904		93,330,622		89,508,233		80,594,399		79,125,000
Cash Flow Data:
Cash provided by operating activities	258,401		132,401		140,124		86,570		163,661
Cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(205,782	)	(21,940	)	(73,982	)	34,309		(5,862	)
Cash used in financing activities	(33,262	)	(118,284	)	(68,043	)	(155,252	)	(149,851	)

B. CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS

Not Applicable.

C. REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Not Applicable.

D. RISK FACTORS

Our assets are primarily engaged in transporting crude oil and oil products, dry bulk and containerized cargos, and in offshore drilling and related activities. The following summarizes the risks that may materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.  Unless otherwise indicated in this annual report on Form 20-F, all information concerning our business and our assets is as of April 1, 2016.

Risks Relating to Our Industry

The seaborne transportation industry is cyclical and volatile, and this may lead to reductions in our charter rates, vessel values and results of operations.

The international seaborne transportation industry is both cyclical and volatile in terms of charter rates and profitability. The degree of charter rate volatility for vessels has varied widely.  Fluctuations in charter rates result from changes in the supply and demand for vessel capacity and changes in the supply and demand for energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products internationally carried at sea. If we enter into a charter when charterhire rates are low, our revenues and earnings will be adversely affected. In addition, a decline in charterhire rates is likely to cause the market value of our vessels to decline. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully charter our vessels in the future or renew our existing charters at rates sufficient to allow us to operate our business profitably, meet our obligations or pay dividends to our shareholders. The factors affecting the supply and demand for vessels are outside of our control, and the nature, timing and degree of changes in industry conditions are unpredictable.

2

Factors that influence demand for vessel capacity include:

• supply and demand for energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

• changes in the exploration for and production of energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

• the location of regional and global production and manufacturing facilities;

• the location of consuming regions for energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

• the globalization of production and manufacturing;

• global and regional economic and political conditions, including armed conflicts, terrorist activities, embargoes and strikes;

• developments in international trade;

• changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including the distance cargo is transported by sea;

• environmental and other regulatory developments;

• currency exchange rates; and

• weather and natural disasters.

Factors that influence the supply of vessel capacity include:

• the number of newbuilding deliveries;

• the scrapping rate of older vessels;

• the price of steel and vessel equipment;

• changes in environmental and other regulations that may limit the useful lives of vessels;

• vessel casualties;

• the number of vessels that are out of service; and

• port or canal congestion.

Demand for our vessels and charter rates are dependent upon, among other things, seasonal and regional changes in demand and changes to the capacity of the world fleet. We believe the capacity of the world fleet is likely to increase, and there can be no assurance that global economic growth will be at a rate sufficient to utilize this new capacity. Continued adverse economic, political or social conditions or other developments could further negatively impact charter rates, and therefore have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and ability to pay dividends.

The current state of the world financial markets and current economic conditions may result in a general reduction in the availability of loan finance, which would have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, and could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.

Global financial markets and economic conditions have been, and continue to be, volatile. The amount of available capital from commercial lenders remains below levels seen before the global financial crisis. There has been a general decline in the willingness by banks and other financial institutions to extend credit, particularly in the shipping industry, due to the historically volatile asset values of vessels. As the shipping industry is highly dependent on the availability of credit to finance and expand operations, it has been and may continue to be negatively affected by this decline.

Also, as a result of concerns about the stability of financial markets generally and the solvency of counterparties specifically, the availability and cost of obtaining money from the credit markets has become more difficult as many lenders have increased interest rates, enacted tighter lending standards, refused to refinance existing debt at all or on terms similar to current debt and reduced, and in some cases ceased, to provide funding to borrowers. Due to these factors, we cannot be certain that financing will be available if needed and to the extent required on acceptable terms. If financing is not available when needed, or is available only on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to meet our obligations as they come due or we may be unable to enhance our existing business, complete additional vessel acquisitions or otherwise take advantage of business opportunities as they arise.

The uncertainty surrounding the future of the credit markets in the United States, Europe and the rest of the world has resulted in reduced access to credit worldwide. As of December 31, 2015, we had total outstanding indebtedness of $2.5 billion under our various credit facilities and bond loans, including our equity-accounted subsidiaries.

3

The instability of the euro or the inability of countries to refinance their debts could have a material adverse effect on our revenue, profitability and financial position.

As a result of the credit crisis in Europe, the European Commission created the European Financial Stability Facility, or the EFSF, and the European Financial Stability Mechanism, or the EFSM, to provide funding to Eurozone countries in financial difficulties that seek such support. In 2012, the European Council established a permanent stability mechanism, the European Stability Mechanism, or the ESM, to assume the role of the EFSF and the EFSM in providing external financial assistance to Eurozone countries. Despite these measures, concerns persist regarding the debt burden of certain Eurozone countries and their ability to meet future financial obligations, and the overall stability of the euro. An extended period of adverse development in the outlook for European countries could reduce the overall demand for dry bulk and containerized cargoes, and for our services. These potential developments, or market perceptions concerning these and related issues, could affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flow.

Volatile economic conditions throughout the world could have an adverse impact on our operations and financial results.

The world economy continues to face a number of challenges, including turmoil and hostilities in the Middle East and other geographic areas and continuing economic weakness in the European Union and Asia Pacific Region. There has historically been a strong link between development of the world economy and demand for energy, including oil and gas, and other materials and finished products transported on our vessels. An extended period of deterioration in the outlook for the world economy could reduce the overall demand for oil and gas and for our services. We cannot predict how long the current market conditions will last. However, recent and developing economic and governmental factors, together with the concurrent decline in charter rates and vessel values for some of our asset classes, have had a negative effect on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows, have caused the price of our common shares to decline and could cause the price of our common shares to decline further.

The European Union continues to experience relatively slow growth. Since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008, the credit markets in Europe have experienced significant contraction, de-leveraging and reduced liquidity. While credit conditions are beginning to stabilize, global financial markets have been, and continue to be, disrupted and volatile.

Continued economic slowdown in the Asia Pacific region, especially in China, may exacerbate the effect on us of the recent slowdown in the rest of the world. In recent history, China has had one of the world's fastest growing economies in terms of gross domestic product, or GDP, which had a significant impact on shipping demand. The growth rate of China's GDP for the year ended December 31, 2015, is estimated to be around 6.9%, the slowest growth rate in twenty-five years. China and other countries in the Asia Pacific region may continue to experience slowed or even negative economic growth in the future. In addition, the charters we enter into with Chinese customers, including existing charters with Chinese customers, may be subject to new regulations in China which may require us to incur new or additional compliance or other administrative costs, and may require us to pay new taxes or other fees to the Chinese government. Our financial condition and results of operations, as well as our future prospects, would likely be impeded by a continuing or worsening economic downturn in any of these countries.

Safety, environmental and other governmental and other requirements expose us to liability, and compliance with current and future regulations could require significant additional expenditures, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.

Our operations are affected by extensive and changing international, national, state and local laws, regulations, treaties, conventions and standards in force in international waters, the jurisdictions in which our tankers and other vessels operate, and the country or countries in which such vessels are registered, including those governing the management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, the cleanup of oil spills and other contamination, air emissions, and water discharges and ballast and bilge water management. These regulations include, but are not limited to, the U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or the OPA, requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard, or the USCG, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, the U.S. Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, or CERCLA, the U.S. Clean Water Act, the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, and regulations of the International Maritime Organization, or IMO, including the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea of 1974, or SOLAS, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973, or MARPOL, including the designation thereunder of Emission Control Areas, or ECAs, the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, or CLC, and the International Convention on Load Lines of 1966.

4

In addition, vessel classification societies and the requirements set forth in the IMO's International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and for Pollution Prevention, or the ISM Code, also impose significant safety and other requirements on our vessels. In complying with current and future environmental requirements, vessel owners and operators may also incur significant additional costs in meeting new maintenance and inspection requirements, in developing contingency arrangements for potential spills and in obtaining insurance coverage. Government regulation of vessels, particularly in the areas of safety and environmental requirements, can be expected to become stricter in the future and require us to incur significant capital expenditures on our vessels to keep them in compliance, or even to scrap or sell certain vessels altogether.

Many of these requirements are designed to reduce the risk of oil spills and other pollution, and our compliance with these requirements can be costly. These requirements can also affect the resale value or useful lives of our vessels, require reductions in cargo capacity, ship modifications or operational changes or restrictions, lead to decreased availability of insurance coverage for environmental matters or result in the denial of access to certain jurisdictional waters or ports, or detention in certain ports.

Under local, national and foreign laws, as well as international treaties and conventions, we could incur material liabilities, including cleanup obligations, natural resource damages and third-party claims for personal injury or property damages, in the event that there is a release of petroleum or other hazardous substances from our vessels or otherwise in connection with our current or historic operations. We could also incur substantial penalties, fines and other civil or criminal sanctions, including in certain instances seizure or detention of our vessels, as a result of violations of or liabilities under environmental laws, regulations and other requirements. Environmental laws often impose strict liability for remediation of spills and releases of oil and hazardous substances, which could subject us to liability without regard to whether we were negligent or at fault. For example, OPA affects all vessel owners shipping oil to, from or within the United States.  Under OPA, owners, operators and bareboat charterers are jointly and severally strictly liable for the discharge of oil in U.S. waters, including the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the United States.  Similarly the CLC, which has been adopted by most countries outside of the United States, imposes liability for oil pollution in international waters. OPA expressly permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to hazardous materials and oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries, provided they accept, at a minimum, the levels of liability established under OPA. Coastal states in the United States have enacted pollution prevention liability and response laws, many providing for unlimited liability. Furthermore, the 2010 explosion of the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, which is unrelated to Ship Finance, and the subsequent release of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, or other events, may result in further regulation of the shipping and offshore industries and modifications to statutory liability schemes, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. An oil spill could also result in significant liability, including fines, penalties, criminal liability and remediation costs for natural resource damages under other international and U.S. federal, state and local laws, as well as third-party damages, and could harm our reputation with current or potential charterers of our vessels. We are required to satisfy insurance and financial responsibility requirements for potential oil (including marine fuel) spills and other pollution incidents. Although we have arranged insurance to cover certain environmental risks, there can be no assurance that such insurance will be sufficient to cover all such risks or that any claims will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition and available cash.

Acts of piracy on ocean-going vessels could adversely affect our business.

Acts of piracy have historically affected ocean-going vessels trading in regions of the world such as the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia. Sea piracy incidents continue to occur, particularly in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia and increasingly in the Gulf of Guinea, with dry bulk vessels and tankers particularly vulnerable to such attacks. Acts of piracy could result in harm or danger to the crews that man our vessels. In addition, if these piracy attacks occur in regions in which our vessels are deployed that are characterized by insurers as "war risk" zones or by the Joint War Committee as "war and strikes" listed areas, premiums payable for insurance coverage could increase significantly and such coverage may be more difficult to obtain. In addition, crew costs, including costs which may be incurred to the extent we employ onboard security guards, could increase in such circumstances. We may not be adequately insured to cover losses from these incidents, which could have a material adverse effect on us. In addition, detention hijacking as a result of an act of piracy against our vessels, or an increase in cost, or unavailability of insurance for our vessels, could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay dividends and may result in loss of revenues, increased costs and decreased cashflows to our customers, which could impair their ability to make payments to us under our charters.

5

Our vessels may call on ports located in countries that are subject to restrictions imposed by the U.S. or other governments, which could adversely affect our reputation and the market for our common shares.

From time to time on charterers' instructions, our vessels may call and have called on ports located in countries subject to sanctions and embargoes imposed by the U.S. government and countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism, such as Iran, Sudan and Syria. The U.S. sanctions and embargo laws and regulations vary in their application, as they do not all apply to the same covered persons or proscribe the same activities, and such sanctions and embargo laws and regulations may be amended or strengthened over time. With effect from July 1, 2010, the U.S. enacted the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act, or CISADA, which expanded the scope of the Iran Sanctions Act. Among other things, CISADA expands the application of the prohibitions to companies such as ours, and introduces limits on the ability of companies and persons to do business or trade with Iran when such activities relate to the investment, supply or export of refined petroleum or petroleum products. In addition, on May 1, 2012, President Obama signed Executive Order 13608 which prohibits foreign persons from violating or attempting to violate, or causing a violation of any sanctions in effect against Iran or facilitating any deceptive transactions for or on behalf of any person subject to U.S. sanctions. Any persons found to be in violation of Executive Order 13608 will be deemed a foreign sanctions evader and will be banned from all contacts with the United States, including conducting business in U.S. dollars. Also in 2012, President Obama signed into law the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, or the Iran Threat Reduction Act, which created new sanctions and strengthened existing sanctions. Among other things, the Iran Threat Reduction Act intensifies existing sanctions regarding the provision of goods, services, infrastructure or technology to Iran's petroleum or petrochemical sector. The Iran Threat Reduction Act also includes a provision requiring the President of the United States to impose five or more sanctions from Section 6(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act, as amended, on a person the President determines is a controlling beneficial owner of, or otherwise owns, operates, or controls or insures a vessel that was used to transport crude oil from Iran to another country and (1) if the person is a controlling beneficial owner of the vessel, the person had actual knowledge the vessel was so used or (2) if the person otherwise owns, operates, or controls, or insures the vessel, the person knew or should have known the vessel was so used. Such a person could be subject to a variety of sanctions, including exclusion from U.S. capital markets, exclusion from financial transactions subject to U.S. jurisdiction, and exclusion of that person's vessels from U.S. ports for up to two years.

On November 24, 2013, the P5+1 (the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia and China) entered into an interim agreement with Iran entitled the "Joint Plan of Action", or JPOA. Under the JPOA it was agreed that, in exchange for Iran taking certain voluntary measures to ensure that its nuclear program is only used for peaceful purposes, the U.S. and EU would voluntarily suspend certain sanctions for a period of six months. On January 20, 2014, the U.S. and EU indicated that they would begin implementing the temporary relief measures provided for under the JPOA. These measures included, among other things, the suspension of certain sanctions on the Iranian petrochemicals, precious metals and automotive industries from January 20, 2014, to July 20, 2014. The JPOA was subsequently extended twice.

On July 14, 2015, the P5+1 and the EU announced that they had reached a landmark agreement with Iran titled the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran's Nuclear Program, or the JCPOA, which is intended to significantly restrict Iran's ability to develop and produce nuclear weapons for 10 years while simultaneously easing sanctions directed towards non U.S. persons for conduct involving Iran, but taking place outside of U.S. jurisdiction and not involving U.S. persons. On January 16, 2016, or Implementation Day, the United States joined the EU and the UN in lifting a significant number of their nuclear-related sanctions on Iran following an announcement by the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, that Iran had satisfied its respective obligations under the JCPOA.

U.S. sanctions prohibiting certain conduct that is now permitted under the JCPOA have not actually been repealed or permanently terminated at this time. Rather, the U.S. government has implemented changes to the sanctions regime by: (1) issuing waivers of certain statutory sanctions provisions; (2) committing to refrain from exercising certain discretionary sanctions authorities; (3) removing certain individuals and entities from the sanctions lists of the Office of Foreign Assets Control; and (4) revoking certain Executive Orders and specified sections of Executive Orders. These sanctions will not be permanently “lifted” until the earlier of “Transition Day,” set to occur on October 20, 2023, or upon a report from the IAEA stating that all nuclear material in Iran is being used for peaceful activities.

Certain of our charterers or other parties that we have entered into contracts with may be affiliated with persons or entities that are subject to sanctions imposed by the U.S. administration, the European Union and/or other international bodies as a result of the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014. If we determine that such sanctions require us to terminate existing charters or if we are found to be in violation of such applicable sanctions, our results of operations may be adversely affected or we may suffer reputational harm.

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Although we believe that we have been in compliance with all applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations, and intend to maintain such compliance, there can be no assurance that we will be in compliance in the future, particularly as the scope of certain laws may be unclear and may be subject to changing interpretations. Any such violation could result in fines, penalties or other sanctions that could severely impact our ability to access U.S. capital markets and conduct our business, and could result in some investors deciding, or being required, to divest their interest, or not to invest, in us. Many of our loan agreements include obligations to comply with applicable sanctions, and any violation could result in accelerated repayment of borrowings and severely impact our ability to access loan finance. In addition, certain institutional investors may have investment policies or restrictions that prevent them from holding securities of companies that have contracts with countries identified by the U.S. government as state sponsors of terrorism. The determination by these investors not to invest in, or to divest from, our common stock may adversely affect the price at which our common stock trades. Moreover, our charterers may violate applicable sanctions and embargo laws and regulations as a result of actions that do not involve us or our vessels, and those violations could in turn negatively affect our reputation. In addition, our reputation and the market for our securities may be adversely affected if we engage in certain other activities, such as entering into charters with individuals or entities in countries subject to U.S. sanctions and embargo laws that are not controlled by the governments of those countries, or engaging in operations associated with those countries pursuant to contracts with third parties that are unrelated to those countries or entities controlled by their governments. Investor perception of the value of our common stock may be adversely affected by the consequences of war, the effects of terrorism, civil unrest and governmental actions in these and surrounding countries.

In the highly competitive international seaborne transportation industry, we may not be able to compete for charters with new entrants or established companies with greater resources, and as a result we may be unable to employ our vessels profitably.

We employ our vessels in a highly competitive market that is capital intensive and highly fragmented, and competition arises primarily from other vessel owners. Competition for seaborne transportation of goods and products is intense and depends on charter rates and the location, size, age, condition and acceptability of the vessel and its operators to charterers.  Due in part to the highly fragmented market, competitors with greater resources could operate larger fleets than we may operate and thus be able to offer lower charter rates and higher quality vessels than we are able to offer.  If this were to occur, we may be unable to retain or attract new charterers on attractive terms or at all, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

An over-supply of vessel capacity may lead to further reductions in charter hire rates and profitability.

The supply of vessels generally increases with deliveries of new vessels and decreases with the scrapping of older vessels, conversion of vessels to other uses, such as floating production and storage facilities, and loss of tonnage as a result of casualties. An over-supply of vessel capacity, combined with a decline in the demand for such vessels, may result in a further reduction of charter hire rates.  If such a reduction continues in the future, upon the expiration or termination of our vessels' current charters, we may only be able to re-charter our vessels at reduced or unprofitable rates or we may not be able to charter our vessels at all, which would have a material adverse effect on our revenues and profitability.

Increased inspection procedures, tighter import and export controls and new security regulations could increase costs and disrupt our business.

International shipping is subject to various security and customs inspection and related procedures in countries of origin, destination and trans-shipment points. Inspection procedures can result in the seizure of the contents of our vessels, delays in loading, offloading or delivery, and the levying of customs duties, fines or other penalties against us.

It is possible that changes to inspection procedures could impose additional financial and legal obligations on us.  Changes to inspection procedures could also impose additional costs and obligations on our customers and may, in certain cases, render the shipment of certain types of cargo uneconomical or impractical.  Any such changes or developments may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The offshore drilling sector and also demand for offshore supply vessels depend on the level of activity in the offshore oil and gas industry, which is significantly affected by, among other things, volatile oil and gas prices, and may be materially and adversely affected by a decline in the offshore oil and gas industry.

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The offshore contract drilling industry and also demand for offshore supply vessels is cyclical and volatile, and depends on the level of activity in oil and gas exploration and development and production in offshore areas worldwide. The availability of quality drilling prospects, exploration success, relative production costs, the stage of reservoir development and political and regulatory environments affect our customers' drilling campaigns. Oil and gas prices, and market expectations of potential changes in these prices, also significantly affect the level of activity and demand for drilling units.

Oil and gas prices are extremely volatile and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control, including the following:

• worldwide production and demand for oil and gas;

• the cost of exploring for, developing, producing and delivering oil and gas;

• expectations regarding future energy prices;

• advances in exploration, development and production technology;

• the ability of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, to set and maintain production levels and pricing;

• the level of production in non-OPEC countries;

• government regulations, including restrictions on offshore transportation of oil and gas;

• local and international political, economic and weather conditions;

• domestic and foreign tax policies;

• the development and implementation of policies to increase the use of renewable energy;

• the policies of various governments regarding exploration and development of their oil and gas reserves;

• accidents, severe weather, natural disasters and other similar incidents relating to the oil and gas industry; and

• the worldwide military and political environment, including uncertainty or instability resulting from an escalation or additional outbreak of armed hostilities, insurrection, or other  crises in the Middle East, eastern Europe or other geographic areas, or further acts of terrorism in the United States, Europe or elsewhere.

Recent declines in oil and gas prices have negatively affected, and could continue to negatively affect, the offshore drilling sector and have resulted, and could continue to result, in reduced exploration and drilling. These reductions in commodity prices have reduced the demand for drilling units. Continued weakness in oil and gas prices may result in an excess supply of drilling units and intensify competition in the industry, which may result in drilling units, particularly older and lower specification drilling units, being idle for long periods of time.  We cannot predict the future level of demand for drilling units or future conditions of the oil and gas industry.

In addition to oil and gas prices, the offshore drilling industry is influenced by additional factors, including:

• the availability of competing offshore drilling units;

• the level of costs for associated offshore oilfield and construction services;

• oil and gas transportation costs;

• the level of rig operating costs, including crew and maintenance;

• the discovery of new oil and gas reserves;

• the cost of non-conventional hydrocarbons, such as the exploitation of oil sands; and

• regulatory restrictions on offshore drilling.

Any of these factors could reduce demand for our offshore drilling assets and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

An over-supply of drilling units may lead to a reduction in day-rates and therefore may adversely affect the ability of certain of our rig charterers to make charterhire payments to us.

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We have chartered two of our drilling units to two subsidiaries of Seadrill Limited, or Seadrill, namely Seadrill Deepwater Charterer Ltd., or Seadrill Deepwater, and Seadrill Offshore AS, or Seadrill Offshore, which we refer to collectively as the Seadrill Charterers. In addition, we have chartered one drilling unit to Apexindo Offshore Pte. Ltd., or Apexindo, and one drilling unit to North Atlantic Linus Charterer Ltd., or North Atlantic Linus, which is a subsidiary of North Atlantic Drilling Limited, or NADL. The Seadrill Charterers, Apexindo and North Atlantic Linus are collectively referred to as the Rig Charterers. Following the 2008 peak in the oil price of around $140 per barrel, there was a period of high utilization and high dayrates, which prompted industry participants to increase the supply of drilling units by ordering the construction of new drilling units. The recent reduction in oil prices has resulted in reduced demand for drilling units, which may adversely affect the Rig Charterers' ability to secure drilling contracts and, therefore, their ability to make charterhire payments to us, and may cause them to terminate or renegotiate their charter agreements to our detriment. At present, one of our Rig Charterer's, Apexindo, is unable to pay the agreed charter hire for a jack-up drilling rig, and we are currently assessing our alternatives, which could include a termination of the charter or restructuring of the charter terms.

In addition, the new construction of high-specification units, as well as changes in the Rig Charterers' competitors' drilling rig fleets, could cause our drilling units to become less competitive.

Governmental laws and regulations, including environmental laws and regulations, may add to the costs of the Rig Charterers or limit their drilling activity, and may adversely affect their ability to make charterhire payments to us.

The Rig Charterers' business in the offshore drilling industry is affected by public policy and laws and regulations relating to the energy industry and the environment in the geographic areas where they operate.

The offshore drilling industry is dependent on demand for services from the oil and gas exploration and production industry, and accordingly the Rig Charterers are directly affected by the adoption of laws and regulations that for economic, environmental or other policy reasons curtail exploration and development drilling for oil and gas. The Rig Charterers may be required to make significant capital expenditures to comply with governmental laws and regulations. It is also possible that these laws and regulations may in the future add significantly to the Rig Charterers' operating costs or significantly limit drilling activity. Governments in some countries are increasingly active in regulating and controlling the ownership of concessions, the exploration for oil and gas, and other aspects of the oil and gas industries. In recent years, increased concern has been raised over protection of the environment. Offshore drilling in certain areas has been opposed by environmental groups, and has in certain cases been restricted.

In certain jurisdictions there are or may be imposed restrictions or limitations on the operation of foreign flag vessels and rigs, and these restrictions may prevent us or our charterers from operating our assets as intended. We cannot guarantee that we or our charterers will be able to accommodate such restrictions or limitations, nor that we or our charterers can relocate the assets to other jurisdictions where such restrictions or limitations do not apply. A violation of such restrictions, or expropriation in particular, could result in the total loss of our investments and/or financial loss for our charterers, and we cannot guarantee that we have sufficient insurance coverage to compensate for such loss. This may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial results.

To the extent that new laws are enacted or other governmental actions are taken that prohibit or restrict offshore drilling or impose additional environmental protection requirements that result in increased costs to the oil and gas industry in general or the offshore drilling industry in particular, the Rig Charterers' business or prospects could be materially adversely affected. The operation of our drilling units will require certain governmental approvals, the number and prerequisites of which cannot be determined until the Rig Charterers identify the jurisdictions in which they will operate upon securing contracts for the drilling units. Depending on the jurisdiction, these governmental approvals may involve public hearings and costly undertakings on the part of the Rig Charterers. The Rig Charterers may not obtain such approvals, or such approvals may not be obtained in a timely manner. If the Rig Charterers fail to secure the necessary approvals or permits in a timely manner, their customers may have the right to terminate or seek to renegotiate their drilling services contracts to the Rig Charterers' detriment. The amendment or modification of existing laws and regulations, or the adoption of new laws and regulations curtailing or further regulating exploratory or development drilling and production of oil and gas, could have a material adverse effect on the Rig Charterers' business, operating results or financial condition. Future earnings of the Rig Charterers may be negatively affected by compliance with any such new legislation or regulations. In addition, the Rig Charterers may become subject to additional laws and regulations as a result of future rig operations or repositioning. These factors may adversely affect the ability of the Rig Charterers to make charterhire payments to us.

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Charter hire rates for dry bulk vessels may decrease in the future, which may adversely affect our earnings.

The dry bulk shipping industry is cyclical with attendant volatility in charter hire rates and profitability. The degree of charter hire rate volatility among different types of dry bulk vessels has varied widely, and charter hire rates for dry bulk vessels have declined significantly from historically high levels. Fluctuations in charter rates result from changes in the supply and demand for vessel capacity and changes in the supply and demand for the major commodities carried by water internationally. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully charter our vessels in the future or renew existing charters at rates sufficient to allow us to meet our obligations. The supply of and demand for shipping capacity strongly influence charter rates. Because the factors affecting the supply and demand for vessels are outside our control and are unpredictable, the nature, timing, direction and degree of changes in industry conditions are also unpredictable.

Factors that influence demand for vessel capacity include:

• supply and demand for energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

• changes in the exploration or production of energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

• the location of regional and global exploration, production and manufacturing facilities;

• the location of consuming regions for energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

• the globalization of production and manufacturing;

• global and regional economic and political conditions, including armed conflicts and terrorist activities, embargoes and strikes;

• developments in international trade;

• changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including the distance cargo is transported by sea;

• environmental and other regulatory developments;

• currency exchange rates; and

• the weather.

Factors that influence the supply of vessel capacity include:

• number of newbuilding deliveries;

• port and canal congestion;

• scrapping of older vessels;

• vessel casualties; and

• number of vessels that are out of service.

Demand for our dry bulk vessels is dependent upon economic growth in the world’s economies, seasonal and regional changes in demand, changes in the capacity of the global dry bulk fleet and the sources and supply of dry bulk cargo transported by sea. Adverse economic, political, social or other developments could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results.

The continued downturn in the dry bulk carrier charter market has had and may continue to have an adverse effect on our earnings.

The abrupt and dramatic downturn in the dry bulk charter market, from which we derive some of our revenues, has severely affected the dry bulk shipping industry. The Baltic Dry Index, or BDI, an index published by The Baltic Exchange of shipping rates for 20 key dry bulk routes, fell 94% in 2008 from its peak of 11,793 and has remained volatile since then. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the BDI fluctuated in a range between 471 and 1,222, and on February 10, 2016, dropped to 290, the lowest level it has ever reached.

This downturn in dry bulk charter rates and their volatility has had a number of adverse consequences for dry bulk shipping, including, among other things:

• an absence of financing for vessels;

• no active second-hand market for the sale of vessels;

• extremely low charter rates, particularly for vessels employed in the spot market;

• widespread loan covenant defaults in the dry bulk shipping industry; and

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• declaration of bankruptcy by some operators and ship owners as well as charterers.

The occurrence of one or more of these events could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition and ability to pay cash distributions. There can be no assurance that the dry bulk charter market will recover and the market could continue to decline further.

Dry bulk carrier values have also declined both as a result of a slowdown in the availability of global credit and the significant deterioration in charter rates. Charter rates and vessel values have been affected in part by the lack of availability of credit to finance both vessel purchases and purchases of commodities carried by sea, resulting in a decline in cargo shipments, and the excess supply of iron ore in China, which resulted in falling iron ore prices and increased stockpiles in Chinese ports. There can be no assurance as to how long spot charter rates and vessel values will remain at their currently low levels. Charter rates may remain at low levels for some time, which may adversely affect our results and financial condition and our ability to pay dividends in the future.

In addition, because the market value of the Company’s vessels may fluctuate significantly, we may incur losses when the Company sells vessels, which may adversely affect earnings. If we sell vessels at a time when vessel prices have fallen and before we have recorded an impairment adjustment to our financial statements, the sale may be at less than the vessel’s carrying amount in those financial statements, resulting in a loss and a reduction in earnings.

World events could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Continuing conflicts and recent developments in the Middle East and North Africa, and the presence of United States and other armed forces in Afghanistan, may lead to additional acts of terrorism and armed conflict around the world, which may contribute to further economic instability in the global financial markets. These uncertainties could also adversely affect our ability to obtain financing on terms acceptable to us or at all. In the past, political conflicts have also resulted in attacks on vessels, mining of waterways and other efforts to disrupt international shipping, particularly in the Arabian Gulf region. Acts of terrorism and piracy have also affected vessels trading in regions such as the South China Sea and the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.  Any of these occurrences, or the perception that our vessels are potential terrorist targets, could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition, results of operations and ability to pay dividends.

Our business has inherent operational risks, which may not be adequately covered by insurance.

Our vessels and their cargoes are at risk of being damaged or lost, due to events such as marine disasters, bad weather, mechanical failures, human error, environmental accidents, war, terrorism, piracy, political circumstances and hostilities in foreign countries, labor strikes and boycotts, changes in tax rates or policies, and governmental expropriation of our vessels.  Any of these events may result in loss of revenues, increased costs and decreased cash flows to our customers, which could impair their ability to make payments to us under our charters.

In the event of a casualty to a vessel or other catastrophic event, we will rely on our insurance to pay the insured value of the vessel or the damages incurred. Through the agreements with our vessel managers, we procure insurance for most of the vessels in our fleet employed under time charters against those risks that we believe the shipping industry commonly insures against. These insurances include marine hull and machinery insurance, protection and indemnity insurance, which include pollution risks and crew insurances, and war risk insurance. Currently, the amount of coverage for liability for pollution, spillage and leakage available to us on commercially reasonable terms through protection and indemnity associations and providers of excess coverage is $1 billion per vessel per occurrence.

We cannot assure you that we will be adequately insured against all risks. Our vessel managers may not be able to obtain adequate insurance coverage at reasonable rates for our vessels in the future. For example, in the past more stringent environmental regulations have led to increased costs for, and in the future may result in the lack of availability of, insurance against risks of environmental damage or pollution. Additionally, our insurers may refuse to pay particular claims. For example, the circumstances of a spill, including non-compliance with environmental laws, could result in denial of coverage, protracted litigation, and delayed or diminished insurance recoveries or settlements. Any significant loss or liability for which we are not insured could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Under the terms of our bareboat charters, the charterer is responsible for procuring all insurances for the vessel.

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Maritime claimants could arrest one or more of our vessels, which could interrupt our customers' or our cash flows.

Crew members, suppliers of goods and services to a vessel, shippers of cargo and other parties may be entitled to a maritime lien against one or more of our vessels for unsatisfied debts, claims or damages. In many jurisdictions, a maritime lien holder may enforce its lien by arresting a vessel through foreclosure proceedings. The arrest or attachment of one or more of our vessels could interrupt the cash flow of the charterer and/or the Company and require us to pay a significant amount of money to have the arrest lifted. In addition, in some jurisdictions, such as South Africa, under the "sister ship" theory of liability, a claimant may arrest both the vessel which is subject to the claimant's maritime lien and any "associated" vessel, which is any vessel owned or controlled by the same owner. Claimants could try to assert "sister ship" liability against vessels in our fleet managed by our vessel managers for claims relating to another vessel managed by that manager.

Governments could requisition our vessels during a period of war or emergency without adequate compensation, resulting in a loss of earnings.

A government could requisition one or more of our vessels for title or for hire. Requisition for title occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and becomes her owner, while requisition for hire occurs when a government takes control of a vessel and effectively becomes her charterer at dictated charter rates. Generally, requisitions occur during periods of war or emergency, although governments may elect to requisition vessels in other circumstances. Although we would be entitled to compensation in the event of a requisition of one or more of our vessels, the amount and timing of payment could be materially less than the charterhire that would have been payable otherwise. In addition, we would bear all risk of loss or damage to a vessel under requisition for hire. Government requisition of one or more of our vessels may negatively impact our revenues and reduce the amount of dividends paid, if any, to our shareholders.

As our fleet ages, the risks associated with older vessels could adversely affect our operations.

In general, the costs to maintain a vessel in good operating condition increase as the vessel ages.  Due to improvements in engine technology, older vessels are typically less fuel-efficient than more recently constructed vessels.  Cargo insurance rates increase with the age of a vessel, making older vessels less desirable to charterers.

Governmental regulations, safety, environmental or other equipment standards related to the age of tankers and other types of vessels may require expenditures for alterations or the addition of new equipment to our vessels to comply with safety or environmental laws or regulations that may be enacted in the future. These laws or regulations may also restrict the type of activities in which our vessels may engage or prohibit their operation in certain geographic regions. We cannot predict what alterations or modifications our vessels may be required to undergo as a result of requirements that may be promulgated in the future, or that as our vessels age market conditions will justify any required expenditures or enable us to operate our vessels profitably during the remainder of their useful lives.

There are risks associated with the purchase and operation of second-hand vessels.

Our current business strategy includes additional growth through the acquisition of both newbuildings and second-hand vessels.  Although we generally inspect second-hand vessels prior to purchase, this does not normally provide us with the same knowledge about the vessels' condition that we would have had if such vessels had been built for and operated exclusively by us.  Therefore, our future operating results could be negatively affected if the vessels do not perform as we expect.  Also, we do not receive the benefit of warranties from the builders if the vessels we buy are older than one year.

Risks Relating to Our Company

Changes in our dividend policy could adversely affect holders of our common shares.

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Any dividend that we declare is at the discretion of our Board of Directors. We cannot assure you that our dividend will not be reduced or eliminated in the future. Our profitability and corresponding ability to pay dividends is substantially affected by amounts we receive through charter-hire and profit sharing payments from our charterers. Our entitlement to profit sharing payments, if any, is based on the financial performance of our vessels which is outside of our control. If our charter hire and profit sharing payments decrease substantially, we may not be able to continue to pay dividends at present levels, or at all. We are also subject to contractual limitations on our ability to pay dividends pursuant to certain debt agreements, and we may agree to additional limitations in the future. Additional factors that could affect our ability to pay dividends include statutory and contractual limitations on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us, including under current or future debt arrangements.

We depend on our charterers, including Frontline Shipping, the Seadrill Charterers, North Atlantic Linus and the Golden Ocean Charterer, which are companies affiliated with us, for our operating cash flows and for our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders and repay our outstanding borrowings.

Most of the tanker vessels in our fleet are chartered to a subsidiary of Frontline Ltd., or Frontline, namely Frontline Shipping Limited, or Frontline Shipping. In addition, we have chartered two of our drilling units to the Seadrill Charterers, one drilling unit to North Atlantic Linus and eight dry bulk carriers to Golden Ocean Trading Limited, or the Golden Ocean Charterer. Our other vessels that have charters attached to them are chartered to other customers under short, medium or long term time and bareboat charters.

The charter-hire payments that we receive from our customers constitute substantially all of our operating cash flows.

The performance under the charters with the Seadrill Charterers is guaranteed by Seadrill. The performance under the charter with North Atlantic Linus was originally guaranteed by NADL, but following an amendment to the charter in February 2015, Seadrill has replaced NADL as guarantor under the charter. The performance under the charters with the Golden Ocean Charterer is guaranteed by Golden Ocean Group Limited, or Golden Ocean. If Frontline Shipping, the Seadrill Charterers, North Atlantic Linus, the Golden Ocean Charterer or any of our other charterers are unable to make charterhire payments to us, our results of operations and financial condition will be materially adversely affected and we may not have cash available to pay dividends to our shareholders and to repay our outstanding borrowings.

The amount of profit sharing payment we receive under our charters with Frontline Shipping, the Golden Ocean Charterer and other charterers, if any, may depend on prevailing spot market rates, which are volatile.

Most of our tanker vessels operate under time charters to Frontline Shipping. These charter contracts provide for base charterhire and additional profit sharing payments when Frontline Shipping's earnings from deploying our vessels exceed certain levels. The majority of our vessels chartered to Frontline Shipping are sub-chartered by them in the spot market, which is subject to greater volatility than the long-term time charter market, and the amount of future profit sharing payments that we receive, if any, will be primarily dependent on the strength of the spot market.

We have eight Capesize dry bulk carriers employed under time charters to the Golden Ocean Charterer. These charter contracts provide for base charterhire and additional profit sharing payments when the Golden Ocean Charterer's earnings from deploying our vessels exceed certain levels. The majority of our vessels chartered to the Golden Ocean Charterer are sub-chartered by them in the spot market, which is subject to greater volatility than the long-term time charter market, and the amount of future profit sharing payments we receive, if any, will be primarily dependent on the strength of the spot market.

We may also enter into agreements which include profit sharing provisions with other charterers. We also at present have four dry bulk carriers chartered to United Freight Carriers, or UFC, which is a joint venture approximately 50% owned by Golden Ocean, which include profit sharing provisions in the charter agreements.

We cannot assure you that we will receive any profit sharing payments for any periods in the future, which may have an adverse affect on our results and financial condition and our ability to pay dividends in the future.

The charter-free market values of our vessels and drilling units may decrease, which could limit the amount of funds that we can borrow or trigger certain financial covenants under our current or future credit facilities and we may incur a loss if we sell vessels or drilling units following a decline in their charter-free market value. This could affect future dividend payments.

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During the period a vessel or drilling unit is subject to a charter, we will not be permitted to sell it to take advantage of increases in vessel or drilling unit values without the charterers' agreement. Conversely, if the charterers were to default under the charters due to adverse market conditions, causing a termination of the charters, it is likely that the charter-free market value of our vessels would also be depressed. The charter-free market values of our vessels have experienced high volatility in recent years.

The charter-free market value of our vessels and drilling units may increase and decrease depending on a number of factors including, but not limited to, the prevailing level of charter rates and dayrates, general economic and market conditions affecting the international shipping and offshore drilling industries, types, sizes and ages of vessels and drilling units, supply and demand for vessels and drilling units, availability of or developments in other modes of transportation, competition from other shipping companies, cost of newbuildings, governmental or other regulations and technological advances.

In addition, as vessels and drilling units grow older, they generally decline in value. If the charter-free market values of our vessels and drilling units decline, we may not be in compliance with certain provisions of our credit facilities and we may not be able to refinance our debt, obtain additional financing or make distributions to our shareholders. Additionally, if we sell one or more of our vessels or drilling units at a time when vessel and drilling unit prices have fallen and before we have recorded an impairment adjustment to our consolidated financial statements, the sale price may be less than the vessel's or drilling unit's carrying value on our consolidated financial statements, resulting in a loss and a reduction in earnings. Furthermore, if vessel and drilling unit values fall significantly, we may have to record an impairment adjustment in our financial statements, which could adversely affect our financial results and condition.

We are subject to certain risks with respect to our counterparties on contracts, and failure of such counterparties to meet their obligations could cause us to suffer losses or otherwise adversely affect our business.

From time to time, we enter into, among other things, charter parties with our customers, newbuilding contracts with shipyards, credit facilities with banks, guarantees, interest rate swap agreements, currency swap agreements, total return bond swaps, and total return equity swaps. Such agreements subject us to counterparty risks. The ability and willingness of each of our counterparties to perform its obligations under a contract with us will depend on a number of factors that are beyond our control and may include, among other things, general economic conditions, the condition of the maritime and offshore industries, the overall financial condition of the counterparty, charter rates and dayrates received for specific types of vessels and drilling units, and various expenses. In addition, in depressed market conditions, our charterers and customers may no longer need a vessel or drilling unit that is currently under charter or contract, or may be able to obtain a comparable vessel or drilling unit at a lower rate. As a result, charterers and customers may seek to renegotiate the terms of their existing charter parties and drilling contracts, or avoid their obligations under those contracts. Should a counterparty fail to honor its obligations under agreements with us, we could sustain significant losses which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Volatility in the international shipping and offshore markets may cause our customers to be unable to pay charterhire to us.

Our customers are subject to volatility in the shipping and offshore markets that affects their ability to operate the vessels and rigs they charter from us at a profit.  Our customers' successful operation of our vessels and rigs in the charter market will depend on, among other things, their ability to obtain profitable charters. We cannot assure you that future charters will be available to our customers at rates sufficient to enable them to meet their obligations to make charterhire payments to us. As a result, our revenues and results of operations may be adversely affected. These factors include:

• global and regional economic and political conditions;

• supply and demand for oil and refined petroleum products, which is affected by, among other things, competition from alternative sources of energy;

• supply and demand for energy resources, commodities, semi-finished and finished consumer and industrial products;

• developments in international trade;

• changes in seaborne and other transportation patterns, including changes in the distances that cargoes are transported;

• environmental concerns and regulations;

• weather;

• the number of newbuilding deliveries;

• the improved fuel efficiency of newer vessels;

• the scrapping rate of older vessels; and

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• changes in production of crude oil, particularly by OPEC and other key producers.

Tanker charter rates also tend to be subject to seasonal variations, with demand (and therefore charter rates) normally higher in winter months in the northern hemisphere.

We depend on directors who are associated with affiliated companies which may create conflicts of interest.

Our principal shareholders Hemen Holding Ltd. and Farahead Investment Inc., which we refer to jointly as Hemen, are indirectly controlled by trusts established by Mr. John Fredriksen for the benefit of his immediate family. Hemen, and companies associated with Hemen, also have significant shareholdings in Frontline, Seadrill, Golden Ocean and Deep Sea Supply Plc., which are all our customers and/or suppliers. In addition, North Atlantic Linus, which is one of our customers, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of NADL, itself a subsidiary of Seadrill. Currently, one of our directors, Kate Blankenship, is also a director of Frontline, Golden Ocean, Seadrill and NADL. Paul Leand, another of our directors, is also a director of Seadrill and NADL. Hans Petter Aas, another of our directors, is also a director of Golden Ocean, Seadrill and Deep Sea Supply Plc. Harald Thorstein, another of our directors, is also Chairman of the board of directors of Deep Sea Supply Plc. Bert Bekker, another of our directors, is also a director of Seadrill. Georgina Sousa, another of our directors, is also a director of Frontline, Seadrill and NADL. These six directors owe fiduciary duties to the shareholders of each company and may have conflicts of interest in matters involving or affecting us and our customers. In addition, due to any ownership they may have in common shares of Frontline, Golden Ocean, Deep Sea Supply Plc., Seadrill or NADL, they may have conflicts of interest when faced with decisions that could have different implications for Frontline, Golden Ocean, Deep Sea Supply Plc., Seadrill or NADL than they do for us. We cannot assure you that any of these conflicts of interest will be resolved in our favor.

The agreements between us and affiliates of Hemen may be less favorable to us than agreements that we could obtain from unaffiliated third parties.

The charters, management agreements, charter ancillary agreements and the other contractual agreements we have with companies affiliated with Hemen were made in the context of an affiliated relationship. Although every effort was made to ensure that such agreements were made on an arm's-length basis, the negotiation of these agreements may have resulted in prices and other terms that are less favorable to us than terms we might have obtained in arm's-length negotiations with unaffiliated third parties for similar services.

Hemen and its associated companies' business activities may conflict with our business activities.

While Frontline and Golden Ocean have agreed to cause Frontline Shipping and the Golden Ocean Charterer, respectively, to use their commercial best efforts to employ our vessels on market terms and not to give preferential treatment in the marketing of any other vessels owned or managed by Frontline, Golden Ocean or its other affiliates, it is possible that conflicts of interests in this regard will adversely affect us. Under our charter ancillary agreements with Frontline Shipping, Frontline, the Golden Ocean Charterer and Golden Ocean, we are entitled to receive quarterly profit sharing payments to the extent that the average daily time-charter equivalent, or TCE, rates realized by Frontline Shipping and the Golden Ocean Charterer exceed specified levels. Because Frontline and Golden Ocean also own or manage other vessels in addition to our fleet, which are not included in the profit sharing calculations, conflicts of interest may arise between us, Frontline and Golden Ocean in the allocation of chartering opportunities that could limit our fleet's earnings and reduce profit sharing payments or charterhire due under our charters.

Our shareholders must rely on us to enforce our rights against our contract counterparties.

Holders of our common shares and other securities have no direct right to enforce the obligations of Frontline Shipping, Frontline Management (Bermuda) Ltd., or Frontline Management, Frontline, the Golden Ocean Charterer, Golden Ocean, Deep Sea Supply Plc., Deep Sea Supply BTG AS, the Seadrill Charterers, Seadrill and North Atlantic Linus, or any of our other customers under the charters, or any of the other agreements to which we are a party. Accordingly, if any of those counterparties were to breach their obligations to us under any of these agreements, our shareholders would have to rely on us to pursue our remedies against those counterparties.

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There is a risk that U.S. tax authorities could treat us as a "passive foreign investment company", which would have adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. shareholders.

A foreign corporation will be treated as a "passive foreign investment company," or PFIC, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if either (1) at least 75% of its gross income for any taxable year consists of certain types of "passive income" or (2) at least 50% of the average value of the corporation's assets produce or are held for the production of those types of "passive income."  For purposes of these tests, "passive income" includes dividends, interest and gains from the sale or exchange of investment property and rents and royalties other than rents and royalties which are received from unrelated parties in connection with the active conduct of a trade or business.  For purposes of these tests, income derived from the performance of services does not constitute "passive income", but income from bareboat charters does constitute "passive income."

U.S. shareholders of a PFIC are subject to a disadvantageous U.S. federal income tax regime with respect to the income derived by the PFIC, the distributions they receive from the PFIC and the gain, if any, they derive from the sale or other disposition of their shares in the PFIC.

Under these rules, if our income from our time charters is considered to be passive rental income, rather than income from the performance of services, we will be considered to be a PFIC.  We believe that it is more likely than not that our income from time charters will not be treated as passive rental income for purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC. Correspondingly, we believe that the assets that we own and operate in the connection with the production of such income do not constitute passive assets for purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC.  This position is principally based upon the positions that (1) our time charter income will constitute services income, rather than rental income, and (2) Frontline Management and Golden Ocean Management, which provide services to certain of our time-chartered vessels, will be respected as separate entities from the Frontline Charterers, as defined below, and the Golden Ocean Charterer, with which they are respectively affiliated. We do not believe that we will be treated as a PFIC for our 2015 taxable year. Nevertheless, for the 2016 taxable year and future taxable years, depending upon the relative amounts of income we derive from our various assets as well as their relative fair market values, we may be treated as a PFIC.   

We note that there is no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing our current and expected method of operation. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, or a court of law will accept our position, and there is a significant risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine that we are a PFIC.  Furthermore, even if we would not be a PFIC under the foregoing tests, no assurance can be given that we would not constitute a PFIC for any future taxable year if the nature and extent of our operations were to change.

If the IRS were to find that we are or have been a PFIC for any taxable year, our U.S. shareholders will face adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences.  For example, U.S. non-corporate shareholders would not be eligible for the preferential rate on dividends that we pay.

We may have to pay tax on U.S. source income, which would reduce our earnings.

Under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended, or the Code, 50% of the gross shipping income of a vessel owning or chartering corporation, such as ourselves and our subsidiaries, that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States may be subject to a 4% U.S. federal income tax without allowance for deduction, unless that corporation qualifies for exemption from tax under Section 883 of the Code and the applicable Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

We believe that we and each of our subsidiaries qualify for this statutory tax exemption and we will take this position for U.S. federal income tax return reporting purposes.  However, there are factual circumstances beyond our control that could cause us to lose the benefit of this tax exemption and thereby become subject to U.S. federal income tax on our U.S. source shipping income.  For example, Hemen owned approximately 36% of our common shares as of April 1, 2016.  There is therefore a risk that we could no longer qualify for exemption under Section 883 of the Code for a particular taxable year if other shareholders with a five percent or greater interest in our common shares were, in combination with Hemen, to own 50% or more of our outstanding common shares on more than half the days during the taxable year. Due to the factual nature of the issues involved, we can give no assurances on our tax-exempt status or that of any of our subsidiaries.

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If we, or our subsidiaries, are not entitled to exemption under Section 883 of the Code for any taxable year, we, or our subsidiaries, could be subject for those years to an effective 2% U.S. federal income tax on the gross shipping income these companies derive during the year that is attributable to the transport of cargoes to or from the United States.  The imposition of this tax would have a negative effect on our business and would result in decreased earnings available for distribution to our shareholders.

If our long-term time or bareboat charters or management agreements with respect to our vessels employed on long-term time charters terminate, we could be exposed to increased volatility in our business and financial results, our revenues could significantly decrease and our operating expenses could significantly increase.

If any of our charters terminate, we may not be able to re-charter those vessels on a long-term basis with terms similar to the terms of our existing charters, or at all.

Apart from two container vessels and seven dry bulk carriers trading under short-term charters, the vessels in our fleet that have charters attached to them are generally contracted to expire between one and 16 years from now.  However, we have granted some of our charterers purchase or early termination options that, if exercised, may effectively terminate our charters with these customers at an earlier date. One or more of the charters with respect to our vessels may also terminate in the event of a requisition for title or a loss of a vessel.

Under our vessel management agreements with Frontline Management and Golden Ocean Group Management (Bermuda) Ltd, or Golden Ocean Management, for fixed management fees, Frontline Management and Golden Ocean Management are responsible for all of the technical and operational management of the vessels chartered by Frontline Shipping and the Golden Ocean Charterer, respectively, and will indemnify us against certain loss of hire and various other liabilities relating to the operation of these vessels. If the relevant charter is terminated, the corresponding management agreement will also be terminated.

In addition to the vessels chartered to Frontline Shipping and the Golden Ocean Charterer, we currently operate 14 dry bulk carriers, eight container vessels and two car carriers under time charters and two Suezmax tankers in the spot market. The agreements for the technical and operational management of these vessels are not fixed price agreements, and we cannot assure you that any further vessels which we may acquire in the future will be operated under fixed price management agreements.

Therefore, to the extent that we acquire additional vessels, our cash flow could be more volatile in the future and we could be exposed to increases in our vessel operating expenses, each of which could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and business.

Certain of our vessels are subject to purchase options held by the charterer of the vessel, which, if exercised, could reduce the size of our fleet and reduce our future revenues.

The charter-free market values of our vessels are expected to change from time to time depending on a number of factors including general economic and market conditions affecting the shipping industry, competition, cost of vessel construction, governmental or other regulations, prevailing levels of charter rates and technological changes. We have granted fixed price purchase options to certain of our customers with respect to the vessels they have chartered from us, and these prices may be less than the respective vessel's charter-free market value at the time the option may be exercised. In addition, we may not be able to obtain a replacement vessel for the price at which we sell the vessel. In such a case, we could incur a loss and a reduction in earnings.

A change in interest rates could materially and adversely affect our financial performance.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had approximately $1.2 billion in floating rate debt outstanding under our credit facilities, and a further $0.8 billion in floating rate debt held by our unconsolidated wholly-owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method.  Although we use interest rate swaps to manage our interest rate exposure and have interest rate adjustment clauses in some of our chartering agreements, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates. For a portion of our floating rate debt, if interest rates rise, interest payments on our floating rate debt that we have not swapped into effectively fixed rates would increase.

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As of December 31, 2015, the Company, its consolidated subsidiaries and its wholly-owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method have entered into interest rate swaps which fix the interest on $1.0 billion of our outstanding indebtedness.

An increase in interest rates could cause us to incur additional costs associated with our debt service, which may materially and adversely affect our results of operations. Our maximum exposure to interest rate fluctuations on our outstanding debt at December 31, 2015, was approximately $1.0 billion, including our equity-accounted subsidiaries.  A one percentage change in interest rates would at most increase or decrease interest expense by approximately $10 million per year as of December 31, 2015.  The maximum figure does not take into account that certain of our charter contracts include interest adjustment clauses, whereby the charter rate is adjusted to reflect the actual interest paid on a deemed outstanding debt related to the assets on charter. At December 31, 2015, $1.1 billion of our floating rate debt was subject to such interest adjustment clauses, including our equity-accounted subsidiaries. Of this amount, a total of $0.2 billion was subject to interest rate swaps and the balance of $0.9 billion remained on a floating rate basis, effectively reducing our exposure to floating rate debt to $98 million.

The interest rate swaps that have been entered into by the Company and its subsidiaries are derivative financial instruments that effectively translate floating rate debt into fixed rate debt. US GAAP requires that these derivatives be valued at current market prices in our financial statements, with increases or decreases in valuations reflected in results of operations or, if the instrument is designated as a hedge, in other comprehensive income. Changes in interest rates give rise to changes in the valuations of interest rate swaps and could adversely affect results of operations and other comprehensive income.

We may have difficulty managing our planned growth properly.

Since our original acquisitions from Frontline, we have expanded and diversified our fleet, and we are performing certain administrative services through our wholly-owned subsidiaries Ship Finance Management AS and Ship Finance Management (Bermuda) Ltd.

We intend to continue to expand our fleet. Our future growth will primarily depend on our ability to locate and acquire suitable vessels and drilling units, identify and consummate acquisitions or joint ventures, obtain required financing, integrate any acquired vessels and drilling units with our existing operations, enhance our customer base, and manage our expansion.

The growth in the size and diversity of our fleet will continue to impose additional responsibilities on our management, and may present numerous risks, such as undisclosed liabilities and obligations, difficulty in recruiting additional qualified personnel and managing relationships with customers and suppliers, and integrating newly acquired operations into existing infrastructures. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in executing our growth plans or that we will not incur significant expenses and losses in connection with our future growth.

We are highly leveraged and subject to restrictions in our financing agreements that impose constraints on our operating and financing flexibility.

We have significant indebtedness outstanding under our Norwegian kroner, or NOK, 600 million Senior Unsecured Bonds due 2017, our 3.25% Senior Unsecured Convertible Notes due 2018 and our NOK900 million Senior Unsecured Bonds due 2019. We have also entered into loan facilities that we have used to refinance existing indebtedness and to acquire additional vessels.  We may need to refinance some or all of our indebtedness on maturity of our convertible notes, bonds or loan facilities and to acquire additional vessels in the future. We cannot assure you that we will be able to do so on terms acceptable to us or at all. If we cannot refinance our indebtedness, we will have to dedicate some or all of our cash flows, and we may be required to sell some of our assets, to pay the principal and interest on our indebtedness. In such a case, we may not be able to pay dividends to our shareholders and may not be able to grow our fleet as planned.  We may also incur additional debt in the future.

Our loan facilities and the indentures for our convertible notes and bonds subject us to limitations on our business and future financing activities, including:

• limitations on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, including  issuance of additional guarantees;

• limitations on incurrence of liens;

• limitations on our ability to pay dividends and make other distributions; and

• limitations on our ability to renegotiate or amend our charters, management agreements and other material agreements.

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Further, our loan facilities contain financial covenants that require us to, among other things:

• provide additional security under the loan facility or prepay an amount of the loan facility as necessary to maintain the fair market value of our vessels securing the loan facility at not less than specified percentages (ranging from 100% to 150%) of the principal amount outstanding under the loan facility;

• maintain available cash on a consolidated basis of not less than $25 million;

• maintain positive working capital on a consolidated basis; and

• maintain a ratio of total liabilities to adjusted total assets of less than 0.80.

Under the terms of our loan facilities, we may not make distributions to our shareholders if we do not satisfy these covenants or receive waivers from the lenders. We cannot assure you that we will be able to satisfy these covenants in the future.

Due to these restrictions, we may need to seek permission from our lenders in order to engage in some corporate actions. Our lenders' interests may be different from ours and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to obtain our lenders' permission when needed. This may prevent us from taking actions that are in our best interests.

Our debt service obligations require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to required payments on indebtedness and could limit our ability to obtain additional financing, make capital expenditures and acquisitions, and carry out other general corporate activities in the future. These obligations may also limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the shipping industry or detract from our ability to successfully withstand a downturn in our business or the economy generally. This may place us at a competitive disadvantage to other less leveraged competitors.

We may be subject to litigation that, if not resolved in our favor and not sufficiently insured against, could have a material adverse effect on us.

We may be, from time to time, involved in various litigation matters. These matters may include, among other things, contract disputes, personal injury claims, environmental claims or proceedings, asbestos and other toxic tort claims, employment matters, governmental claims for taxes or duties, and other litigation that arises in the ordinary course of our business. Although we intend to defend these matters vigorously, we cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any claim or other litigation matter, and the ultimate outcome of any litigation or the potential costs to resolve them may have a material adverse effect on us. Insurance may not be applicable or sufficient in all cases and/or insurers may not remain solvent which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Risks Relating to Our Common Shares

We are a holding company, and we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to distribute funds to us in order to satisfy our financial and other obligations and to make dividend payments.

We are a holding company, and have no significant assets other than the equity interests in our subsidiaries. Our subsidiaries own all of our vessels and drilling units, and payments under our charter agreements are made to our subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to make distributions to our shareholders depends on the performance of our subsidiaries and their ability to distribute funds to us. The ability of a subsidiary to make these distributions could be affected by a claim or other action by a third party or by the law of its respective jurisdiction of incorporation which regulates the payment of dividends by companies. If we are unable to obtain funds from our subsidiaries, we will not be able to pay dividends to our shareholders.

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The market price of our common shares may be unpredictable and volatile.

The market price of our common shares has been volatile. For the year ended December 31, 2015, the closing market price of our common shares ranged from a low of $13.89 on January 30, 2015, to a high of $17.69 on November 27, 2015. The market price of our common shares may continue to fluctuate due to factors such as actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results and those of other public companies in our industry, any reductions in the payment of our dividends or changes in our dividend policy, mergers and strategic alliances in the shipping and offshore industries, market conditions in the shipping and offshore industries, changes in government regulation, shortfalls in our operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts, announcements concerning us or our competitors and the general state of the securities market. The shipping and offshore industries have been highly unpredictable and volatile. The market for common shares in these industries may be equally volatile. Therefore, we cannot assure you that you will be able to sell any of our common shares you may have purchased at a price greater than or equal to its original purchase price.

Future sales of our common shares could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.

The market price of our common shares could decline due to sales of a large number of our shares in the market or the perception that such sales could occur. This could depress the market price of our common shares and make it more difficult for us to sell equity securities in the future at a time and price that we deem appropriate, or at all.

Because we are a foreign corporation, you may not have the same rights as a shareholder in a U.S. corporation may have.

We are a Bermuda exempted company. Our Memorandum of Association and Bye-Laws and the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, as amended, govern our affairs. Investors may have more difficulty in protecting their interests and enforcing judgments in the face of actions by our management, directors or controlling shareholders than would shareholders of a corporation incorporated in a United States jurisdiction. Under Bermuda law a director generally owes a fiduciary duty only to the company and not to the company's shareholders. Our shareholders may not have a direct course of action against our directors. In addition, Bermuda law does not provide a mechanism for our shareholders to bring a class action lawsuit under Bermuda law. Further, our bye-laws provide for the indemnification of our directors or officers against any liability arising out of any act or omission except for an act or omission constituting fraud, dishonesty or illegality.

Because our offices and the majority of our assets are located outside the United States, you may not be able to bring suit against us, or enforce a judgment obtained against us in the United States

Our executive offices, administrative activities and the majority of our assets are located outside the United States. In addition, most of our directors and officers are not resident in the United States. As a result, it may be more difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us, or to enforce both in the United States and outside the United States judgments against us in any action, including actions predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.

Our major shareholder, Hemen, may be able to influence us, including the outcome of shareholder votes, with interests that may be different from yours.

As at April 1, 2016, Hemen owned approximately 36% of our outstanding common shares. As a result of its ownership of our common shares, Hemen may influence our business, including the outcome of any vote of our shareholders. Hemen, and companies associated with Hemen, also currently beneficially own substantial stakes in Frontline, Golden Ocean, Seadrill (and indirectly its subsidiary NADL) and Deep Sea Supply Plc. The interests of Hemen may be different from your interests.

ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

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A. HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMPANY

The Company

We are Ship Finance International Limited, a Bermuda-based company incorporated in Bermuda on October 10, 2003, as a Bermuda exempted company under the Bermuda Companies Law of 1981 (Company No. EC-34296). We are engaged primarily in the ownership and operation of vessels and offshore related assets, and also involved in the charter, purchase and sale of assets.  Our registered and principal executive offices are located at Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda, and our telephone number is +1 (441) 295-9500.

We operate through subsidiaries, partnerships and branches located in Bermuda, Cyprus, Malta, Liberia, Norway, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the Marshall Islands.

We are an international ship owning and chartering company with one of the largest asset bases across the maritime and offshore industries. As at April 1, 2016, our assets consist of 16 oil tankers, 22 dry bulk carriers, 20 container vessels including one newbuilding, two car carriers, two jack-up drilling rigs, two ultra-deepwater drilling units, five offshore supply vessels, two chemical tankers and two newbuilding oil product tankers. Our oil tankers, chemical tankers and oil product tankers are all double-hull vessels. In addition, we have entered into agreements to charter-in two 18,000-20,000 TEU newbuilding container vessels on a long-term bareboat basis when they are delivered from the shipyard in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Our customers currently include Frontline, Golden Ocean, Seadrill, Sinochem Shipping Co. Ltd. ("Sinochem"), China National Chartering Co Ltd ("Sinochart"), Heung-A Shipping Co. Ltd. ("Heung-A"), Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd. ("Hyundai Glovis"), Maersk Line A/S ("Maersk"), Rudolf A. Oetker KG (“Hamburg Süd”), Hanjin Shipping ("Hanjin"), PT Apexindo Pratama Duta, Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd ("OOCL"), MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. ("MSC"), UFC and Deep Sea Supply BTG AS ("Deep Sea Supply BTG"), which is a joint venture owned 50% by Deep Sea Supply Plc., or Deep Sea, and 50% by BTG Pactual Oil & Gas Empreendimentos e Particapacoes S.A., or BTG Pactual.

Our primary objective is to continue to grow our business through accretive acquisitions across a diverse range of marine and offshore asset classes. In doing so, our strategy is to generate stable and increasing cash flows by chartering our assets primarily under medium to long-term bareboat or time charters.

History of the Company

We were formed in 2003 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontline, a major operator of large crude oil tankers. In 2004, Frontline distributed 25% of our common shares to its ordinary shareholders in a partial spin off, and our common shares commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the ticker symbol "SFL" on June 17, 2004. Frontline subsequently made six further dividends of our shares to its shareholders and its ownership in our Company is now less than one percent. Our assets at the time consisted of a fleet of Suezmax tankers, Very Large Crude Carriers, or VLCCs, and oil/bulk/ore carriers, or OBOs.

Since 2004, we have diversified our asset base and now have nine asset types, which comprises of crude oil tankers, oil product tankers, chemical tankers, container vessels, car carriers, dry bulk carriers, jack-up drilling rigs, ultra-deepwater drilling units and offshore supply vessels.

Most of our crude oil tankers are chartered to Frontline Shipping under longer term time charters that have remaining terms ranging from four to 11 years. Frontline Shipping, in turn, charters our vessels to third parties. Under the original charter agreements, the daily base charter rates payable to us were fixed in advance and decreased as our vessels aged. In December 2011, in response to a restructuring of Frontline necessitated by an extended period of low charter rates for oil tankers and OBOs, amendments were made to the original charter agreements with Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II Limited, or Frontline Shipping II, together the Frontline Charterers, relating to 28 double-hull vessels, whereby we received a compensation payment of $106 million and agreed to temporarily reduce by $6,500 per day the base charter rates payable on each vessel. The temporary reduction originally applied from January 1, 2012, until December 31, 2015, and thereafter the base charter rates were to revert to the original agreed levels. For the duration of the temporary reduction, we were entitled to receive 100% of any excess above the reduced charter rates earned by the Frontline Charterers on our vessels, calculated annually on an average daily TCE basis and subject to a maximum excess of $6,500 per day per vessel. Amounts received under this arrangement were classified as "cash sweep" income.

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In June 2015, further amendments were made to the charter agreements with the Frontline Charterers, whereby we agreed to reduce time charter rates from July 1, 2015, to fixed non-decreasing rates of $20,000 per day for each of the VLCCs and $15,000 per day for each of the Suezmax tankers until the charter expiry dates, which remain as in the original charters. The charters for three of the vessels were transferred from Frontline Shipping II to Frontline Shipping, which is now the charter counterpart for all of the vessels. As part of the amended agreement, Frontline was released from its guarantee obligations under the charters and in exchange a cash reserve of $2 million per vessel has been built up in Frontline Shipping as security for its obligations under the charters. As part compensation for the amendments to the charters, we received 55 million shares in Frontline. Since December 2011, fourteen vessels have been sold, including all of the OBOs, leaving 14 crude oil tankers currently chartered to Frontline Shipping. In February 2016, Frontline enacted a 1-for-5 reverse stock split and our shareholding in Frontline now consists of 11 million ordinary shares.

In addition to the base charter rates, with effect from July 1, 2015, Frontline Shipping will pay us a profit sharing amount equal to 50% of the charter revenues they realize above the revised fixed time charter rates, payable quarterly and calculated on an average daily TCE basis. Previously, from January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015, the profit sharing rate was 25% of the charter revenues realized above specified threshold levels, of which $50 million was prepaid in December 2011, and before that until December 31, 2011, the profit sharing rate was 20%. The cash sweep arrangement, originally set to expire on December 31, 2015, was superseded by the amended agreements effective from July 1, 2015.

We have also entered into agreements with Frontline Management to provide fixed rate operation and maintenance services for the vessels on time charter to the Frontline Charterers, and for administrative support services. These agreements enhance the predictability and stability of our cash flows, by fixing substantially all of the operating expenses of our crude oil tankers. As part of the amendments to the agreements made in June 2015, the fixed daily management fee per vessel payable to Frontline Management was increased from $6,500 per day to $9,000 per day with effect from July 1, 2015.

The charters for the two jack-up drilling rigs, two ultra-deepwater drilling units, five offshore supply vessels, two chemical tankers and 11 of the container vessels are all on bareboat terms, under which the respective charterer bears all operating and maintenance expenses.

Acquisitions and Disposals

Acquisitions

In the year ended December 31, 2015, we took delivery of the following vessels:

• In January 2015, we took delivery of two newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels, San Fernando and San Francisca, which immediately commenced seven year time-charters to Hamburg Süd.

• In April 2015, we announced the acquisition of eight Capesize dry bulk carriers from subsidiaries of Golden Ocean. Three of the vessels were delivered to us in July 2015 (Battersea, Golden Zhejiang and Golden Zhoushan - built respectively in 2009, 2010 and 2011), four were delivered in August 2015 (Belgravia, Golden Magnum, Golden Beijing and Golden Future - built respectively in 2009, 2009, 2010 and 2010) and one was delivered in September 2015 (KSL China - built in 2013). Immediately upon delivery, each vessel commenced a ten year time-charter to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean.

• In June 2015, we announced the acquisition of three 9,300-9,500 TEU newbuilding container vessels, with scheduled delivery dates between the fourth quarter of 2015 and the second quarter of 2016. The first vessel, Maersk Sarat, was delivered to us in November 2015 and immediately commenced a five year time charter to Maersk.

• In October 2015, we entered into agreements to charter in two newbuilding container vessels on a bareboat basis, each for a period of 15 years from delivery by the shipyard, which is expected in late 2016 and early 2017. We simultaneously entered into agreements to charter out each vessel for a period of 15 years to a major container line operator.

• In December 2015, we announced the acquisition of two newbuilding 114,000 dwt oil product tankers. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2017, whereupon they will commence minimum seven year time charters to an investment grade energy company based in the United States.

Since January 1, 2016, we have taken delivery of the following vessel:

• In February 2016, we took delivery of Maersk Skarstind, the second of the three newbuilding container vessels announced in June 2015. Immediately upon delivery the vessel commenced a five year time charter to Maersk. The third vessel is scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2016.

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Disposals

In the year ended December 31, 2015, we disposed of the following vessels:

• In February 2015, we transferred ownership of five 2,800 TEU container vessels to unrelated third parties following the exhaustion of an indirect limited performance guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited to the providers of loan finance secured against the vessels. An impairment adjustment of $11.8 million had been recorded against these vessels in 2014, and a loss of $0.1 million was recorded on their disposal in 2015.

• In September 2015, we sold the Suezmax tanker Front Glory to an unrelated third party. Compensation of $2.2 million was paid to Frontline for early termination of the charter, and overall net cash proceeds received amounted to $13.8 million. A gain of $3.4 million was recorded on the disposal.

• In October 2015, we sold the Suezmax tanker Front Splendour to an unrelated third party. Compensation of $1.3 million was paid to Frontline for early termination of the charter, and overall net cash proceeds received amounted to $12.8 million. A gain of $1.3 million was recorded on the disposal.

• In December 2015, we sold the Suezmax tanker Mindanao to an unrelated third party. Compensation of $3.3 million was paid to Frontline for early termination of the charter, and overall net proceeds received amounted to $17.7 million. A gain of $1.7 million was recorded on the disposal.

Since January 1, 2016, we have disposed of the following vessel:

• In February 2016, the Company sold the offshore supply vessel Sea Bear to an unrelated party third party, and simultaneously agreed to terminate the corresponding charter with a subsidiary of Deep Sea. Total gross proceeds amounted to approximately $19.6 million, consisting of cash sales proceeds and amortizing senior unsecured loan notes received from Deep Sea as compensation for the early termination of the charter. The loan notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% and are redeemable over a period of six years.

B. BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Our Business Strategies

Our primary objectives are to profitably grow our business and increase long-term distributable cash flow per share by pursuing the following strategies:

(1) Expand our asset base.   We have increased, and intend to further increase, the size of our asset base through timely and selective acquisitions of additional assets that we believe will be accretive to long-term distributable cash flow per share.  We will seek to expand our asset base through placing newbuilding orders, acquiring new and modern second-hand vessels and entering into medium or long-term charter arrangements. From time to time we may also acquire vessels with no or limited initial charter coverage. We believe that by entering into newbuilding contracts or acquiring modern second-hand vessels or rigs we can provide for long-term growth of our assets and continue to decrease the average age of our fleet.

(2) Diversify our asset base.  Since 2004, we have diversified our asset base and now have nine asset types, comprising crude oil tankers, oil product tankers, chemical tankers, container vessels, car carriers, dry bulk carriers, jack-up drilling rigs, ultra-deepwater drilling units and offshore supply vessels.  We believe that there are other attractive markets that could provide us with the opportunity to further diversify our asset base.  These markets include vessels and other assets that are of long-term strategic importance to certain operators in the shipping and offshore industries. We believe that the expertise and relationships of our management, together with our relationship and affiliation with Mr. John Fredriksen, could provide us with incremental opportunities to expand our asset base.

(3) Expand and diversify our customer relationships.  Since 2004, we have increased our customer base from one to 15 customers. Of these 15 customers, Frontline, Deep Sea Supply BTG, Seadrill, Golden Ocean and UFC are related parties. We intend to continue to expand our relationships with our existing customers and also to add new customers, as companies servicing the international shipping and offshore oil exploration markets continue to expand their use of chartered-in assets to add capacity.

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(4) Pursue medium to long-term fixed-rate charters.  We intend to continue to pursue medium to long-term fixed rate charters, which provide us with stable future cash flows.  Our customers typically employ long-term charters for strategic expansion as most of their assets are typically of strategic importance to certain operating pools, established trade routes or dedicated oil-field installations.  We believe that we will be well positioned to participate in their growth.  In addition, we will also seek to enter into charter agreements that are shorter and provide for profit sharing, so that we can generate incremental revenue and share in the upside during strong markets.

Customers

The Frontline Charterers have been our principal customers since we were spun-off from Frontline in 2004. However, in 2008 we made substantial investments in offshore drilling units which are chartered to the Seadrill Charterers, and the percentage of our business attributable to the Frontline Charterers has decreased following the sale of several of the vessels chartered by them and the delivery and commencement of the charters of the drilling units. We anticipate that the percentage of our business attributable to both Frontline Shipping and the Seadrill Charterers will decrease as we continue to expand our business and our customer base.

Competition

We currently operate in several sectors of the shipping and offshore industry, including oil transportation, dry bulk shipments, chemical transportation, oil product transportation, container transportation, car transportation, drilling rigs and offshore supply vessels.

The markets for international seaborne oil transportation services, dry bulk transportation services, and container and car transportation services are highly fragmented and competitive. Seaborne oil transportation services are generally provided by two main types of operators: major oil companies or captive fleets (both private and state-owned) and independent shipowner fleets.

In addition, several owners and operators pool their vessels together on an ongoing basis, and such pools are available to customers to the same extent as independently owned and operated fleets. Many major oil companies and other commodity carriers also operate their own vessels and use such vessels not only to transport their own cargoes but also to transport cargoes for third parties, in direct competition with independent owners and operators.

Container vessels and car carriers are generally operated by logistics companies, where the vessels are used as an integral part of their services. Therefore, container vessels and car carriers are typically chartered more on a period basis and single voyage chartering is less common. As the market has grown significantly over recent decades, we expect in the future to see more vessels chartered by logistics companies on a shorter term basis, particularly smaller vessels.

Our jack-up drilling rigs, ultra-deepwater drilling units and offshore supply vessels are chartered out on long-term charters to contractors. Jack-up drilling rigs, ultra-deepwater drilling units and offshore supply vessels are normally chartered by oil companies on a shorter-term basis linked to area-specific well drilling or oil exploration activities, but there have also been longer period charters available when oil companies want to cover their longer term requirements for such vessels. Offshore supply vessels and ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs are self-propelled, and can therefore easily move between geographic areas. Jack-up drilling rigs are not self-propelled, but it is common to move these assets over long distances on heavy-lift vessels. Therefore, the markets and competition for these rigs are effectively world-wide.

Competition for charters in all the above sectors is intense and is based upon price, location, size, age, condition and acceptability of the vessel/rig and its manager. Competition is also affected by the availability of other size vessels/rigs to compete in the trades in which we engage. Most of our existing vessels are chartered at fixed rates on a long-term basis and are thus not directly affected by competition in the short-term. However, tankers chartered to Frontline Shipping, dry bulk carriers chartered to the Golden Ocean Charterer and two of our Handysize dry bulk carriers on short-term charter to UFC are subject to profit sharing agreements, which will be affected by competition experienced by the charterers.

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Risk of Loss and Insurance

Our business is affected by a number of risks, including mechanical failure, collisions, property loss to the vessels, cargo loss or damage, and business interruption due to political circumstances in foreign countries, hostilities and labor strikes. In addition, the operation of any ocean-going vessel is subject to the inherent possibility of catastrophic marine disaster, including oil spills and other environmental mishaps, and the liabilities arising from owning and operating vessels in international trade.

The insurance of our vessels which are chartered on a bareboat basis or on a time charter basis to Frontline Shipping and the Golden Ocean Charterer is the responsibility of the bareboat charterers, Frontline Management or Golden Ocean Management, respectively, who arrange insurance in line with standard industry practice. We are responsible for the insurance of our other time chartered and voyage chartered vessels. In accordance with standard practice, we maintain marine hull and machinery and war risks insurance, which include the risk of actual or constructive total loss, and protection and indemnity insurance with mutual assurance associations. From time to time we carry insurance covering the loss of hire resulting from marine casualties in respect of some of our vessels. Currently, the amount of coverage for liability for pollution, spillage and leakage available to us on commercially reasonable terms through protection and indemnity associations and providers of excess coverage is up to $1 billion per vessel per occurrence. Protection and indemnity associations are mutual marine indemnity associations formed by shipowners to provide protection from large financial loss to one member by contribution towards that loss by all members.

We believe that our current insurance coverage is adequate to protect us against the accident-related risks involved in the conduct of our business and that we maintain appropriate levels of environmental damage and pollution insurance coverage, consistent with standard industry practice. However, there is no assurance that all risks are adequately insured against, that any particular claims will be paid, or that we will be able to procure adequate insurance coverage at commercially reasonable rates in the future.

Environmental Regulation and Other Regulations

Government regulations and laws significantly affect the ownership and operation of our crude oil tankers, oil product tankers, drybulk carriers, chemical tankers, drilling units, container vessels, car carriers and offshore supply vessels.  We are subject to various international conventions, laws and regulations in force in the countries in which our vessels and drilling units may operate or are registered. Compliance with such laws, regulations and other requirements entails significant expense, including vessel and drilling unit modification and implementation of certain operating procedures.

A variety of governmental, quasi-governmental and private organizations subject our assets to both scheduled and unscheduled inspections.  These organizations include the local port authorities, national authorities, harbor masters or equivalent, classification societies, flag states and charterers, terminal operators, oil companies and dry bulk and commodity owners.  Some of these entities require us to obtain permits, licenses and certificates for the operation of our assets.  Our failure to maintain necessary permits or approvals could require us to incur substantial costs or temporarily suspend operation of one or more of the assets in our fleet.

We believe that the heightened levels of environmental and quality concerns among insurance underwriters, regulators and charterers have led to greater inspection and safety requirements on all vessels and may accelerate the scrapping of older vessels throughout the industry, particularly older tankers.  Increasing environmental concerns have created a demand for tankers that conform to the stricter environmental standards.  We are required to maintain operating standards for all of our vessels emphasizing operational safety, quality maintenance, continuous training of our officers and crews, and compliance with applicable local, national and international environmental laws and regulations.  We believe that the operation of our vessels is in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and that our vessels have all material permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations necessary for the conduct of our operations; however, because such laws and regulations are frequently changed and may impose increasingly stricter requirements, we cannot predict the ultimate cost of complying with these requirements, or the impact of these requirements on the resale value or useful lives of our vessels.  The IMO adopted the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ship's Ballast Water and Sediments Convention, or the BWM Convention, in February 2004, which when ratified will require investment in new equipment on board our vessels, but it is not possible to quantify the costs of such modifications at this time. In addition, a future serious marine incident that results in significant oil pollution or otherwise causes significant adverse environmental impact, such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, could result in additional legislation or regulation that could negatively affect our profitability.

The laws and regulations discussed below may not constitute a comprehensive list of all such laws and regulations that are applicable to the operation of our vessels and drilling units.

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Flag State

The flag state, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, is responsible for implementing and enforcing a broad range of international maritime regulations with respect to all ships granted the right to fly its flag. The "Shipping Industry Guidelines on Flag State Performance" evaluates flag states based on factors such as sufficiency of infrastructure, ratification, implementation and enforcement of principal international maritime treaties, supervision of surveys, casualty investigations, compliance with International Labour Organization reporting, and participation at IMO meetings. Our vessels are flagged in Liberia, the Bahamas, Cyprus, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Panama, Hong Kong, and Norway.

International Maritime Organization

The United Nations' International Maritime Organization, or the IMO, has adopted the International Convention for the Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, collectively referred to as MARPOL 73/78, or MARPOL. MARPOL Annexes I and II entered into force on October 2, 1983 and have been adopted by over 150 nations, including many of the jurisdictions in which our vessels operate.  MARPOL sets forth pollution prevention requirements applicable to all vessels, and is broken into six Annexes, each of which regulates a different source of pollution.  Annex I relates to oil leakage or spill; Annexes II and III relate to harmful substances carried in liquid bulk or packaged form, respectively; Annexes IV and V relate to sewage and garbage management, respectively; and lastly, Annex VI relates to air emissions.  Annex VI was separately adopted by the IMO in September 1997.

Non-compliance with IMO regulations may subject a shipowner or bareboat charterer to increased liability, may lead to loss of or decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels and may result in denial of access to, or detention in, some ports including United States and European Union ports.

Air Emissions

In September 1997, the IMO adopted Annex VI to MARPOL to address air pollution.  Effective May 2005, Annex VI sets limits on nitrogen oxide emissions from ships whose diesel engines were constructed, or underwent major conversions, on or after January 1, 2000.  It also prohibits "deliberate emissions" of "ozone depleting substances", defined to include certain halons and chlorofluorocarbons. "Deliberate emissions" are not limited to times when the ship is at sea; they can for example include discharges occurring in the course of the ship's repair and maintenance. Also prohibited is the emission of "volatile organic compounds" from certain tankers, and the shipboard incineration of certain substances, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, using incinerators installed after January 1, 2000. Annex VI also includes a global cap on the sulphur content of fuel oil and allows for special areas to be established with more stringent controls on sulfur emissions, known as Emission Control Areas , or ECAs. 

The MEPC adopted amendments to Annex VI on October 10, 2008, which entered into force on July 1, 2010.  The amended Annex VI seeks to further reduce air pollution by, among other things, implementing a progressive reduction of the amount of sulfur contained in any fuel oil used on ships. As of January 1, 2012, the amended Annex VI requires that fuel oil contain no more than 3.50% sulfur, a reduction from the previous cap of 4.50%.  By January 1, 2020, sulfur content must not exceed 0.50%, subject to a feasibility review to be completed no later than 2018.

Sulfur content standards are even stricter within certain ECAs. As of January 1, 2015, ships operating within an ECA may not use fuel with sulfur content in excess of 0.10%. The Baltic Sea and the North Sea have been designated ECAs, and amended Annex VI establishes procedures for designating new ECAs. Effective August 1, 2012, certain coastal areas of North America were designated ECAs, and effective January 1, 2014, the United States Caribbean Sea was designated an ECA. Ocean-going vessels in these areas will be subject to stringent emissions controls, which may cause us to incur additional costs. If other ECAs are approved by the IMO, or other new or more stringent requirements relating to emissions from marine diesel engines or port operations by vessels are adopted by the EPA, or the states where we operate, compliance with these regulations could entail significant capital expenditures or otherwise increase the costs of our operations.  

As of January 1, 2013, MARPOL made mandatory certain measures relating to energy efficiency for new ships, in part to address greenhouse gas emissions. It makes the Energy Efficiency Design Index, or EEDI, apply to all new ships and the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan, or SEEMP, apply to all ships.

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Amended Annex VI also establishes new tiers of stringent nitrogen oxide emissions standards for new marine engines, depending on their date of installation. The EPA promulgated equivalent, and in some cases stricter, emissions standards in 2009.

As of January 1, 2010, the Directive 2005/33/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 6, 2005, amending Directive 1999/32/EC, came into force. The objective of the directive is to reduce emission of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter caused by the combustion of certain petroleum derived fuels. The directive imposes limits on the sulfur content of such fuels as a condition of their use within a Member State territory. As of January 1, 2010, marine fuels used by inland waterway vessels and ships at berth in ports in EU countries must have a maximum sulfur content of 0.10% by mass. On July 15, 2011, the European Commission adopted a proposal for an amendment of Directive 1999/32/EC which would align requirements with those imposed by the revised MARPOL Annex VI which introduced stricter sulfur limits. Directive 2012/33/EU, also amending Directive 1999/32//EC, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on November 17, 2012. The deadline for bringing member states' legislation into compliance was June 18, 2014, and the amended sulfur directive entered into force on January 1, 2015.

Safety Requirements

The IMO has adopted the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, or SOLAS, and the International Convention on Load Lines, or LL Convention, which impose a variety of standards that regulate the design and operational features of ships. The IMO periodically revises the SOLAS and LL Convention standards, and amendments to SOLAS made in May 2012 entered into force on January 1, 2014. The Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, was recently amended and the amendments became effective on June 8, 2015. The amendments alter the limits of liability for loss of life or personal injury claims and property claims against ship-owners.

The operation of our ships is also affected by the requirements contained in Chapter IX of SOLAS, which sets forth the IMO's International Management Code for the Safe Operation of Ships and Pollution Prevention, or the ISM Code. The ISM Code requires ship owners and bareboat charterers to develop and maintain an extensive "Safety Management System", or SMS, that includes the adoption of a safety and environmental protection policy, setting forth instructions and procedures for safe operation and describing procedures for dealing with emergencies. We intend to rely upon the safety management system that the appointed ship managers have developed.

The ISM Code requires that vessel operators obtain a Safety Management Certificate, or SMC, for each vessel they operate.  This certificate evidences compliance by a vessel's operators with the ISM Code requirements for a SMS. No vessel can obtain a SMC under the ISM Code unless its manager has been awarded a "Document of Compliance", or DOC, issued in most instances by the vessel's flag state. As of the date of this report, our appointed ship managers have obtained DOCs for their office and SMCs for all of our vessels for which such certificates are required by the IMO, and these are renewed as required.

Non-compliance with the ISM Code or other IMO regulations may subject the ship owner or bareboat charterer to increased liability, lead to loss of or decreases in available insurance coverage for affected vessels, and result in the denial of access to, or detention in, some ports.  As of the date of this report, each of our vessels is ISM Code certified. However, there can be no assurance such certificates will be maintained.

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Ballast Water Requirements

The IMO adopted the BWM Convention in February 2004. The BWM Convention's implementing regulations call for a phased introduction of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements, to be replaced in time with mandatory concentration limits. The BWM Convention will not become effective until 12 months after it has been adopted by 30 states, the combined merchant fleets of which represent not less than 35% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping. To date the BWM Convention has not yet been ratified but proposals regarding implementation have recently been submitted to the IMO. Many of the implementation dates in the BWM Convention have already passed, so that once it enters into force the period for installation of mandatory ballast water exchange requirements would be extremely short, with several thousand ships each year needing to install ballast water management systems, or BWMS. For this reason, on December 4, 2013, the IMO Assembly passed a resolution revising the application dates of the BWM Convention so that they are triggered by the entry into force date and not the dates originally in the BWM Convention. This in effect makes all vessels constructed before the entry into force date "existing vessels", and allows for the installation of a BWMS on such vessels at the first renewal survey following entry into force of the convention. Furthermore, in October 2014 the MEPC met and adopted additional resolutions concerning the BWM Convention's implementation. Once mid-ocean ballast exchange or ballast water treatment requirements become mandatory, the cost of compliance could increase for ocean carriers and the costs of ballast water treatments may be material. However, many countries already regulate the discharge of ballast water carried by vessels from country to country to prevent the introduction of invasive and harmful species via such discharges. The United States, for example, requires vessels entering its waters from another country to conduct mid-ocean ballast exchange or undertake some alternative measure, and to comply with certain reporting requirements. Although we do not believe that the costs of such compliance would be material, it is difficult to predict the overall impact of such requirements on our operations.

Oil Pollution Liability

The IMO has negotiated international conventions that impose liability for pollution in international waters and the territorial waters of the signatories to such conventions. For example, the IMO has adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage of 1969, as amended by Protocols in 1976, 1984 and 1992, and further amended in 2000, or the CLC (of which the United States is not a party). Under the CLC and depending on whether the country in which the damage results is a party to the 1992 Protocol to the CLC, a vessel's registered owner is strictly liable for pollution damage caused in the territorial waters of a contracting state by discharge of persistent oil, subject to certain exceptions.  The 1992 Protocol changed certain limits on liability, expressed using the International Monetary Fund currency unit of Special Drawing Rights. The limits on liability have since been amended so the compensation limits on liability were raised. The right to limit liability is forfeited under the CLC where the spill is caused by the ship-owner's personal fault, and under the 1992 Protocol where the spill is caused by the ship-owner's personal act or omission by intentional or reckless conduct, where the ship-owner knew pollution damage would probably result. A state that is a party to the CLC may not allow a ship under its flag to trade unless that ship has a certificate of insurance or something equivalent. In jurisdictions where the CLC has not been adopted, various legislative schemes or common law govern, and liability is imposed either on the basis of fault or in a manner similar to that of the CLC. The CLC requires ships covered by it to maintain insurance covering the liability of the owner in a sum equivalent to an owner's liability for a single incident. We believe that our insurance will cover the liability under the plan adopted by the IMO.

The IMO has adopted the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage of 2001, or the Bunker Convention, to impose strict liability on ship-owners for pollution damage in jurisdictional waters of ratifying states caused by discharges of bunker fuel. The Bunker Convention requires registered owners of ships over 1,000 gross tons to maintain insurance for pollution damage in an amount equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime (but not exceeding the amount calculated in accordance with the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims of 1976, as amended). With respect to non-ratifying states, liability for spills or releases of oil carried as fuel in ships' bunkers is typically determined by the national or other domestic laws in the jurisdiction where the events or damages occur.

The IMO continues to review and introduce new conventions, laws and regulations. Although it is difficult to accurately predict what additional regulations, if any, may be passed by the IMO in the future and what effect, if any, such additional regulations may have on our operations, they could limit our ability to do business and have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

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United States Requirements

The U.S. Oil Pollution Act of 1990, or OPA, established an extensive regulatory and liability regime for the protection and cleanup of the environment following oil spills. OPA affects all "owners and operators" whose vessels trade with the United States, its territories and possessions, or whose vessels operate in United States waters, which include the United States territorial sea and its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the United States. The United States has also enacted the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA, which applies to the discharge of hazardous substances other than oil, whether on land or at sea. OPA and CERCLA both define "owner and operator" in the case of a vessel as "any person owning, operating or chartering by demise the vessel".  Both OPA and CERCLA impact our operations.

Under OPA, vessel owners and operators are "responsible parties" and are jointly, severally and strictly liable (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, other than an agent or employee of, or a person acting pursuant to a contractual relationship with, the responsible party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges or threatened discharges of oil from their vessels. OPA contains statutory caps on liability and damages, which include:

• injury to, destruction or loss of, or loss of use of, natural resources and related assessment costs;

• injury to, or economic losses resulting from, the destruction of real and personal property;

• net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees or net profit revenues resulting from injury to, or destruction or loss of, real or personal property or natural resources;

• loss of subsistence use of natural resources that are injured, destroyed or lost;

• loss of profits or impairment of earnings capacity due to injury to, or destruction or loss of, real or personal property or natural resources by any claimant, whether or not such claimant has a proprietary interest in the property; and

• net cost of increased or additional public services necessitated by removal activities following a discharge of oil, such as protection from fire, safety or health hazards, and loss of subsistence use of natural resources.

OPA limits the liability of responsible parties with respect to single-hull tankers over 3,000 gross tons to the greater of $3,500 per gross ton or $25,845,600, while for all other tankers over 3,000 gross tons the liability is limited to the greater of $2,200 per gross ton or $18,796,800.  For non-tank vessels, such as dry bulk carriers, liability is limited to the greater of $1,100 per gross ton or $939,800, subject to periodic adjustment for inflation.  For offshore facilities, except deepwater ports, liability is capped at the total of all removal costs plus $75 million. These limits of liability do not apply if an incident was proximately caused by the violation of an applicable U.S. federal safety, construction or operating regulation by a responsible party, or its agent, employee or a person acting pursuant to a contractual relationship with the responsible party, or by a responsible party's gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The limitation on liability similarly does not apply if the responsible party fails or refuses to (i) report the incident where the responsible party knows or has reason to know of the incident, (ii) reasonably cooperate and assist as requested in connection with oil removal activities, or (iii) without sufficient cause, comply with an order issued under the Federal Pollution Act (Section 311 (c) and (e)) or the Intervention on the High Seas Act.

OPA permits individual states to impose their own liability regimes with regard to oil pollution incidents occurring within their boundaries. Some states have enacted legislation providing for unlimited liability for discharge of pollutants within their waters, which may include charterers and cargo owners and operators of vessels.

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may also result in additional regulatory initiatives or statutes, including the raising of liability caps under OPA.  For example, on August 15, 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement, or the BSEE, released a final drilling safety rule for offshore oil and gas operations that strengthens the requirements for safety equipment, well control systems, and blowout prevention practices. In April 2015, it was announced that new regulations are expected to be imposed in the United States relating to offshore oil and gas drilling, and in December 2015, the BSEE announced a new pilot inspection program for offshore facilities. Compliance with any new requirements of OPA may substantially impact our cost of operations or require us to incur additional expenses to comply with any new regulatory initiatives or statutes. Additional legislation or regulations applicable to the operation of our vessels that may be implemented in the future could adversely affect our business.

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CERCLA contains a similar liability regime whereby owners and operators of vessels are liable for cleanup, removal and remedial costs, as well as damages for injury to, or destruction or loss of, natural resources, including the reasonable costs associated with assessing same, and health assessments or health effects studies.  There is no liability if the discharge of a hazardous substance results solely from the act or omission of a non-contractual third party, an act of God or an act of war.  Liability under CERCLA is limited to the greater of $300 per gross ton or $5 million for vessels carrying a hazardous substance as cargo, and the greater of $300 per gross ton or $500,000 for any other vessel.  These limits do not apply (rendering the responsible person liable for the total cost of response and damages) if the release or threat of release of a hazardous substance resulted from willful misconduct or negligence, or the primary cause of the release was a violation of applicable safety, construction or operating standards or regulations.  The limitation on liability also does not apply if the responsible person fails or refuses to provide all reasonable cooperation and assistance as requested in connection with response activities where the vessel is subject to OPA.

OPA and CERCLA both require owners and operators of vessels to establish and maintain with the USCG evidence of financial responsibility sufficient to meet the maximum amount of liability to which the particular responsible person may be subject. An owner or operator of more than one tanker is required to demonstrate evidence of financial responsibility for the entire fleet in an amount equal only to the financial responsibility requirement relating to the vessel with the greatest maximum liability. Vessel owners and operators may satisfy their financial responsibility obligations by providing a proof of insurance, a surety bond, qualification as a self-insurer, or a guarantee. We comply with the USCG's financial responsibility regulations by procuring a Certificate of Financial Responsibility provided by Maritime Insurance Solutions Ltd.

We have and expect to maintain pollution liability insurance coverage in the amount of $1 billion per incident for each of our vessels. If the damages from a catastrophic spill were to exceed our insurance coverage, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Owners or operators of vessels and facilities operating in the waters of the United States must file vessel and facility response plans with the USCG, and their vessels and facilities are required to operate in compliance with their USCG approved plans. These response plans must, among other things, describe response activities for a discharge, identify response resources, describe crew training and drills, and identify a qualified individual with full authority to implement removal actions.

We have obtained vessel response plans approved by the USCG for our vessels operating in the waters of the United States.

Other Environmental Initiatives

The U.S. Clean Water Act, or CWA, prohibits the discharge of oil, hazardous substances and ballast water in U.S. navigable waters unless authorized by a duly-issued permit or exemption, and imposes strict liability in the form of penalties for any unauthorized discharges. The CWA also imposes substantial liability for the costs of removal, remediation and damages, and complements the remedies available under OPA and CERCLA.  Furthermore, many U.S. states that border a navigable waterway have enacted environmental pollution laws that impose strict liability on a person for removal costs and damages resulting from a discharge of oil or a release of a hazardous substance. These laws may be more stringent than U.S. federal law.

The EPA and USCG have enacted rules relating to ballast water discharge, compliance with which requires the installation of equipment on our vessels to treat ballast water before it is discharged, or the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures at potentially substantial cost, or which may otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. waters.

The EPA regulates the discharge of ballast and bilge water and other substances in U.S. waters under the CWA. EPA regulations require vessels 79 feet in length or longer (other than commercial fishing vessels and recreational vessels) to comply with a Vessel General Permit, or VGP, authorizing ballast and bilge water discharges and other discharges incidental to the operation of vessels.  The VGP imposes technology and water-quality based effluent limits for certain types of discharges and establishes specific inspection, monitoring, record-keeping and reporting requirements to ensure the effluent limits are met.  On March 28, 2013, the EPA re-issued the VGP for another five years, effective from December 19, 2013. The new VGP focuses on authorizing discharges incidental to operations of commercial vessels, and contains numeric ballast water discharge limits for most vessels to reduce the risk of invasive species in U.S. waters, more stringent requirements for exhaust gas scrubbers, and the use of environmentally acceptable lubricants.  

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In addition, under §401 of the CWA, the VGP must be certified by the state where the discharge is to take place. Certain states have enacted additional discharge standards as conditions to their certification of the VGP. These local standards bring the VGP into compliance with more stringent state requirements, such as those further restricting ballast water discharges and preventing the introduction of non-indigenous species considered to be invasive. The VGP and its state-specific regulations and any similar restrictions enacted in the future will increase the costs of operating in the relevant waters.

The USCG regulations adopted under the U.S. National Invasive Species Act also impose mandatory ballast water management practices for all vessels equipped with ballast water tanks entering or operating in U.S. waters, which require the installation of equipment to treat ballast water before it is discharged in U.S. waters, or alternatively the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures. Vessels not complying with these regulations are restricted from entering U.S. waters. The USCG must approve any technology before it is placed on a vessel, but has not yet approved the technology necessary for vessels to meet these standards.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, as of January 1, 2014, vessels are technically subject to the phasing-in of these standards. As a result, the USCG has provided waivers to vessels which cannot install the as-yet unapproved technology. The EPA, on the other hand, has taken a different approach to enforcing ballast discharge standards under the VGP. On December 27, 2013, the EPA issued an enforcement response policy in connection with the new VGP in which the EPA indicated that it would take into account the reasons why vessels do not have the requisite technology installed, but will not grant any waivers.

It should also be noted that in October 2015, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling that directed the EPA to redraft the sections of the 2013 VGP that address ballast water. However, the Second Circuit stated that 2013 VGP will remains in effect until the EPA issues a new VGP.  It presently remains unclear how the ballast water requirements set forth by the EPA, the USCG, and the BWM Convention, some of which are in effect and some which are pending, will co-exist.

The U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970, including its amendments of 1977 and 1990, or the CAA, requires the EPA to promulgate standards applicable to emissions of volatile organic compounds and other air contaminants.  Our vessels are subject to vapor control and recovery requirements for certain cargoes when loading, unloading, ballasting, cleaning and conducting other operations in regulated port areas.  Our vessels that operate in such port areas with restricted cargoes are equipped with vapor recovery systems that satisfy these requirements.  The CAA also requires states to draft State Implementation Plans, or SIPs, designed to attain national health-based air quality standards in each state.  Although state-specific, SIPs may include regulations relating to emissions resulting from vessel loading and unloading operations by requiring the installation of vapor control equipment.  As indicated above, our vessels operating in covered port areas are already equipped with vapor recovery systems that satisfy these existing requirements.  

Compliance with future EPA and USCG regulations could require the installation of certain engineering equipment and water treatment systems to treat ballast water before it is discharged or the implementation of other port facility disposal arrangements or procedures at potentially substantial cost, or may otherwise restrict our vessels from entering U.S. waters.

Our vessels carry cargoes to U.S. waters regularly, and we believe that all of our vessels are suitable to meet OPA and other U.S. environmental requirements and that they would also qualify for trade if chartered to serve U.S. ports.

European Union Regulations

In October 2009, the European Union, or E.U., amended a directive to impose criminal sanctions for illicit ship-source discharges of polluting substances, including minor discharges, if committed with intent, recklessly or with serious negligence and if the discharges individually or in aggregate result in deterioration of the quality of water. Aiding and abetting the discharge of a polluting substance may also lead to criminal penalties. Member states were required to enact laws or regulations to comply with the directive by the end of 2010.  Criminal liability for pollution may result in substantial penalties or fines and increased civil liability claims. The directive applies to all types of vessels irrespective of their flag, but certain exceptions apply to warships or where human safety or that of the ship is in danger.

The E.U. has adopted several regulations and directives requiring, among other things, more frequent inspections of high-risk ships, as determined by type, age, flag, and the number of times the ship has been detained.  The E.U. also adopted and then extended a ban on substandard ships and enacted a minimum ban period and a definitive ban for repeated offenses.  The regulation also provided the E.U. with greater authority and control over classification societies, by imposing more requirements on classification societies and providing for fines or penalty payments for organizations that failed to comply.

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Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Currently, emissions of greenhouse gases from international shipping are not subject to the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which entered into force in 2005, and pursuant to which adopting countries have been required to implement national programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations Convention on Climate Change conference held in Paris in 2015 did not result in an agreement that directly limits greenhouse gas emissions for ships.

As of January 1, 2013, all ships must comply with mandatory requirements adopted by the MEPC in July 2011, relating to greenhouse gas emissions. All ships are now required to follow the SEEMP, and the minimum energy efficiency levels per capacity mile outlined in the EEDI apply to all new ships. These requirements could cause us to incur additional compliance costs. The IMO is planning to implement market-based mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships at an upcoming MEPC session. The E.U. has indicated that it intends to propose an expansion of the existing E.U. emissions trading scheme to include emissions of greenhouse gases from marine vessels, and in January 2012 the E.U. launched a public consultation on possible measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. In April 2015, a regulation was adopted requiring large ships (over 5,000 gross tons) calling at E.U. ports from January 2018 to collect and publish data on carbon dioxide emissions and other information. In the United States, the EPA has issued a finding that greenhouse gases endanger the public health and safety, and has adopted regulations to limit greenhouse gas emissions from certain mobile sources and large stationary sources. Although the mobile source emissions regulations do not apply to greenhouse gas emissions from vessels, such regulation of vessels is foreseeable, and the EPA has in recent years received petitions from the California Attorney General and various environmental groups seeking such regulation. Any passage of climate control legislation or other regulatory initiatives adopted by the IMO, the E.U., the United States or other countries where we operate, or any treaty adopted at the international level to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, that restrict emissions of greenhouse gases could require us to make significant financial expenditures, including capital expenditures to upgrade our vessels, which we cannot predict with certainty at this time.

International Labour Organization

The International Labour Organization, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations, has adopted the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, or the MLC 2006. A Maritime Labour Certificate and a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance will be required to ensure compliance with the MLC 2006 for all ships above 500 gross tons in international trade. The MLC 2006 entered into force on August 20, 2013, and requires us to develop new procedures to ensure full compliance with its requirements. Our Protection & Indemnity Clubs have, with effect from August 20, 2013, amended their insurance policies to cover elements from MLC 2006, including but not limited to the repatriation of crew and other crew social security provisions.

Offshore Drilling Regulations

Our offshore drilling units are subject to many of the above environmental laws and regulations relating to vessels, but are also subject to laws and regulations focused on offshore drilling operations. We may incur costs to comply with these revised standards.

Rigs must comply with MARPOL limits on sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, chlorofluorocarbons, and the discharge of other air pollutants, except that the MARPOL limits do not apply to emissions that are directly related to drilling, production, or processing activities. As of January 1, 2013, MARPOL made mandatory certain measures relating to energy efficiency for new ships, including the requirement that all new ships utilize the EEDI and the SEEMP.

Our drilling units are subject not only to MARPOL regulation of air emissions, but also to the Bunker Convention's strict liability for pollution damage caused by discharges of bunker fuel in jurisdictional waters of ratifying states. We believe that all of our drilling units are currently compliant in all material respects with these regulations.

Furthermore, any drilling units that we may operate in United States waters, including the U.S. territorial sea and the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone around the United States, would have to comply with OPA and CERCLA requirements, among others, that impose liability (unless the spill results solely from the act or omission of a third party, an act of God or an act of war) for all containment and clean-up costs and other damages arising from discharges of oil or other hazardous substances, other than discharges related to drilling.

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The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, periodically issues guidelines for rig fitness requirements in the Gulf of Mexico and may take other steps that could increase the cost of operations or reduce the area of operations for our units, thus reducing their marketability. Implementation of BOEM guidelines or regulations may subject us to increased costs or limit the operational capabilities of our units, and could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

In addition to the MARPOL, OPA and CERCLA requirements described above, our international offshore drilling operations are subject to various laws and regulations in countries in which we operate, including laws and regulations relating to the importation of and operation of drilling units and equipment, currency conversions and repatriation, oil and gas exploration and development, environmental protection, taxation of offshore earnings and earnings of expatriate personnel, the use of local employees and suppliers by foreign contractors, and duties on the importation and exportation of drilling units and other equipment. New environmental or safety laws and regulations could be enacted, which could adversely affect our ability to operate in certain jurisdictions. Governments in some countries have become increasingly active in regulating and controlling the ownership of concessions and companies holding concessions, the exploration for oil and gas, and other aspects of the oil and gas industries in their countries. In some areas of the world, this governmental activity has adversely affected the amount of exploration and development work done by major oil and gas companies and may continue to do so. Operations in less developed countries can be subject to legal systems that are not as mature or predictable as those in more developed countries, which can lead to greater uncertainty in legal matters and proceedings. Implementation of new environmental laws or regulations that may apply to ultra-deepwater drilling units may subject us to increased costs or limit the operational capabilities of our drilling units and could materially and adversely affect our operations and financial condition.

Vessel Security Regulations

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there have been a variety of initiatives intended to enhance vessel security. On November 25, 2002, the U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, or MTSA, came into effect. To implement certain portions of the MTSA, in July 2003 the USCG issued regulations requiring the implementation of certain security requirements aboard vessels operating in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The regulations also impose requirements on certain ports and facilities, some of which are regulated by the EPA.

Similarly, in December 2002, amendments to SOLAS created a new chapter of the convention dealing specifically with maritime security.  The new Chapter XI-2 became effective in July 2004 and imposes various detailed security obligations on vessels and port authorities, and mandates compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, or the ISPS Code. The ISPS Code is designed to enhance the security of ports and ships against terrorism.

To trade internationally a vessel must attain an International Ship Security Certificate, or ISSC, from a recognized security organization approved by the vessel's flag state. Among the various requirements are:

• on-board installation of automatic identification systems to provide a means for the automatic transmission of safety-related information from among similarly equipped ships and shore stations, including information on a ship's identity, position, course, speed and navigational status;

• on-board installation of ship security alert systems, which do not sound on the vessel but only alert the authorities on shore;

• the development of vessel security plans;

• ship identification number to be permanently marked on a vessel's hull;

• a continuous synopsis record kept onboard showing a vessel's history including the name of the ship, the state whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, the date on which the ship was registered with that state, the ship's identification number, the port at which the ship is registered and the name of the registered owner(s) and their registered address; and

• compliance with flag state security certification requirements.

A ship operating without a valid certificate may be detained at port until it obtains an ISSC, or it may be expelled from port or refused entry.

The USCG, intended to align with international maritime security standards, exempts from MTSA vessel security measures non-U.S. vessels that have on board as of July 1, 2004, a valid ISSC attesting to the vessel's compliance with SOLAS security requirements and the ISPS Code.

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We have implemented the various security measures addressed by MTSA, SOLAS and the ISPS Code, and our fleet is in compliance with applicable security requirements.

Inspection by Classification Societies

Classification Societies are independent organizations that establish and apply technical standards in relation to the design, construction and survey of marine facilities including ships and offshore structures. Every ocean-going vessel must be "classed" by a classification society. The classification society certifies that the vessel is "in class", signifying that the vessel has been built and maintained in accordance with the rules of the classification society and complies with applicable rules and regulations of the vessel's country of registry and the international conventions of which that country is a member. In addition, where surveys are required by international conventions and corresponding laws and ordinances of a flag state, the classification society will undertake them on application or by official order, acting on behalf of the authorities concerned.

The classification society also undertakes on request other surveys and checks that are required by regulations and requirements of the flag state. These surveys are subject to agreements made in each individual case and/or to the regulations of the country concerned.

For maintenance of the class certification, regular and extraordinary surveys of hull and machinery, including the electrical plant and any special equipment classed, are required to be performed as follows:

• Annual Surveys: For seagoing ships, annual surveys are conducted for the hull and the machinery, including the electrical plant, and where applicable for special equipment classed, within three months before or after each anniversary of the date of commencement of the class period indicated in the certificate.

• Intermediate Surveys: Extended annual surveys are referred to as intermediate surveys and typically are conducted thirty months after commissioning and each class renewal. Intermediate surveys are to be carried out at or between the occasion of the second or third annual survey.

• Class Renewal Surveys: Class renewal surveys, also known as special surveys, are carried out for the ship's hull, machinery, including the electrical plant, and for any special equipment classed, at the intervals indicated by the character of classification for the hull. At the special survey the vessel is thoroughly examined, including audio-gauging to determine the thickness of the steel structures. Should the thickness be found to be less than class requirements, the classification society would prescribe steel renewals. The classification society may grant a one year grace period for completion of the special survey. Substantial amounts of money may have to be spent for steel renewals to pass a special survey if the vessel experiences excessive wear and tear. In lieu of the special survey every four or five years, depending on whether a grace period was granted, a vessel owner has the option of arranging with the classification society for the vessel's hull or machinery to be on a continuous survey cycle, in which every part of the vessel would be surveyed within a five-year cycle. Upon a vessel-owner's request, the surveys required for class renewal may be split according to an agreed schedule to extend over the entire period of class. This process is referred to as continuous class renewal.

All areas subject to survey as defined by the classification society are required to be surveyed at least once per class period, unless shorter intervals between surveys are prescribed elsewhere. The period between two subsequent surveys of each area must not exceed five years.

Seasonality

Most of our vessels are chartered at fixed rates on a long-term basis and seasonal factors do not have a significant direct effect on our business. Our tankers on charter to Frontline Shipping and our dry bulk carriers on charter to the Golden Ocean Charterer are subject to profit sharing agreements and to the extent that seasonal factors affect the profits of the charterers of these vessels we will also be affected. Two of our Handysize dry bulk carriers currently employed under short-term charters to UFC are also subject to agreements for profit sharing payable at the expiry of their respective charters, and the effects of seasonality will be limited to the timing of these profit sharing revenues.

C. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

See Exhibit 8.1 for a list of our significant subsidiaries.

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D. PROPERTY, PLANTS AND EQUIPMENT

We own a substantially modern fleet of vessels. The following table sets forth the fleet that we own or have contracted for delivery as of April 1, 2016. All of the VLCCs, Suezmaxes, product tankers and chemical tankers are double-hull vessels.

	Approximate			Lease	Charter Termination
Vessel	Built	Dwt.	Flag	Classification	Date
VLCCs
Front Century	1998	311,000	MI	Capital lease	2021
Front Vanguard	1998	300,000	MI	Capital lease	2021
Front Circassia	1999	306,000	MI	Capital lease	2021
Front Scilla	2000	303,000	MI	Capital lease	2023
Front Ariake	2001	299,000	BA	Capital lease	2023
Front Serenade	2002	299,000	LIB	Capital lease	2024
Front Hakata	2002	298,500	BA	Capital lease	2025
Front Stratus	2002	299,000	LIB	Capital lease	2025
Front Falcon	2002	309,000	BA	Capital lease	2025
Front Page	2002	299,000	LIB	Capital lease	2025
Front Energy	2004	305,000	MI	Capital lease	2027
Front Force	2004	305,000	MI	Capital lease	2027
Suezmaxes
Front Ardenne	1997	153,000	MI	Capital lease	2020
Front Brabant	1998	153,000	MI	Capital lease	2021
Glorycrown	2009	156,000	MI	n/a	n/a	(4	)
Everbright	2010	156,000	MI	n/a	n/a	(4	)
Product Tankers
Hull 5015 (NB)	2017	114,000	n/a	n/a	2024
Hull 5016 (NB)	2017	114,000	n/a	n/a	2024
Chemical Tankers
Maria Victoria V	2008	17,000	PAN	Operating lease	2018	(1	)
SC Guangzhou	2008	17,000	PAN	Operating lease	2018	(1	)
Capesize Dry Bulk Carriers
Belgravia	2009	170,000	MI	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
Battersea	2009	170,000	MI	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
Golden Magnum	2009	180,000	HK	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
Golden Beijing	2010	176,000	HK	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
Golden Future	2010	176,000	HK	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
Golden Zhejiang	2010	176,000	HK	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
Golden Zhoushan	2011	176,000	HK	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
KSL China	2013	180,000	MI	Operating lease	2025	(1	)
Kamsarmax Dry Bulk Carriers
Sinochart Beijing	2012	82,000	HK	Operating lease	2022
Min Sheng 1	2012	82,000	HK	Operating lease	2022

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Handysize Dry Bulk Carriers
SFL Spey	2011	34,000		HK	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
SFL Medway	2011	34,000		HK	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
SFL Trent	2012	34,000		HK	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
SFL Kent	2012	34,000		HK	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
SFL Tyne (ex Western Australia)	2012	32,000		HK	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
SFL Clyde (exWestern Houston)	2012	32,000		HK	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
SFL Dee (exWestern Copenhagen)	2013	32,000		HK	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
Supramax Dry Bulk Carriers
SFL Hudson	2009	57,000		MI	Operating lease	2020
SFL Yukon	2010	57,000		HK	Operating lease	2018
SFL Sara	2011	57,000		HK	Operating lease	2019
SFL Kate	2011	57,000		HK	Operating lease	2021
SFL Humber	2012	57,000		HK	Operating lease	2022
Container vessels
MSC Margarita	2001	5,800	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
MSC Vidhi	2002	5,800	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
MSC Vaishnavi R.	2002	4,100	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
MSC Julia R.	2002	4,100	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
MSC Arushi R.	2002	4,100	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
MSC Katya R. (ex Santa Rebecca)	2002	4,100	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
MSC Anisha R. (ex Santa Rafaela)	2002	4,100	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2020	(1	)
MSC Vidisha R. (ex Santa Roberta)	2002	4,100	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2020	(1	)
MSC Zlata R. (ex Santa Ricarda)	2002	4,100	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2020	(1	)
SFL Europa	2003	1,700	TEU	MI	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
Heung-A Green	2005	1,700	TEU	MAL	Operating lease	2020	(1	)
Green Ace	2005	1,700	TEU	MAL	Operating lease	2020	(1	)
SFL Avon	2010	1,700	TEU	MI	Operating lease	2016	(4	)
San Felipe	2014	8,700	TEU	MI	Operating lease	2021
San Felix	2014	8,700	TEU	MI	Operating lease	2021
San Fernando	2015	8,700	TEU	MI	Operating lease	2022
San Francisca	2015	8,700	TEU	MI	Operating lease	2022
Maersk Sarat	2015	9,500	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2020
Maersk Skarstind	2016	9,500	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2021
Maersk Shivling (NB)	2016	9,300	TEU	LIB	Operating lease	2021
Car Carriers
Glovis Composer	2005	6,500	CEU	HK	Operating lease	2017
Glovis Conductor	2006	6,500	CEU	PAN	Operating lease	2017
Jack-Up Drilling Rigs
Soehanah	2007	375	ft.	PAN	Operating lease	2018	(1	)
West Linus	2014	450	ft.	NOR	Capital lease	2029	(1	)

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Ultra-Deepwater Drill Units
West Hercules	2008	10,000	ft.		PAN	Capital lease	2023	(1	)
West Taurus	2008	10,000	ft.		PAN	Capital lease	2023	(1	)
Offshore supply vessels
Sea Leopard	1998	AHTS	(2	)	CYP	Capital lease	2020	(1	)
Sea Cheetah	2007	AHTS	(2	)	CYP	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
Sea Jaguar	2007	AHTS	(2	)	CYP	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
Sea Halibut	2007	PSV	(3	)	CYP	Operating lease	2019	(1	)
Sea Pike	2007	PSV	(3	)	CYP	Operating lease	2019	(1	)

Key to Flags: BA – Bahamas, CYP - Cyprus, MAL – Malta, HK – Hong Kong, LIB - Liberia, MI - Marshall Islands, PAN – Panama, NOR - Norway.

Notes:

(1) Charterer has purchase options during the term of the charter.

(2) Anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS).

(3) Platform supply vessel (PSV).

(4) Currently employed on a short-term charter or in the spot market.

Substantially, all of the above vessels and rigs are pledged under mortgages, excluding three of the 1,700 TEU container vessels and the newbuilding vessels not yet delivered.

In addition to the above vessels and rigs owned by us, we have entered into agreements to charter-in two 18,000-20,000 TEU newbuilding container vessels on a long-term bareboat basis when they are delivered from the shipyard in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Other than our interests in the vessels and drilling units described above, we do not own any material physical properties. We lease office space in Oslo from Frontline Management and in London from Arcadia Petroleum Limited, both related parties.

ITEM 4A. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with Item 3. "Selected Financial Data", Item 4. "Information on the Company" and our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included herein.

Overview

Following our spin-off from Frontline and the purchase of our original fleet in 2004, we have established ourselves as a leading international maritime asset-owning company with one of the largest asset bases across the maritime and offshore industries. A full fleet list is provided in Item 4.D "Information on the Company" showing the assets that we currently own and charter to our customers.

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Fleet Development

The following table summarizes the development of our active fleet of vessels:

Vessel type	Total fleet December 31, 2013	Additions/ Disposals 2014		Total fleet December 31, 2014	Additions/ Disposals 2015		Total fleet December 31, 2015
Oil Tankers	22		-3	19		-3	16
Chemical tankers	2			2			2
Dry bulk carriers	12	+2		14	+8		22
Container vessels	11	+11	-2	20	+3	-5	18
Car carriers	2			2			2
Jack-up drilling rigs	1	+1		2			2
Ultra-deepwater drill units	3		-1	2			2
Offshore supply vessels	6			6			6
Total Active Fleet	59	+14	-6	67	+11	-8	70

The above table includes two 13,800 TEU container vessels which were chartered-in until the first quarter of 2014, when the chartering arrangements were terminated.

In February 2016, we took delivery of one newbuilding 9,500 TEU container vessel and sold one offshore supply vessel. In addition, we have one newbuilding 9,300 TEU container vessel scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2016, two newbuilding oil product tankers scheduled for delivery in late 2016 and early 2017, respectively, and have agreed to charter in two newbuilding container vessels scheduled for delivery in 2017.

Factors Affecting Our Current and Future Results

Principal factors that have affected our results since 2004, and are expected to affect our future results of operations and financial position, include:

• the earnings of our vessels under time charters and bareboat charters to Frontline Shipping, the Seadrill Charterers, the Golden Ocean Charterer and other charterers;

• the amount we receive under the profit sharing arrangements with Frontline Shipping, the Golden Ocean Charterer and UFC, including the previous arrangement with the Frontline Charterers whereby during the period of the temporary reduction in charter rates they paid us 100% of any earnings above the temporarily reduced rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day (see Revenues below);

• the earnings and expenses related to any additional vessels that we acquire;

• earnings from the sale of assets and termination of charters;

• vessel management fees and expenses;

• administrative expenses;  

• interest expenses; and

• mark-to-market adjustments to the valuation of our interest rate swaps and other derivative financial instruments.

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Revenues

Our revenues derive primarily from our long-term, fixed-rate charters. Most of the vessels that we acquired from Frontline are chartered to Frontline Shipping under long-term time charters that are generally accounted for as direct financing leases. On December 30, 2011, amendments were made to the charter agreements with the Frontline Charterers relating to 28 double-hull vessels, all of which were accounted for as direct financing leases. Four of these vessels were sold in 2012, another four were sold in 2013, and a further three sold in 2014. In terms of the amended agreements, we received a compensation payment of $106 million and agreed to a $6,500 per day reduction in the time charter rate for each vessel for the four year period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2015. Thereafter, the charter rates were to revert to the previously agreed daily amounts. The leases were amended to reflect the compensation payment received and the reduction in future minimum lease payments to be received. The amendments affected direct financing lease interest income from January 1, 2012, onwards.

On June 5, 2015, further amendments were made to the charter agreements with the Frontline Charterers, relating to the 17 remaining vessels, which following the amendments are all chartered to Frontline Shipping. The amendments, which are effective from July 1, 2015, and do not affect the duration of the charters, include reductions in the daily time-charter rates to $20,000 per day for VLCCs and $15,000 per day for Suezmax tankers. As consideration for the agreed amendments, we received 55 million ordinary shares in Frontline, the fair value of which amounted to $150.2 million. The leases were again amended to reflect the compensation payment received and the reduction in future minimum lease payments to be received. The amendments affect direct financing lease interest income from July 1, 2015, onwards. Three of the vessels were sold in the second half of 2015.

Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income reduces over the terms of our leases as progressively a lesser proportion of the lease rental payment is allocated as lease interest income, and a higher amount is treated as repayment of the lease.

Our future earnings are dependent upon the continuation of existing lease arrangements and our continued investment in new lease arrangements. Future earnings may also be significantly affected by the sale of vessels. Investments and sales which have affected our earnings since January 1, 2015, are listed in Item 4 above under acquisitions and disposals. Some of our lease arrangements contain purchase options which, if exercised by our charterers, will affect our future leasing revenues.

We have profit sharing agreements with some of our charterers, in particular with Frontline Shipping, the Golden Ocean Charterer and UFC. Revenues received under profit sharing agreements depend upon the returns generated by the charterers from the deployment of our vessels. These returns are subject to market conditions which have historically been subject to significant volatility. Prior to December 31, 2011, the Frontline Charterers paid the Company a profit sharing rate of 20% of their earnings above average threshold charter rates on a time-charter equivalent basis from their use of the Company's fleet each fiscal year.  The amendments to the charter agreements made on December 30, 2011, increased the profit sharing percentage to 25% for earnings above those threshold levels. Additionally, the amendments provided that during the four year period of the temporary reduction in charter rates, the Frontline Charterers will pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day. Of the $106 million compensation payment received, $50 million represented a non-refundable advance on profit sharing earnings relating to the 25% profit sharing agreement which took effect on January 1, 2012. The further amendments to the charter agreements effective from July 1, 2015, increased the profit sharing percentage from 25% to 50% of earnings above the new reduced time-charter rates.

In addition to the tankers chartered to Frontline Shipping, our eight Capesize dry bulk carriers on long-term charter to the Golden Ocean Charterer and two of our Handysize dry bulk carriers on short-term charter to UFC include profit sharing arrangements whereby we earn, respectively, a 33% or 50% share of profits earned by the vessels above threshold levels.

Vessel Management Expenses

Our vessel-owning subsidiaries with vessels on charter to Frontline Shipping have entered into fixed rate management agreements with Frontline Management, under which Frontline Management is responsible for all technical management of the vessels. These subsidiaries each pay Frontline Management a fixed fee of $9,000 per day per vessel for these services. This daily fee has been payable since July 1, 2015, when the amendments to the charter agreements became effective, before which the fixed daily fee was $6,500. An exception to this arrangement is for any vessel chartered to Frontline Shipping which is sub-chartered by them on a bareboat basis, for which no management fee is payable for the duration of bareboat sub-charter. Similarly, the vessels on time-charter to the Golden Ocean Charterer pay a fixed fee of $7,000 per day per vessel to Golden Ocean Group Management, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Golden Ocean, for all technical management of the vessels.

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In addition to the vessels on charter to Frontline Shipping and the Golden Ocean Charterer, we also have eight container vessels, 14 dry bulk carriers and two car carriers employed on time charters, and two Suezmax tankers employed in the spot market. We have outsourced the technical management for these vessels and we pay operating expenses for the vessels as they are incurred.  The remaining vessels we own that have charters attached to them are employed on bareboat charters, where the charterer pays all operating expenses, including maintenance, drydocking and insurance.

Administrative Expenses

Administrative expenses consist of general corporate overhead expenses, including personnel costs, property costs, legal and professional fees, and other administrative expenses. Personnel costs include, among other things, salaries, pension costs, fringe benefits, travel costs and health insurance. We have entered into an administrative services agreement with Frontline Management under which they provide us with certain administrative support services, and have agreed to reimburse them for reasonable third party costs, if any, advanced on our behalf. Some of the compensation paid to Frontline Management is based on cost sharing for the services rendered, based on actual incurred costs plus a margin.

Mark-to-Market Adjustments

In order to hedge against fluctuations in interest rates, we have entered into interest rate swaps which effectively fix the interest payable on a portion of our floating rate debt. We have also entered into interest/currency swaps in order to fix both the interest and exchange rates applicable to the payment of interest and eventual settlement on our floating rate NOK bonds. Although the intention is to hold such financial instruments until maturity, US GAAP requires us to record them at market valuation in our financial statements. Adjustments to the mark-to-market valuation of these derivative financial instruments, which are caused by variations in interest and exchange rates, are reflected in results of operations and other comprehensive income. Accordingly, our financial results may be affected by fluctuations in interest and exchange rates.

Interest Expenses

Other than the interest expense associated with our 3.75% and 3.25% convertible senior unsecured bonds, and our NOK600 million and NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds, the amount of our interest expense will be dependent on our overall borrowing levels and may significantly increase when we acquire vessels or on the delivery of newbuildings. Interest incurred during the construction of a newbuilding is capitalized in the cost of the newbuilding. Interest expense may also change with prevailing interest rates, although the effect of these changes may be reduced by interest rate swaps or other derivative instruments that we enter into.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions affecting the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  The following is a discussion of the accounting policies we apply that are considered to involve a higher degree of judgment in their application. For details of all our material accounting policies, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are generated from time charter and bareboat charter hires, profit sharing arrangements and voyage freight billings, and are recognized on an accrual basis. Each charter agreement is evaluated and classified as an operating lease or a capital lease (see Leases below). Rental receipts from operating leases are recognized in income over the period to which the payment relates. Voyage revenues are recognized ratably over the estimated length of each voyage, and accordingly are allocated between reporting periods based on the relative transit time in each period. Voyage expenses are recognized as incurred. Probable losses on voyages are provided for in full at the time such losses can be estimated.

Rental payments from direct financing and sales-type leases are allocated between lease service revenues, if applicable, lease interest income and repayment of net investment in leases. The amount allocated to lease service revenue is based on the estimated fair value, at the time of entering the lease agreement, of the services provided which consist of ship management and operating services.

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Any contingent elements of rental income, such as profit share or interest rate adjustments, are recognized when the contingent conditions have materialized.

Prior to December 31, 2011, the Frontline Charterers paid the Company a profit sharing rate of 20% of their earnings above average threshold charter rates on a time-charter equivalent basis from their use of the Company's fleet each fiscal year. For each profit sharing period, the threshold is calculated as the number of days in the period multiplied by the daily threshold TCE rates for the applicable vessels. Starting on January 1, 2012, amendments to the charter agreements increased the profit sharing percentage to 25% for earnings above those threshold levels. Additionally, those amendments provided that during the four year period of the temporary reduction in charter rates, the Frontline Charterers will pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day. Under the terms of the amendments to the charter agreements, we received a compensation payment of $106 million, of which $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to the 25% profit sharing agreement. In 2015, further amendments were made to the charter agreements reducing the charter rates and increasing the profit sharing percentage to 50% for earnings above the new time-charter rates with effect from July 1, 2015. The Company did not recognize any income under the 25% profit sharing agreement, as the cumulative share of earnings did not attain the starting level of $50 million over the three and a half years of the agreement's duration. The new 50% profit sharing agreement with Frontline Shipping is not subject to any such constraints, and is payable on a quarterly basis.

In the third quarter of 2015, we acquired eight Capesize dry bulk carriers from subsidiaries of Golden Ocean and immediately upon delivery each vessel commenced a ten year time-charter to the Golden Ocean Charterer. The terms of the charters provide that we will receive a profit sharing rate of 33% of each vessel's earnings above average threshold charter rates, calculated quarterly on a time-charter equivalent basis. We also receive a 50% share of profits earned by some our dry bulk carriers operating on short-term time charters to UFC. All profit sharing revenues are recorded when earned and realizable.

Vessels and Depreciation

The cost of vessels and rigs less estimated residual value are depreciated on a straight line basis over their estimated remaining economic useful lives.  The estimated economic useful life of our offshore assets, including drilling rigs and drillships, is 30 years and for all other vessels it is 25 years. These are common life expectancies applied in the shipping and offshore industries.

If the estimated economic useful life or estimated residual value of a particular vessel is incorrect, or circumstances change and the estimated economic useful life and/or residual value have to be revised, an impairment loss could result in future periods. We monitor the carrying values of our vessels, including direct financing lease assets, and revise the estimated useful lives and residual values of any vessels where appropriate, particularly when new regulations are implemented.

Leases

Leases (charters) of our vessels where we are the lessor are classified as either operating leases or capital leases, based on an assessment of the terms of the lease. For charters classified as capital leases, the minimum lease payments, reduced in the case of time-chartered vessels by projected vessel operating costs, plus the estimated residual value of the vessel are recorded as the gross investment in the lease.

For direct financing leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the carrying value of the vessel is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The net investment in the lease consists of the gross investment less the unearned income. Over the period of the lease each charter payment received, net of vessel operating costs if applicable, is allocated between "lease interest income" and "repayment of investment in lease" in such a way as to produce a constant percentage rate of return on the balance of the net investment in the lease. Thus, as the balance of the net investment in each direct financing lease decreases, a lower proportion of each lease payment received is allocated to lease interest income and a greater proportion is allocated to lease repayment. For direct financing leases relating to time chartered vessels, the portion of each time charter payment received that relates to vessel operating costs is classified as "lease service revenue".

The implicit rate of return for each of the Company's direct financing leases is derived in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, Topic 840 "Leases" using the fair value of the asset at the lease inception, the minimum contractual lease payments and the estimated residual values.

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For sales-type leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the present values of its components, i.e. the minimum lease payments and the estimated residual value, is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The discount rate used in determining the present values is the interest rate implicit in the lease, as defined in ASC Topic 840-10-20.  The present value of the minimum lease payments, computed using the interest rate implicit in the lease, is recorded as the sales price, from which the carrying value of the vessel at the commencement of the lease is deducted in order to determine the profit or loss on sale. As is the case for direct financing leases, the unearned lease interest income is amortized to income over the period of the lease so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the lease. In addition, in the case of a sales-type lease, the difference between the fair value (or sales price) and the carrying value (or cost) of the asset is recognized as "profit on sale" in the period in which the lease commences.

We estimate the unguaranteed residual value of our direct financing lease assets at the end of the lease period by calculating depreciation in accordance with our accounting policies over the estimated useful life of the asset. Residual values are reviewed at least annually to ensure that original estimates remain appropriate.

There is a degree of uncertainty involved in the estimation of the unguaranteed residual values of assets leased under both operating and capital leases. Global effects of supply and demand for oil and other cargoes, and changes in international government regulations cause volatility in the spot market for second-hand vessels. Where assets are held until the end of their useful lives the unguaranteed residual value (i.e. scrap value) will fluctuate with the price of steel and any changes in laws related to the ship scrapping process, commonly known as ship breaking.

Classification of a lease involves the use of estimates or assumptions about fair values of leased vessels and expected future values of vessels.  We generally base our estimates of fair value on independent broker valuations of each of our vessels.  Our estimates of expected future values of vessels are based on current fair values amortized in accordance with our standard depreciation policy for owned vessels.

Fixed Price Purchase Options

Where an asset is subject to an operating lease that includes fixed price purchase options, the projected net book value of the asset is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net book value at an option date, the initial depreciation schedule is amended so that the carrying value of the asset is written down on a straight line basis to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to amortize the remaining carrying value, on a straight line basis, to the estimated scrap value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

Similarly, where a direct financing or sales-type lease relates to a charter arrangement containing fixed price purchase options, the projected carrying value of the net investment in the lease is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net investment in the lease at an option date, the rate of amortization of unearned finance lease interest income is adjusted to reduce the net investment in the lease to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to reduce the net investment in the lease to the un-guaranteed residual value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

Thus, for operating assets and direct financing and sales-type lease assets, if an option is exercised there will either be (a) no gain or loss on the exercise of the option or (b) in the event that an option is exercised at a price in excess of the net book value of the asset or the net investment in the lease, as appropriate, at the option date, a gain will be reported in the statement of operations at the date of delivery to the new owners.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The vessels and rigs held and used by us are reviewed for impairment on a quarterly basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impairment charge would be recognized if the estimate of future undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of the vessel or rig and its eventual disposal is less than its carrying amount. When testing for impairment, we consider daily rates currently in effect for existing charters, the possibility of any medium or long-term charter arrangements being terminated early and, using historical trends, estimated daily rates for each vessel or rig for its remaining useful life not covered by existing charters. In assessing the recoverability of carrying amounts, we must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows. These assumptions include assumptions about spot market rates, operating costs and the estimated economic useful life of these assets. In making these assumptions we refer to five-year and ten-year historical trends and performance, as well as any known future factors. Factors we consider important which could affect recoverability and trigger impairment include significant underperformance

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relative to expected operating results, new regulations that change the estimated useful economic lives of our vessels and rigs, and significant negative industry or economic trends.

In the year ended December 31, 2012, reviews of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that the Company's long-term investments in shares in a container vessel owner/operator and warrants to purchase shares in a U.S. company were impaired, and charges were taken against these assets. No impairment charge was required in 2013. In the year ended December 31, 2014, reviews of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that five 2,800 TEU container vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against these assets. In the year ended December 31, 2015, reviews of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that two offshore supply vessels and two container vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against these assets.

Vessel Market Values

As we obtain information from various industry and other sources, our estimates of vessel market values are inherently uncertain. In addition, charter-free market values are highly volatile and any estimate of market value may not be indicative of the current or future basic market value of our vessels or prices that we could achieve if we were to sell them.  Moreover, we are not holding our vessels for sale, except as otherwise noted in this report, and most of our vessels are currently employed under long-term charters or leases or other arrangements. There is not a ready liquid market for vessels that are subject to such arrangements.

During the past few years, the charter-free market values of vessels have experienced particular volatility, with substantial declines in many vessel classes.  As a result, the charter-free market values of many of our vessels have declined below those vessels' carrying value. However, we would not impair those vessels' carrying value under our accounting impairment policy, if we expect future cash flows receivable from the vessels over their remaining useful lives, including existing charters, to exceed the carrying values of such vessels.   

At December 31, 2015, we owned 70 vessels and rigs, and had contracted to acquire a further two newbuilding container vessels and two newbuilding oil product tankers. Taking into account the $262 million scheduled remaining payments for the newbuildings, and including the two ultra-deepwater drilling units and the harsh-environment jack-up drilling rig which are owned by equity accounted subsidiaries, the aggregate carrying value of these 74 assets at December 31, 2015, was $3.8 billion, as summarized in the table below. The table is presented in the context of the markets in which the vessels operate, with oil tankers, oil product tankers and chemical tankers grouped together under "Tanker vessels", container vessels and car carriers grouped together under "Liners" and jack-up drilling rigs, ultra-deepwater drilling units and offshore supply vessels grouped together under "Offshore units".

	Number of owned vessels	Aggregate carrying value at December 31, 2015 ($ millions)
Tanker vessels (1)	20	709
Dry bulk carriers (2)	22	633
Liners (3)	22	885
Offshore units (4)	10	1,546
	74	3,773

(1) Includes 2 vessels with an aggregate carrying value of $43 million, which we believe exceeds their aggregate charter-free market value by approximately $18 million, and 18 vessels with a carrying value of $666 million, which we believe is approximately $85 million less than their aggregate charter-free market value.

(2) Includes 22 vessels with an aggregate carrying value of $633 million, which we believe exceeds their aggregate charter-free market value by approximately $235 million.

(3) Includes 6 vessels with an aggregate carrying value of $361 million, which we believe exceeds their aggregate charter-free market value by approximately $41 million, and 16 vessels with an aggregate carrying value of $524 million, which we believe is approximately $50 million less than their aggregate charter-free market value.

(4) Includes 5 vessels with an aggregate carrying value of $632 million, which we believe exceeds their aggregate charter-free market value by approximately $80 million, and 5 vessels with an aggregate carrying value of $914 million, which we believe is approximately $228 million less than their aggregate charter-free market value.

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The above aggregate carrying value of $3,773 million at December 31, 2015, is made up of (a) $511 million investments in capital leases, (b) $1,641 million vessels and equipment, (c) $40 million newbuildings, (d) $262 million cost to complete newbuildings and (e) $1,319 million carrying value of two ultra-deepwater drilling units and one jack-up drilling rig owned by equity accounted subsidiaries.

Mark-to-Market Valuation of Financial Instruments

The Company enters into interest rate and currency swap transactions, total return bond swaps and total return equity swaps. As required by ASC Topic 815 "Derivatives and Hedging", the mark-to-market valuations of these transactions are recognized as assets or liabilities, with changes in their fair value recognized in the consolidated statements of operations or, in the case of swaps designated as hedges to underlying loans, in other comprehensive income. To determine the market valuation of these instruments, we use a variety of assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

Variable Interest Entities

A variable interest entity is defined in ASC Topic 810 "Consolidation" ("ASC 810") as a legal entity where either (a) the total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated support; (b) equity interest holders as a group lack either i) the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact on its economic success, ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the voting rights of some investors in the entity are not proportional to their economic interests and the activities of the entity involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with a disproportionately small voting interest.

ASC 810 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, being the interest holder, if any, which has both (1) the power to direct the activities of the entity which most significantly impact on the entity's economic performance, and (2) the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses from the entity which could potentially be significant to the entity.

In applying the provisions of ASC 810, we must make assessments in respect of, but not limited to, the sufficiency of the equity investment in the underlying entity and the extent to which interest holders have the power to direct activities. These assessments include assumptions about future revenues and operating costs, fair values of assets, and estimated economic useful lives of assets of the underlying entity.

Recent accounting pronouncements

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" in order to ensure that revenue recognition requirements are the same under both US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). ASU 2014-09 removes inconsistencies and provides a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues. ASU 2014-09 was effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 "Deferral of the Effective Date" to delay the implementation of ASU 2014-09 by one year, in response to feedback from preparers, practitioners and users of financial statements. Accordingly, ASU 2014-09 is now effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for reporting and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In November 214, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16 "Derivatives and Hedging" in order to standardize the determination of whether the host contract in a hybrid financial instrument issued in the form of a share is more akin to debt or to equity. ASU 2014-16 requires that all terms and features of the hybrid instrument, including the embedded derivative feature itself, must be taken into account when establishing separate accounting for the embedded derivative. ASU 2014-16 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December15, 2015. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-16 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" in order to clarify the basis for consolidation of certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. Specifically, ASU 2015-02 (i) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities, (ii) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (iii) affects the

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consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships, and (iv) provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” to simplify presentation of debt issuance costs. The amendments in this update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this update. ASU 2015-03 is effective for public entities with reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 "Interest - Imputation of Interest" to address the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, which were not specifically addressed in ASU 2015-03. The Company believes that the implementation of this update will only affect the presentation of debt issuance costs which will be shown as a direct deduction of the related debt instead of under non-current assets in the accompanying balance sheets.

In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-10 "Technical Corrections and Improvements" to clarify and make minor improvements to the Codification and correct unintended application of guidance. The FASB does not expect the numerous amendments to have a significant effect on accounting practice. ASU 2015-10 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 31, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" to reduce the complexity and cost of the subsequent measurement of inventory, in particular when using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost methods. The provisions of ASU 2015-11 specifically exclude inventory that is measured using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. Entities should measure inventory within the scope of ASU 2015-11 at the lower of cost and net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. ASU 2016-01 particularly relates to the fair value and impairment of equity investments, financial instruments measured at amortized cost, and the use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is only permitted for certain particular amendments within ASU 2016-01, where financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-01 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 "Leases" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 creates a new Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 "Leases" to replace the previous Topic 840 "Leases." ASU 2016-02 affects both lessees and lessors, although for the latter the provisions are similar to the previous model, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and also the new revenue recognition provisions contained in ASU 2014-09 (see above). ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07 "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures" to simplify the transition to the equity method of accounting. ASU 2016-07 eliminates the requirement that when an investment qualifies for the use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership, the investor must adjust the investment, results of operations and retained earnings retrospectively as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods in which the investment had been held. ASU 2016-07 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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Market Overview

The Oil Tanker Market

During 2015, tanker freight rates continued the increase, which started in 2014, from the low levels experienced in 2013. Following remarkable stability in the price of crude oil at around $110 per barrel between 2011 and 2013, the price declined to below $50 per barrel in December 2014, and further to below $30 per barrel in January 2016. This was a consequence of increased production in the United States, Libya and other producers, coupled with Saudi Arabia and associated OPEC members declining to limit their own production, which caused significant changes in the pattern of oil trade around the world. Since 2013, global oil production has increased by more than 5%, average trading distances have increased by more than 3% and oil tankers are increasingly being used as floating storage. Overall, tonnage demand for tankers increased by 4% in 2014 and a further 7% in 2015. On the supply side, crude oil tanker capacity grew by only 1.4% in 2014 and 1.8% in 2015, resulting in fleet utilization increasing by more than 2% in 2014 and a further 4% in 2015 to almost 90%, the highest level since 2008.

The increase in fleet utilization resulted in 2015 being another good year for crude oil tankers, with TCE rates for modern VLCCs and Suezmax tankers averaging approximately $42,700 and $33,000 per day, respectively, between 35% and 40% above average rates in 2014, which were in turn 30% above rates in 2013. The strengthening trend started in the second half of 2014, and in December 2015 spot charter rates for VLCCs averaged over $100,000 per day, the highest level since 2008.

According to industry sources, at the end of 2015 the total orderbook for new VLCCs and Suezmax tankers consisted of 136 vessels and 107 vessels, respectively, representing in both cases approximately 21% of the existing fleet. These are higher levels than at the end of 2014, which were approximately 14% of the existing fleet at the time, reflecting a significant increase in newbuilding orders in 2015, related to the improved fundamentals in the oil tanker market.

The Dry Bulk Shipping Market

The dry bulk shipping market experienced yet another difficult year in 2015, with average earnings at their lowest levels for fifteen years. Overall, industry sources indicate that fleet capacity increased by more than 2%, while tonnage demand for vessels registered no growth at all, owing to significant reductions in Chinese imports, particularly coal and iron ore, driven by the slowing growth in the Chinese economy.

Accordingly, the market for dry bulk carriers was generally depressed throughout 2015. The average one-year time charter rates for Capesize, Supramax and Handysize dry bulk carriers were, respectively, $10,000 per day, $7,600 per day and $6,700 per day, representing decreases from 2014 of 54%, 33% and 26%, respectively.

During 2015, contracting for newbuilding dry bulk carriers decreased to 18 million dwt from 67 million dwt in 2014, while deliveries of new vessels amounted to 49 million dwt and scrapping removed some 31 million dwt. Thus, fleet capacity increased by 18 million dwt, equivalent to approximately 2.4% of the overall average fleet size for the year. At the end of 2015, the total orderbook for new dry bulk carriers was 127 million dwt, equivalent to 16% of the existing fleet.

The Freight Liner Market (Containerships and Car Carriers)

The container charter market experienced another weak year in 2015, with the influx of 1.7 million TEU of new capacity continuing the general situation of overcapacity. This resulted in average freight rates per TEU falling by about 30% in 2015.

Industry sources indicate that container ship demand increased by slightly under 4% in 2015, while overall capacity grew by 8% to approximately 19.7 million TEU, after deducting 200,000 TEU which was scrapped. Charter rates began the year at low levels, which increased in the first half of the year but then fell back again in the second half as demand for extra capacity failed to match the increase in supply, due to subdued levels of economic growth. This resulted in a dramatic increase in idle capacity, and at the end of the year approximately 7% of the fleet was reported to be idle, considerably more than the 1.2% idle capacity at the end of 2014.

Contracting for new container vessels in 2015 was higher than in 2014, with 1.8 million TEU of capacity ordered in the first three quarters of the year compared with 1.1 million TEU ordered in the full year 2014. The bias continues to be towards larger vessels, with approximately 75% of the orders being for vessels with capacities of 12,000 TEU and above. At the end of the year, the ratio of outstanding orders to existing fleet capacity increased from 18% to almost 20%.

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The car carrier market was weaker than expected in 2015, due to sales of cars being lower than predicted, particularly in Russia, Brazil and Argentina, resulting in reduced exports mainly from Asia. Overall, sales of new imported cars increased by approximately 2% to 15.5 million units. Meanwhile, there were 24 vessels delivered from shipyards in 2015 and 6 vessels removed from the fleet, resulting in fleet capacity growth of approximately 3%. At the year end, the orderbook consisted of 75 vessels, equivalent to 10% of existing fleet capacity.

The Offshore Market

From 2011 to 2013, the oil price (Brent crude spot) averaged around $110 per barrel, which was attractive to oil and gas companies and prompted them to substantially increase their investment in offshore exploration and development activity. This resulted in the total number of mobile offshore drilling units increasing from 638 at the start of 2010 to 811 at the start of 2014, and almost full utilization and record high day rates for those assets. However, over the course of 2014 the oil price fell to below $50 per barrel in December 2014, and the fall continued to under $30 per barrel in January 2016. As a consequence of the fall in oil prices, oil and gas companies have significantly reduced their exploration and development activities, resulting in decidedly weaker demand in the offshore drilling market. Worldwide demand for drilling units has declined from 744 units at the end of 2013 to 561 units at the end of 2015, the number of units scrapped has increased from 6 in 2013 to 43 in 2015 and the number of units cold-stacked has increased from 67 at the end of 2013 to 97 at the end of 2015. Asset utilizations have declined from 96% of the active supply at the end of 2013 to 74% at the end of 2015, and global average day rates have declined by approximately 50% since the end of 2013.

Industry sources indicate that orders were placed for only 5 newbuilding drilling units in 2015, compared with 43 in 2014, reflecting the clear deterioration in market fundamentals. The average number of available units at the end of 2015 was 762, a decrease of 6% on the average of 808 at the end of 2014. Although 99 new units are scheduled to be delivered in 2016, it is clear that owners will have to adjust their fleets through delaying and cancellation of newbuildings and removals/scrapping of older units.

The above overviews of the various sectors in which we operate are based on current market conditions. However, market developments cannot always be predicted and may differ from our current expectations.

Inflation

Most of our time chartered vessels are subject to operating and management agreements that have the charges for these services fixed for the term of the charter. Thus, although inflation has a moderate impact on our corporate overheads and our vessel operating expenses, we do not consider inflation to be a significant risk to direct costs in the current and foreseeable economic environment.  In addition, in a shipping downturn, costs subject to inflation can usually be controlled because shipping companies typically monitor costs to preserve liquidity and encourage suppliers and service providers to lower rates and prices in the event of a downturn.

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Results of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2015, compared with year ended December 31, 2014

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2015, was $200.8 million, an increase of 64% from the year ended December 31, 2014.

(in thousands of $)	2015		2014
Total operating revenues	406,740		327,487
Gain/(loss) on sale of assets	7,364		(1,384	)
Gain on termination of charters	—		25,315
Total operating expenses	(248,058	)	(206,272	)
Net operating income	166,046		145,146
Interest income	39,142		40,451
Interest expense	(70,583	)	(86,081	)
Other non-operating items (net)	32,622		(10,198	)
Equity in earnings of associated companies	33,605		33,497
Net income	200,832		122,815

Net operating income in 2015 was $20.9 million higher than in 2014, principally due to the $79.3 million increase in operating revenues (see below), partly offset by the $30.6 million increase in vessel impairment charges (see below) and the absence of gains on termination of charters. Net income was $78.0 million higher, principally due to the increase in net operating income and the $42.8 million improvement in other non-operating items (see below).

Four ultra-deepwater drilling units (one of which was a newbuilding delivered in February 2014 and one of which was sold in December 2014) and two container vessels chartered-in on bareboat charters (until the charters were terminated in the first quarter of 2014) were accounted for under the equity method during 2015 and 2014. The operating revenues of the wholly-owned subsidiaries owning these assets are included under "equity in earnings of associated companies", where they are reported net of operating and non-operating expenses.  

Operating revenues

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Direct financing lease interest income	34,193	45,363
Finance lease service revenues	46,460	46,488
Profit sharing revenues	59,607	33,756
Time charter revenues	160,778	93,052
Bareboat charter revenues	68,015	69,771
Voyage charter revenues	35,783	34,608
Other operating income	1,904	4,449
Total operating revenues	406,740	327,487

Total operating revenues increased 24% in the year ended December 31, 2015, compared with 2014.

In general, direct financing and sales-type lease interest income reduces over the terms our leases, as progressively a lesser proportion of the lease rental payment is allocated to interest income and a greater proportion is treated as repayment on the lease. The $11.2 million decrease in lease interest income from 2014 to 2015 is partly due to this effect, but also to reduced charter rates incorporated into the leases from July ,2015, onwards (see Note 23: Related party transactions) and the sale in 2015 of three Suezmax tankers (Front Glory, Front Splendour and Mindanao) and in 2014 of three VLCCs (Front Comanche, Front Commerce and Front Opalia), all of which were previously direct financing lease assets chartered to the Frontline Charterers.

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The reduction in finance lease service revenue associated with the above sales of time-chartered vessels in 2015 and 2014, was offset by the increase in fixed vessel operating fees from $6,500 per day to $9,000 per day from July 1, 2015 onwards (see Note 23).

Prior to December 31, 2011, the Frontline Charterers paid us profit sharing of 20% of their earnings from our vessels on a time-charter equivalent basis above average threshold charter rates each fiscal year. Amendments to the charter agreements made in December 2011, increased the profit sharing percentage to 25% for earnings above those threshold levels, and additionally provided that for the four year period of the temporary reduction in charter rates, the Frontline Charterers would pay us 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day per vessel - this latter item is called "cash sweep" income. In 2014 we earned $32.7 million under these arrangements, all of which was cash sweep income. Following further amendments to the charter agreements effective from July 1, 2015, onwards, the profit sharing percentage was increased to 50% and the cash sweep arrangement was terminated. In 2015 we earned $19.9 million in cash sweep income, $37.2 million under the 50% profit share arrangement and nothing under the 25% profit share arrangement. We also had a profit sharing agreement relating to five Handysize dry bulk carriers chartered to UFC in 2015, which earned us $2.5 million, compared with $1.1 million in 2014.

During 2014, time-charter revenues were earned by nine container vessels, 14 dry bulk carriers and two car carriers. In 2015, we disposed of five 2,800 TEU container vessels and took delivery of three additional container vessels averaging approximately 9,000 TEU and also eight Capesize dry bulk carriers operating under time-charters. The 73% increase in time-charter revenues from 2014 to 2015 is due to these additional vessels delivered in 2015, and two 8,700 TEU container vessels delivered in the second half of 2014.

Bareboat charter revenues are earned by our vessels which are leased under operating leases on a bareboat basis. In both 2014 and 2015, these consisted of four offshore supply vessels, two chemical tankers, one jack-up drilling rig, and 11 container vessels. Total bareboat revenues were more or less unchanged from 2014 to 2015.

Two of our vessels, the Suezmax tankers Everbright and Glorycrown, were sold under sales-type lease agreements in 2010 and 2009, respectively. Following default by the purchaser, these vessels were returned to us in September 2013, since when we have traded them on a voyage charter basis, earning $35.8 million in voyage charter revenues in 2015 (2014: $34.6 million).

Cash flows arising from direct financing leases

The following table analyzes our cash flows from the direct financing leases with the Frontline Charterers, Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG during 2015 and 2014, and shows how they are accounted for:

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Charterhire payments accounted for as:
Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income	34,193	45,363
Finance lease service revenues	46,460	46,488
Direct financing and sales-type lease repayments	35,946	43,120
Total direct financing and sales-type lease payments received	116,599	134,971

The vessels chartered on direct financing leases to Frontline Shipping, or the Frontline Charterers prior to July 1, 2015, are leased on time-charter terms, where we are responsible for the management and operation of such vessels. This has been effected by entering into fixed price agreements with Frontline Management whereby we pay them management fees of $9,000 per day for each vessel chartered to Frontline Shipping from July 1, 2015, onwards, before which the fee was $6,500 per day for each vessel chartered to the Frontline Charterers. Accordingly, $9,000 per day (previously $6,500 per day) is allocated from each time charter payment received from Frontline Shipping (previously the Frontline Charterers) to cover lease executory costs, and this is classified as "finance lease service revenue". If any vessel chartered on direct financing leases to Frontline Shipping is sub-chartered on a bareboat basis, then the charter payments for that vessel are reduced by $9,000 per day for the duration of the bareboat sub-charter.

49

Gain/(loss) on sale of assets

In 2015, net gains totaling $7.4 million were recorded on the disposal of three Suezmax tankers (Front Glory, Front Splendour and Mindanao) and five 2,800 TEU container vessels. In 2014, losses totaling $1.4 million were recorded on the disposal of three VLCCs (Front Comanche, Front Commerce and Front Opalia).

Gain on termination of charters

In 2014, compensation amounting to $25.3 million was received in respect of the early termination of the time charters on four Handysize dry bulk carriers. The charters for these newbuilding vessels had been agreed in November 2010, with terms of five years from delivery from the yard. There was no gain on termination of charters in 2015.

Operating expenses

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Vessel operating expenses	120,831	119,470
Depreciation	78,080	67,393
Vessel impairment charge	42,410	11,800
Administrative expenses	6,737	7,609
	248,058	206,272

Vessel operating expenses consist of payments to Frontline Management of $9,000 per day ($6,500 per day before July 1, 2015) for each vessel chartered to Frontline Shipping (the Frontline Charterers before July 1, 2015) and also payments to Golden Ocean Management of $7,000 per day for each vessel chartered to the Golden Ocean Charterer, in accordance with the vessel management agreements. In addition, vessel operating expenses include operating and occasional voyage expenses for the container vessels, dry bulk carriers and car carriers operated on a time-charter basis and managed by related and unrelated parties, and also voyage expenses for the two Suezmax tankers currently operating in the spot market.

Vessel operating expenses increased by only 1% from 2014 to 2015. Although we took delivery of eight Capesize dry bulk carriers and three container vessels operating on time charters in 2015, and also agreed an increase in fixed daily fees payable to Frontline Management from July 1, 2015, onwards, which all served to increase vessel operating expenses, there were reductions elsewhere due to the disposal of tankers in 2014 and 2015 and also considerably lower operating and voyage expenses for the two tankers operating in the spot market.

Depreciation expenses relate to the vessels on charters accounted for as operating leases and on voyage charters. The increase from 2014 to 2015 is primarily due to the delivery in 2014 of two newbuilding container vessels and the delivery in 2015 of eight dry bulk carriers and three newbuilding container vessels, partly offset by the disposal of five container vessels in 2015.

During 2015, a review of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that the carrying values of two of our offshore supply vessels and two of our container vessels were impaired and an impairment charge was taken. In 2014, an impairment charge was made against five 2,800 TEU container vessels.

Administrative expenses, which include salaries, office costs, and fees for professional and administrative services, were lower in 2015 than 2014, principally due to lower salary costs.

Interest income

Interest income decreased from $40.5 million in 2014 to $39.1 million in 2015, mainly due to the absences in 2015 of $6.5 million interest received in 2014 on the shareholder's loan to SFL West Polaris, which was sold in 2014, and of $4.5 million interest received in 2014 on refunded shipyard instalment payments relating to four canceled newbuilding contracts, largely offset by a $9.4 million increase in interest received on Frontline loan notes, additional notes having been received in November 2014 on the termination of the charters on three VLCCs.

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Interest expense

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Interest on US$ floating rate loans	23,726	25,163
Interest on NOK floating rate bonds due 2014	—	1,137
Interest on NOK floating rate bonds due 2017	4,628	6,094
Interest on NOK floating rate bonds due 2019	5,604	6,675
Interest on 3.75% convertible bonds due 2016	4,685	4,688
Interest on 3.25% convertible bonds due 2018	11,375	11,375
Swap interest	8,947	19,486
Other interest	5	192
Amortization of deferred charges	11,613	11,271
	70,583	86,081

At December 31, 2015, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had total debt outstanding of $1.7 billion (2014: $1.7 billion) comprised of $149 million (NOK1,323 million) net outstanding principal amount of NOK floating rate bonds (2014: $196 million, NOK1,464 million), $118 million net outstanding principal amount of 3.75% convertible bonds (2014: $125 million), $350 million net outstanding principal amount of 3.25% convertible bonds (2014: $350 million) and $1.0 billion under floating rate secured long term credit facilities (2014: $1.1 billion). The average three-month US$ London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, was 0.32% in 2015 and 0.23% in 2014. Total interest expense in 2015 was $15.5 million less than in 2014, mainly due to reduced swap interest.

The decrease in interest payable on the NOK floating rate bonds due 2014 is due to their redemption in April 2014. The decrease in interest payable on the NOK floating rate bonds due 2017 and 2019 is due to repurchases in 2015, which are being held as treasury bonds. The small decrease in interest payable on the 3.75% convertible bonds is due to repurchases in December 2015.

At December 31, 2015, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries were party to interest rate swap contracts, which effectively fix our interest rates on $1.0 billion of floating rate debt at a weighted average rate excluding margin of 3.02% per annum (2014: $1.3 billion of floating rate debt fixed at a weighted average rate excluding margin of 3.41% per annum). The reductions in swap interest paid and the weighted average swap rate is substantially due to the termination of certain swaps with a fixed rate of 6%.

As reported above, four ultra-deepwater drilling units and two chartered-in container vessels were accounted for under the equity method in 2015 and 2014. Their non-operating expenses, including interest expenses, are not included above, but are reflected in "Equity in earnings of associated companies" below.

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Other non-operating items

Other non-operating items amounted to a net gain $32.6 million (2014: net loss of $10.2 million). The net gain in 2015 consists of gains of $44.6 million on the sale of Horizon Lines loan notes and share warrants, $28.9 million on the redemption of Frontline loan notes and $1.0 million on purchases of our own bonds, offset by a $20.6 million impairment loss on available for sale securities, a $13.2 million adverse mark-to-market valuation adjustment to non-designated interest rate swaps, $6.5 million cash payments on non-designated interest rate swaps and $1.6 million other costs (mainly bank and loan commitment fees). The net loss in 2014 consists of $7.7 million adverse mark-to-market valuation adjustments to non-designated interest rate swaps, $7.2 million cash payments on non-designated interest rate swaps, $1.4 million other costs, partly offset by a gain of $6.1 million on disposal of investment in an associated company.

Equity in earnings of associated companies

During 2014 and 2015, the Company had certain wholly-owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method, as discussed in the consolidated financial statements included herein (Note 16: Investment in associated companies). The total equity in earnings of associated companies in 2015 was more or less the same as in 2014, with the $3.7 million increase in earnings from the newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus, delivered in February 2014, and the $2.6 million share of net income from Frontline during the period in 2015 when it was an equity accounted associate, substantially offset by the $4.6 million decrease in earnings from the drillship West Polaris, sold in December 2014, the $0.9 million decrease in earnings from West Hercules and West Taurus, associated with reducing finance lease interest income, and the $0.7 million decrease in earnings from two container vessels chartered in until the first quarter of 2014 (see Note 16).

Year ended December 31, 2014, compared with year ended December 31, 2013

Net income for the year ended December 31, 2014, was $122.8 million, an increase of 38% from the year ended December 31, 2013.

(in thousands of $)	2014		2013
Total operating revenues	327,487		270,860
(Loss)/gain on sale of assets	(1,384	)	18,025
Gain on termination of charters	25,315		—
Total operating expenses	(206,272	)	(171,519	)
Net operating income	145,146		117,366
Interest income	40,451		30,080
Interest expense	(86,081	)	(87,225	)
Other non-operating items (net)	(10,198	)	785
Equity in earnings of associated companies	33,497		28,200
Net income	122,815		89,206

Net operating income in 2014 was $27.8 million higher than in 2013, principally due to the $33.0 million increase in profit sharing revenues (see below). Net income was $33.6 million higher, owing to the increase in net operating income and higher interest income and equity in earnings of associated companies, partly offset by higher net other non-operating costs (see below).

Four ultra-deepwater drilling units (one of which was a newbuilding delivered in February 2014) and two container vessels chartered-in on bareboat charters (until the charters were terminated in the first quarter of 2014) were accounted for under the equity method during 2014 and 2013. The operating revenues of the wholly-owned subsidiaries owning these assets are included under "equity in earnings of associated companies", where they are reported net of operating and non-operating expenses.  

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Operating revenues

(in thousands of $)	2014	2013
Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income	45,363	59,616
Finance lease service revenues	46,488	54,236
Profit sharing revenues	33,756	770
Time charter revenues	93,052	83,425
Bareboat charter revenues	69,771	61,029
Voyage charter revenues	34,608	9,724
Other operating income	4,449	2,060
Total operating revenues	327,487	270,860

Total operating revenues increased 21% in the year ended December 31, 2014, compared with 2013.

The $14.3 million reduction in lease interest income from 2013 to 2014 is due to the inherent reduction over time in the amount of total lease receipts which are allocated to lease interest income, and also to the sale in 2014 of three VLCCs (Front Comanche, Front Commerce and Front Opalia) and in 2013 of two VLCCs (Front Champion and Golden Victory), one Suezmax tanker (Front Pride) and one OBO (Front Guider), all of which were previously direct financing lease assets chartered to the Frontline Charterers.

The reduction in finance lease service revenue reflects the above sales of vessels in 2014 and 2013, which had been direct financing lease assets chartered to the Frontline Charterers on a time-charter basis.

In 2014 we earned $32.7 million under the profit sharing arrangements with the Frontline Charterers, all of which was cash sweep income. In 2013 we had no earnings under these arrangements, due to the poor state of the tanker market during the year. We also have a profit sharing agreement relating to five Handysize dry bulk carriers chartered to UFC in 2014, which earned us $1.1 million in 2014, compared with $0.8 million in 2013.

During 2013, time-charter revenues were earned by seven container vessels, 12 dry bulk carriers and two car carriers. In 2014, we took delivery of two additional container vessels and two additional dry bulk carriers operating under time-charters. The 12% increase in time-charter revenues from 2013 to 2014 is due to these four additional vessels.

In 2013, we had four offshore supply vessels, two chemical tankers, one jack-up drilling rig, and two 1,700 TEU container vessels operating under bareboat charters. In 2014 we took delivery of nine additional container vessels operating under bareboat charters, resulting in an increase of $8.7 million in bareboat charter revenues.

Our two vessels operated on a voyage charter basis since September 2013 earned $34.6 million in voyage charter revenues in 2014 (2013: $9.7 million).

Cash flows arising from direct financing and sales-type leases

The following table analyzes our cash flows from the direct financing and sales-type leases with the Frontline Charterers, Deep Sea, Deep Sea Supply BTG and North China Shipping Holdings Co. Ltd., or NCS, during 2014 and 2013, and shows how they are accounted for:

(in thousands of $)	2014	2013
Charterhire payments accounted for as:
Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income	45,363	59,616
Finance lease service revenues	46,488	54,236
Direct financing and sales-type lease repayments	43,120	51,220
Total direct financing and sales-type lease payments received	134,971	165,072

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(Loss)/gain on sale of assets

In 2014, losses totaling $1.4 million were recorded on the disposal of three VLCCs (Front Comanche, Front Commerce and Front Opalia). In 2013, three VLCCs, one Suezmax tanker and one OBO were sold, with gains totaling $18.0 million.

Gain on termination of charters

In 2014, compensation amounting to $25.3 million was received in respect of the early termination of the time charters on four Handysize dry bulk carriers. There was no gain on termination of charters in 2013.

Operating expenses

(in thousands of $)	2014	2013
Vessel operating expenses	119,470	105,534
Depreciation	67,393	58,436
Vessel impairment charge	11,800	—
Administrative expenses	7,609	7,549
	206,272	171,519

Vessel operating expenses increased by $13.9 million from 2013 to 2014. The increase was largely due to the $17.0 million increase in voyage and other operating costs of the two Suezmax tankers, which commenced operating on voyage charters in September 2013, and also to the $2.9 million in operating costs for the additional two container vessels and two dry bulk carriers operating under time charters in 2014. The increase was partly offset by the $5.9 million reduction in payments to Frontline Management associated with disposals in 2013 and 2014 of five time-chartered VLCCs, one Suezmax tanker and one OBO.

The increase in depreciation from 2013 to 2014 is primarily due to the delivery of 11 container vessels and two dry bulk carriers in 2014 accounted for as operating lease assets.

During 2014, a review of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that the carrying value of five 2,800 TEU container vessels was impaired and an impairment charge was taken. No vessel impairment charge was recorded in 2013.

Administrative expenses, which include salaries, office costs, and fees for professional and administrative services, were substantially unchanged from 2013 to 2014.

Interest income

Interest income increased from $30.1 million in 2013 to $40.5 million in 2014, mainly as a result of interest received on refunded shipyard instalment payments relating to four canceled newbuilding contracts, interest receivable on loan notes from Frontline in connection with the termination in November 2013 of the charters on Front Champion and Golden Victory, and interest receivable on the new shareholder's loan to SFL Linus (see Note 16: Investment in Associated Companies).

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Interest expense

(in thousands of $)	2014	2013
Interest on US$ floating rate loans	25,163	25,816
Interest on NOK floating rate bonds due 2014	1,137	4,246
Interest on NOK floating rate bonds due 2017	6,094	6,981
Interest on NOK floating rate bonds due 2019	6,675	—
Interest on 8.5% Senior Notes due 2013	—	2,963
Interest on 3.75% convertible bonds due 2016	4,688	4,688
Interest on 3.25% convertible bonds due 2018	11,375	10,459
Swap interest	19,486	20,742
Other interest	192	25
Amortization of deferred charges	11,271	11,305
	86,081	87,225

At December 31, 2014, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had total debt outstanding of $1.7 billion (2013: $1.7 billion) comprised of $196 million (NOK1,464 million) net outstanding principal amount of NOK floating rate bonds (2013: $165 million, NOK1,001 million), $125 million net outstanding principal amount of 3.75% convertible bonds (2013: $125 million), $350 million net outstanding principal amount of 3.25% convertible bonds (2013: $350 million) and $1.1 billion under floating rate secured long term credit facilities (2013: $1.1 billion). The average three-month US$ LIBOR was 0.23% in 2014 and 0.27% in 2013. Total interest expense was substantially unchanged from 2013 to 2014, in line with total debt levels.

The decrease in interest payable on the NOK floating rate bonds due 2014 is due to their redemption in April 2014. The decrease in interest payable on the NOK floating rate bonds due 2017 is due to repurchases in 2013, which are being held as treasury bonds. The decrease in interest payable on the 8.5% Senior Notes due 2013 is due to their redemption in March 2013. The increase in interest payable on the NOK floating rate bonds due 2019 and the 3.25% convertible bonds due 2018 is due to their issue dates, in March 2014 and January 2013, respectively.

At December 31, 2014, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries were party to interest rate swap contracts, which effectively fix our interest rates on $1.3 billion of floating rate debt at a weighted average rate excluding margin of 3.41% per annum (2013: $1.2 billion of floating rate debt fixed at a weighted average rate excluding margin of 3.40% per annum).

As reported above, four ultra-deepwater drilling units and two chartered-in container vessels were accounted for under the equity method in 2014 and 2013. Their non-operating expenses, including interest expenses, are not included above, but are reflected in "Equity in earnings of associated companies" below.

Other non-operating items

Other non-operating items amounted to a net loss of $10.2 million (2013: net gain of $0.8 million). The net loss in 2014 consists of $7.7 million adverse mark-to-market valuation adjustments to financial instruments, $7.2 million cash payments on non-designated interest rate swaps, $1.4 million other costs (mainly bank and loan commitment fees), partly offset by a gain of $6.1 million on disposal of investment in an associated company. The net gain in 2013 consisted of $8.0 million favorable mark-to-market valuation adjustments to financial instruments, offset by $2.7 million cash payments on non-designated interest rate swaps, a loss of $1.2 million on the purchase of 8.5% Senior Notes and NOK denominated bonds, and $3.3 million other costs.

Equity in earnings of associated companies

During 2013 and 2014, the Company had certain wholly-owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). The total equity in earnings of associated companies in 2014 was $5.3 million more than in 2013, due to $12.4 million in earnings from the newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus delivered in February 2014, partly offset by reduced direct financing lease income on three ultra-deepwater drilling units and the termination of arrangements for chartering in two container vessels.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

We operate in a capital intensive industry.  Our purchase of the tankers in the initial transaction with Frontline was financed through a combination of debt issuances, a deemed equity contribution from Frontline and borrowings from commercial banks.  Our subsequent acquisitions have been financed through a combination of our own equity and term loans and revolving credit facilities from commercial banks.  Providers of such borrowings generally require that the loans be secured by mortgages against the assets being acquired, and at December 31, 2015, substantially all of our vessels and drilling units are pledged as security. However, in common with many other companies, we also have unsecured borrowings as shown below. Providers of unsecured financing do so on the basis of the Company's assets and liabilities, cash flows, operating results and other factors, all of which affect the terms on which such unsecured financing is available. In general, unsecured financing is more expensive than borrowings secured against collateral.

Our liquidity requirements relate to servicing our debt, funding the equity portion of investments in vessels, funding working capital requirements and maintaining cash reserves against fluctuations in operating cash flows.  Revenues from our time charters and bareboat charters are received 15 days in advance, monthly in advance, or monthly in arrears.  Vessel management and operating fees are payable monthly in advance for vessels chartered to Frontline Shipping and the Golden Ocean Charterer, and as incurred for other time-chartered vessels.

Our funding and treasury activities are conducted within corporate policies to maximize investment returns while maintaining appropriate liquidity for both our short and long term needs. This includes arranging borrowing facilities on a cost-effective basis. Cash and cash equivalents are held primarily in U.S. dollars, with minimal amounts held in Norwegian Kroner and Pound Sterling.

Surplus funds may be deployed to acquire equity or debt interests in other companies, with the aim of generating competitive returns. Such investments may also utilize credit facilities arranged specifically to facilitate such investment.

Our short-term liquidity requirements relate to servicing our debt and funding working capital requirements, including required payments under our management agreements and administrative services agreements.  Sources of short-term liquidity include cash balances, short-term investments, available amounts under revolving credit facilities and receipts from our charters.  We believe that our cash flow from the charters will be sufficient to fund our anticipated debt service and working capital requirements for the short and medium term.

Our long-term liquidity requirements include funding the equity portion of investments in new vessels, and repayment of long-term debt balances, including those relating to the following loan agreements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries:

-    3.25% convertible senior unsecured bonds due 2018

-    NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017

-    NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019

-    $53 million secured term loan facility due 2017

-    $49 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility due 2018

-    $54 million secured term loan facility due 2018

-    $95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility due 2018

-    $250 million secured revolving credit facility due 2018

-    $45 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility due 2019

-    $75 million secured term loan facility due 2019

-    $20 million secured term loan facility due 2019

-    $43 million secured term loan facility due 2019

-    $43 million secured term loan facility due 2020

-    $101 million secured term loan facility due 2020

-    $128 million secured term loan facility due 2021

-    $210 million secured term loan facility due 2021

-    $128 million secured term loan facility due 2022

-    $171 million secured loan facility due 2023

-    $39 million secured term loan facility due 2022

-    $166 million secured term loan facility due 2022

Our long-term liquidity requirements also include repayment of the following long-term loan agreements of our equity-accounted subsidiaries:

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- $390 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility due 2018

- $375 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility due 2019     

- $475 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility due 2019

At December 31, 2015, substantially all of our vessels and rigs were pledged as security against borrowings, apart from three of our 1,700 TEU container vessels.

At April 1, 2016, we had contractual commitments of $179.9 million relating to agreements to acquire newbuildings. In addition, two subsidiaries had contractual commitments totaling $406.1 million relating to agreements to charter-in two 18,000-20,000 TEU container vessels on 15 year bareboat charters, of which $30.0 million represents initial payments due on delivery of the vessels.

We expect that we will require additional borrowings or issuances of equity in the long term to meet our capital requirements.

As of December 31, 2015, we had cash and cash equivalents of $70 million (2014: $51 million). In the year ended December 31, 2015, we generated cash of $258 million from operations and used $206 million in investing activities and $33 million net in financing activities.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid four dividends totaling $1.74 per common share (2014: four dividends totaling $1.63 per common share), or a total of $163 million (2014: $152 million). All dividends paid in 2015 and 2014 were cash payments.

Borrowings

As of December 31, 2015, we had total short-term and long-term debt outstanding of $1.7 billion (2014: $1.7 billion).  In addition, as of December 31, 2015, our wholly-owned subsidiaries SFL Deepwater Ltd., or SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules Ltd., or SFL Hercules, and SFL Linus Ltd., or SFL Linus, had long term debt of $221 million, $256 million, and $354 million, respectively (2014: $303 million, $284 million and $451 million, respectively). These three subsidiaries are accounted for using the equity method, as was our previously wholly-owned subsidiary SFL West Polaris Limited, or SFL West Polaris, and their outstanding long-term debt is not included in the long-term debt shown on our consolidated balance sheet.

The following table presents an overall summary of our borrowings as at December 31, 2015:

	December 31, 2015
(in millions of $)	Outstanding balance on loan	Net amount available to draw
Unsecured borrowings:
3.75% convertible bonds due 2016	117.5	—
NOK600 million bonds due 2017	63.7	—
3.25% convertible bonds due 2018	350.0	—
NOK900 million bonds due 2019	85.4	—
Total unsecured borrowings	616.6	—
Loan facilities secured with mortgages on vessels and rigs, including newbuildings	1,049.9	178.1
Total borrowings of Company and consolidated subsidiaries	1,666.5	178.1
Equity accounted subsidiaries: Loan facilities secured with mortgages on vessels and rigs	831.2	150.0
Total borrowings	2,497.7	328.1

As of December 31, 2015, there was $178.0 million net available to draw under secured revolving credit facilities. Additionally, our equity-accounted subsidiaries had net amounts of $150.0 million available to draw under secured revolving credit facilities as of December 31, 2015.

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In March 2008, two subsidiaries entered into a $49 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two newbuilding chemical tankers. In June 2011, the facility was amended, whereby part of the facility is available on a revolving basis. In November 2015, the term loan part of the facility was prepaid and canceled, and the commitment under the revolving part of the facility was reduced to $20 million in total. At December 31, 2015, the outstanding amount under this facility was $8 million, and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $12 million. The facility bears interest of LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of ten years. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and is secured by the subsidiaries' assets. The lenders have limited recourse to Ship Finance International Limited as the holding company only guarantees 30% of the outstanding debt. The facility contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash and adjusted book equity ratios.

In February 2010, a subsidiary entered into a $43 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partially finance the Suezmax tanker Glorycrown. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under the facility was $26 million. The facility bears interest of LIBOR plus a margin and originally had a term of approximately five years. In November 2014, the terms of the loan were amended and restated, and the facility now matures in November 2019.

The facility is secured by the subsidiary's assets and a guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In March 2010, a subsidiary entered into a $43 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partially finance the Suezmax tanker Everbright. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $26 million. The facility bears interest of LIBOR plus a margin and originally had a term of five years. In March 2015, the terms of the loan were amended and restated, and the facility now matures in March 2020. The facility is secured by the subsidiary's assets and a guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In November 2010, two subsidiaries entered into a $54 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two Supramax dry bulk carriers. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $34 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of eight years from delivery of the vessels. The facility is secured by the subsidiaries' assets and a limited guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is an early termination of any of the charters attached to the vessels. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In February 2011, we issued $125 million senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016. Interest on the bonds was fixed at 3.75% per annum. The bonds were convertible into our common shares at any time up to ten banking days prior to February 10, 2016. In the fourth quarter of 2015 we purchased and canceled $7.5 million of the bonds, and at December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding was $118 million. In February 2016, the outstanding amount was redeemed in full, without any conversion into shares having taken place.

In February 2011, a subsidiary entered into a $95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of the jack-up drilling rig Soehanah. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $23 million, and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $2 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The facility is secured against the subsidiary's assets and a guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In March 2011, three subsidiaries entered into a $75 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of three Supramax dry bulk carriers. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $51 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately eight years. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a limited guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is a default under the charters attached to the vessels or one year prior to expiry of the charters, whichever falls earlier. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

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In May 2011, eight subsidiaries entered into a $171 million secured loan facility with a syndicate of banks. The facility is supported by China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, or SINOSURE, which has provided an insurance policy in favor of the banks for part of the outstanding loan. The facility is secured by one 1,700 TEU container vessel and seven Handysize dry bulk carriers. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $122 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately ten years from delivery of each vessel. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited.

In October 2012, we issued NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds. The bonds bear interest at the three month Norwegian Interbank Offered Rate, or NIBOR, plus a margin and are redeemable in full in October 2017. Subsequent to the issue of the bonds, we have made net purchases of bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK35 million, which are being held as treasury bonds. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding was NOK565 million, equivalent to $64 million. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at our option from April 19, 2017, upon giving bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.50% of par value plus accrued interest.

In November 2012, two subsidiaries entered into a $53 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two car carriers. At December 31, 2015, the outstanding amount under this facility was $40 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years from drawdown. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is an early termination of any of the charters attached to the vessels or six months prior to expiry of the charters, whichever falls earlier. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In January 2013, we issued $350 million senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018, all of which was outstanding at December 31, 2015. Interest on the bonds is fixed at 3.25% per annum. The bonds are convertible into our common shares at any time up to two business days prior to February 1, 2018. The conversion price at the time of issuance was $21.945 per share, representing a 33% premium on the share price at the time. Dividend distributions made since the issuance of the bonds have reduced the conversion price to $16.2456 per share. In conjunction with the bond issue, we have loaned up to 6,060,606 of our common shares to an affiliate of one of the underwriters of the issue, in order to assist investors in the bonds to hedge their positions. The shares lent by the Company were borrowed from Hemen Holding Ltd., our largest shareholder.

In March 2014, we issued NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds. The bonds bear interest at NIBOR plus a margin and are redeemable in full in March 2019. Subsequent to the issue of the bonds, we have made net purchases of bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK142 million, which are being held as treasury bonds. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding was NOK758 million, equivalent to $85 million. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at our option from September 19, 2018, upon giving bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.50% of par value plus accrued interest.

In June 2014, seven subsidiaries entered into a $45 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of seven 4,100 TEU container vessels. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $36 million, and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $9 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is an early termination of any of the charters attached to the vessels, or six months prior to expiry of the charters, whichever falls earlier. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In August 2014, six subsidiaries entered into a $101 million secured term loan facility, secured against six offshore supply vessels. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility is $88 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately five years. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios. One of the vessels was sold in February 2016 and the facility is now secured against the remaining five vessels.

In September 2014, two subsidiaries entered into a $20 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two 5,800 TEU container vessels. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $20 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is an early termination of any of the charters attached to the vessels. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

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In September 2014, two subsidiaries entered into a $128 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels, which were delivered in 2014. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $118 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a limited guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is a default under any of the charters attached to the vessels, or from the fifth anniversary of the drawdown under the facility, whichever falls earlier. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In November 2014, two subsidiaries entered into a $128 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels, which were delivered in January 2015. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $121 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a limited guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is a default under any of the charters attached to the vessels, or six months prior to expiry of the charters, whichever falls earlier. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In December 2014, two subsidiaries entered into a $39 million secured term loan facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $34 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately eight years. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a limited guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is a default under any of the charters attached to the vessels, or 12 months prior to expiry of the charters, whichever falls earlier. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In June 2015, 17 wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a $250 million secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against 17 tankers chartered to Frontline Shipping. Three of the tankers have since been sold, and the facility now relates to the remaining 14 tankers. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $74 million, and the amount available to draw was $155 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of three years. The facility contains minimum value covenants and also covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In July 2015, eight subsidiaries entered into a $166 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of eight Capesize dry bulk carriers. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $159 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately seven years. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a limited guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains minimum value covenants and also covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

In November 2015, three subsidiaries entered into a $210 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks, to partly fund the acquisition of three newbuilding container vessels. One of the vessels was delivered in November 2015, a second was delivered in February 2016, and the remaining vessel is scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2016. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under this facility was $70 million, relating to the vessel delivered in November 2015. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years from the delivery of each vessel. The facility is secured against the subsidiaries' assets and a limited guarantee from Ship Finance International Limited. The facility contains a minimum value covenant, which is only applicable if there is a default under any of the charters attached to the vessels, or six months prior to expiry of the charters, whichever falls earlier. The facility also contains covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios.

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In May 2013, our equity-accounted subsidiary SFL Hercules entered into a $375 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against the ultra deepwater drilling rig West Hercules. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under the facility was $256 million, and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin, has a term of six years and is secured against the assets of SFL Hercules. The lenders have limited recourse to Ship Finance International Limited as the holding company only guarantees $80 million of the debt. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios. The facility also contains covenants that require Seadrill to maintain certain minimum levels of liquidity, current ratios, interest cover ratios and adjusted equity ratios and a maximum leverage ratio.

In October 2013, our equity-accounted subsidiary SFL Deepwater entered into a $390 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against the ultra deepwater drilling rig West Taurus. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under the new facility was $221 million, and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin, has a term of five years and is secured against the assets of SFL Deepwater. The lenders have limited recourse to Ship Finance International Limited as the holding company only guarantees $80 million of the debt. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios. The facility also contains covenants that require Seadrill to maintain certain minimum levels of liquidity, current ratios, interest cover ratios and adjusted equity ratios and a maximum leverage ratio.

In October 2013, our equity-accounted subsidiary SFL Linus entered into a $475 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks. The proceeds of the facility were used to finance the acquisition of the newbuilding harsh environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus, which was delivered in February 2014. At December 31, 2015, the amount outstanding under the facility was $354 million, and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50 million. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin, has a term of approximately five years and is secured against the subsidiary's assets. The lenders have limited recourse to Ship Finance International Limited as the holding company only guarantees $90 million of the debt. The facility contains a minimum value covenant and covenants that require us to maintain certain minimum levels of free cash, working capital and adjusted book equity ratios. The facility also contains covenants that require Seadrill to maintain certain minimum levels of liquidity, current ratios, interest cover ratios and adjusted equity ratios and a maximum leverage ratio.

We are in compliance with all loan covenants as at December 31, 2015. Deep Sea, Deep Sea Supply BTG and Seadrill are also in compliance with all loan covenants in the facilities discussed above as at December 31, 2015. At December 31, 2015, the three-month U.S. dollar LIBOR was 0.613% and the three-month Norwegian kroner NIBOR was 1.13%.

Minimum Value Covenants

Most of our loan facilities are secured with mortgages on vessels and rigs. At December 31, 2015, we had borrowings totaling $1.2 billion with minimum value covenants which are tested on a regular basis, including $0.8 billion borrowings in wholly-owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method. These borrowings were secured against 36 vessels and rigs which had combined charter-free market values totaling approximately $2.6 billion. A reduction of 10% in charter-free market values in 2016 would not result in any material reduction in availability on revolving credit facilities, after scheduled loan repayments and prepayments in the year. In addition, at December 31, 2015, we had borrowings totaling $0.5 billion with minimum value covenants which are tested if there is a default under the charter under which the relevant vessels are employed. These borrowings were secured against 23 vessels which had combined charter-free market values totaling approximately $0.8 billion.

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Derivatives

We use financial instruments to reduce the risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates. At December 31, 2015, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had entered into interest rate swap contracts with a combined notional principal amount of $767 million, whereby variable LIBOR interest rates excluding additional margins are swapped for fixed interest rates between 0.80% per annum and 4.15% per annum. We had also entered into interest rate/currency swap contracts, related to our bonds denominated in Norwegian kroner, with notional principal amounts of NOK600 million ($105 million) and NOK900 million ($151 million), respectively, whereby variable NIBOR interest rates including additional margin are swapped for fixed interest rates of 6.06% per annum and 6.03% per annum, respectively, and both the payment of interest and eventual settlement of the bonds will have an effective exchange rate of NOK5.69 = $1 and NOK5.96 = $1, respectively. In addition, one equity-accounted subsidiary had entered into interest rate swaps with a combined notional principal amount of $200 million at rates excluding margin of between 1.77% and 2.01% per annum. Approximately $0.2 billion of the above swaps were in excess of related debt at December 31, 2015, as a result of NOK denominated bonds purchased and held as treasury bonds, one of the swaps commencing in December 2016 and another of the swaps commencing in January 2017. Thus, the overall effect of our swaps is to fix the interest rate on approximately $1.0 billion of our floating rate debt at December 31, 2015, at a weighted average interest rate of 4.23% per annum including margin.

The effect of the above swap contracts is to substantially reduce our exposure to interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations, further analysis of which is presented in Item 11 "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk".

In addition to the above interest rate and currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, in February 2016 we entered into interest rate swap contracts with initial principal amounts totaling $68.9 million, swapping variable LIBOR interest rates for a fixed interest rate of 1.2625% per annum. At the date of this report, we were not party to any other derivative contracts.

Equity

In 2015, we issued a total of 64,000 new shares in order to satisfy options exercised by two officers and three employees of the Company. The exercise price of the options averaged $10.55 per share, resulting in a premium on issue of $0.6 million. No other shares were issued and sold in the year ended December 31, 2015.

In November 2006, the Board of Directors approved a share option scheme, permitting the directors to grant options in the Company's shares to employees, officers and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The fair value cost of options granted is recognized in the statement of operations, with a corresponding amount credited to additional paid in capital (see consolidated financial statements Note 22: Share option plan). The additional paid in capital arising from share options granted was $nil in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $29,000).

The Company has accounted for the acquisition of vessels from Frontline at Frontline's historical carrying value.  The difference between the historical carrying value and the net investment in the lease (i.e. the fair value of the vessel at the inception of the lease) has been recorded as a deferred deemed equity contribution. Up to and including June 30, 2015, the deferred deemed equity contribution was amortized as a credit to contributed surplus over the life of the lease arrangement, as lease payments were applied to the principal balance of the lease receivable. The unamortized deferred deemed equity contribution was presented as a reduction in the net investment in finance leases in the balance sheet, and results from the related party nature of both the transfer of the vessels and the subsequent finance leases.  In the course of restating the leases to reflect the amendments effective from July 1, 2015, (see consolidated financial statements Note 15: Investments in direct financing leases) it was concluded that it is no longer appropriate to amortize the deferred deemed equity contributions, which are now incorporated into the revised lease schedules. In the year ended December 31, 2015, we credited contributed surplus with $2 million of such deemed equity contributions (2014: $5 million).

Following the above transactions, as of December 31, 2015, our issued and fully paid share capital balance was $93 million, our additional paid in capital was $286 million and our contributed surplus balance was $588 million.

In March 2016, the Company issued 36,575 new shares in order to satisfy options exercised by two officers and three employees. The exercise price was $12.11 per share, resulting in a total premium on issue of $0.4 million.

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Contractual Commitments

At December 31, 2015, we had the following contractual obligations and commitments:

	Payment due by period
	Less than 1 year	1–3 years	3–5 years	After 5 years	Total
	(in millions of $)
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	117.5	—	—	—	117.5
NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017	—	63.7	—	—	63.7
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	—	350.0	—	—	350.0
NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019	—	—	85.4	—	85.4
Floating rate long-term debt	90.5	304.1	287.9	367.3	1,049.8
Floating rate long-term debt in unconsolidated subsidiaries	97.7	348.5	385.0	—	831.2
Total debt repayments	305.7	1,066.3	758.3	367.3	2,497.6
Total interest payments (1)	90.1	133.9	41.7	11.7	277.4
Total vessel purchases (2)	164.1	97.8	—	—	261.9
Total charter commitments (3)	15.0	63.1	50.2	277.8	406.1
Total contractual cash obligations	574.9	1,361.1	850.2	656.8	3,443.0

(1) Interest payments are based on the existing borrowings of both fully consolidated and equity-accounted subsidiaries. It is assumed that no further refinancing of existing loans takes place and that there is no repayment on revolving credit facilities. Interest rate swaps have not been included in the calculation. The interest has been calculated using the five year U.S. dollar swap of 1.1720%, the five year NOK swap of 0.945% and the exchange rate of NOK8.2692 = $1 as of March 31, 2016, plus agreed margins. Interest on fixed rate loans is calculated using the contracted interest rates.

(2) Vessel purchase commitments relate to two newbuilding container vessels, one of which was delivered in February 2016 with the other scheduled for delivery later in 2016, and two newbuilding oil product tankers scheduled for delivery in 2017.

(3) Charter commitments relate to the agreements to charter-in two 18,000-20,000 TEU newbuilding container vessels on 15 year bareboat charters, with payments commencing on delivery of the vessels from the shipyard late in 2016 and early in 2017, respectively. The vessels have been chartered out on 15 year charters.

Research and development, patents and licenses etc.

We do not undertake any significant expenditure on research and development, and have no significant interests in patents or licenses.

Trend information

Vessel prices have generally declined since their peak in 2008, and newbuilding prices remain low by historical standards. Prices for second-hand vessels remained generally at low levels for most of 2015, with fluctuations for different types of vessels reflecting charter rates. Accordingly, during 2015 prices for modern second-hand oil tankers increased by up to 5%, while dry bulk vessels decreased by approximately 35%. Prices for second-hand container vessels were on average unchanged.

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The oil tanker market is in a cyclical upswing which started in the second half of 2014, with spot charter rates in December 2015 at their highest since 2008. This strength continued into the first quarter of 2016 and, with fleet growth in 2016 expected to be about 4%, it is expected that 2016 will be a year of continued high fleet utilization, with growth in both the supply and demand for oil tankers returning to normal levels. Non-OPEC oil production is likely to decline for several years following recent severe cuts in investment, and demand for OPEC oil is expected to rise markedly towards 2020, creating a favourable backdrop for tanker demand. However, continuing low oil prices will increase pressure on both OPEC and non-OPEC producers to reduce output in order to boost revenues, and this could have an unfavourable impact on the market for tankers, particularly their use as floating storage. The main factor that could improve the fundamentals for the tanker market is a sustained higher level of growth in the world economy and, although confidence in the short-term outlook is currently fragile, it is expected that the current low oil price will encourage growth in demand while it persists. Our tanker vessels on charter to Frontline Shipping are subject to long term charters that provide for both a fixed base charter-hire and profit sharing payments that apply once Frontline Shipping earns daily rates from our vessels that exceed certain levels. If rates for vessels chartered on the spot market increase, our profit sharing revenues will likewise increase for those vessels operated by Frontline Shipping in the spot market. We also have two Suezmax tankers currently employed in the spot market, which will benefit directly from possible continued strength in spot charter rates.

For dry bulk carriers, 2015 was considerably weaker than 2014, with charter rates and asset values at all-time lows. Capacity supply continued to grow well in excess of demand. Charter rates are expected to remain at very low levels in 2016, with fleet capacity forecast to increase by around 2% and demand by less than 1%. Although dry bulk trade has increased at an average rate in excess of 4% per annum over the past ten years, fleet capacity has grown by more than 8% per annum over the same period, as expectations of growth in China and other developing countries, coupled with optimism over the speed of economic recovery in Europe, led to excessive ordering from shipyards. China accounts for approximately 40% of world tonnage demand, and the market for 2016 will depend critically on China's economic growth rate, which in turn is significantly dependent on worldwide economic growth.

Charter rates for container vessels continued at low levels for most of 2015, particularly for smaller vessels. With capacity growth in 2016 predicted to be between 4% and 5%, and growth in demand expected to be between 3% and 4%, surplus capacity is expected to persist and result in 2016 being another difficult year for the containership industry. Again, it is a return to higher economic growth rates, particularly in Europe and the emerging markets, which is needed before demand levels can rise sufficiently to reduce the current excess capacity and enable charter rates to increase.

The dramatic reduction in the oil price which occurred in 2014 and 2015 has reduced demand for offshore drilling units, and day rates and utilizations have declined considerably in the past two years, and are expected to continue declining in 2016. Most offshore exploration activities are not viable at the current price of around $40 per barrel, and if the price stays at this level it is inevitable that demand and day rates for drilling units will continue to decline. It is possible that some owners/operators of drilling units will experience financial difficulties in the near future, including breaking banking covenants and restructuring. Nevertheless, it is widely thought that the price of oil will have to increase over the coming years, as reserves need replacing and OPEC countries seek to generate more revenue. It is expected that jack-up drilling rigs will benefit from any increase in oil prices earlier than floating drilling units, as the former operate in shallower waters where the break-even cost of oil production is lower. Most of our drilling units have long-term fixed rate charters which are not expected to be exposed to short and medium-term market fluctuations, although we have one jack-up drilling rig with a charter terminating in February 2018.

Interest rates have been at historically low levels since 2009, and are expected to remain low throughout 2016, based on the forward interest rate curve. Despite the recent small increase in U.S. dollar interest rates, it is not expected that rates will increase further in 2016, as the tentative economic recovery falters in Europe and emerging economies. We have effectively hedged most of our interest exposure on our floating rate debt through swap agreements with banks. Several of our charter contracts also include interest adjustment clauses, whereby the charter rate is adjusted to reflect the actual interest paid on a deemed outstanding loan relating to the asset, effectively transferring the interest rate exposure to our counterparty under the charter contract.

Off balance sheet arrangements

At December 31, 2015, we are not party to any arrangements which may be considered to be off balance sheet arrangements.

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ITEM 6.    DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

A. DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth information regarding our executive officers and directors and the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of our wholly owned subsidiary Ship Finance Management AS, who are responsible for overseeing our management.

Name	Age	Position
Hans Petter Aas	70	Director, Chairman of the Board and Audit Committee member
Kate Blankenship	51	Director of the Company and Chairperson of the Audit Committee
Paul Leand	50	Director of the Company
Harald Thorstein	36	Director of the Company
Bert Bekker	77	Director of the Company
Georgina Sousa	65	Director of the Company
Ole B. Hjertaker	49	Chief Executive Officer of Ship Finance Management AS
Harald Gurvin	41	Chief Financial Officer of Ship Finance Management AS

Under our constituent documents, we are required to have at least one independent director on our Board of Directors whose consent will be required to file for bankruptcy, liquidate or dissolve, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets.

Certain biographical information about each of our directors and executive officers is set forth below.

Hans Petter Aas has served as a director of the Company since August 2008 and as Chairman of the Board since January 2009. He has served on the Audit Committee since 2010. Mr. Aas has a long career as banker in the international shipping and offshore market, and retired from his position as Global Head of the Shipping, Offshore and Logistics Division of DnB NOR in August 2008. He joined DnB NOR (then Bergen Bank) in 1989, and has previously worked for the Petroleum Division of the Norwegian Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Energy, as well as for Vesta Insurance and Nevi Finance. Mr. Aas is also a director of Deep Sea, Golden Ocean, Seadrill, Knutsen NYK Offshore Partners, Solvang ASA and Gearbulk Holding Limited.

Kate Blankenship has served as a director of the Company since October 2003. Mrs. Blankenship served as the Company's Chief Accounting Officer and Company Secretary from October 2003 to October 2005. Mrs. Blankenship has served as a director of Frontline since August 2003, Golar LNG Limited from July 2003 until September 2015, Golden Ocean since November 2004, Seadrill since May 2005, Archer Limited since August 2007, Golar LNG Partners LP from September 2007 until September 2015, Independent Tankers Corporation Limited since February 2008, NADL since February 2011, Seadrill Partners LLC since 2012 and Avance Gas Holdings Limited since October 2013. Mrs. Blankenship is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Paul Leand has served as a director of the Company since 2003.  Mr. Leand is the Chief Executive Officer and Director of AMA Capital Partners LLC, or AMA, an investment bank specializing in the maritime industry. From 1989 to 1998, Mr. Leand served at the First National Bank of Maryland where he managed the Bank's Railroad Division and its International Maritime Division. He has worked extensively in the U.S. capital markets in connection with AMA's restructuring and mergers and acquisitions practices. Mr. Leand serves as a member of American Marine Credit LLC's Credit Committee and served as a member of the Investment Committee of AMA Shipping Fund I, a private equity fund formed and managed by AMA. Mr. Leand serves as Chairman of Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. and is also a director of Seadrill, NADL, Lloyd Fonds AG and Golar LNG Partners LP.

Harald Thorstein has served as a director of the Company since September 2011. Mr. Thorstein is currently employed by Seatankers Consultancy Services (UK) Limited (previously Frontline Corporate Services) in London, prior to which he was employed in the Corporate Finance division of DnB NOR Markets, specializing in the offshore and shipping sectors. Mr. Thorstein has an MSc in Industrial Economics and Technology Management from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Mr. Thorstein has served as a director of Seadrill Partners LLC since 2012, Northern Offshore Limited since 2012, Golden Ocean since 2014, and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Deep Sea since May 2013.

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Bert Bekker has served as a director of the Company since May 2015. Mr. Bekker has been in the heavy marine transport industry since 1978 when he co-founded Dock Express Shipping Rotterdam, the predecessor of Dockwise Transport. Mr. Bekker has served as a director of Wilh. Wilhelmsen Netherlands B.V. since July 2003 and Seadrill since April 2013.

Georgina Sousa has served as a director of the Company since May 2015 and as its Secretary since December 2006. Ms. Sousa was employed by the Bermuda law firm of Appleby, Spurling & Kempe as a Company Secretary from 1976 to 1982, and by the Bermuda law firm of Cox & Wilkinson as Senior Company Secretary from 1982 to 1993. From 1993 until January 2007, she was Vice-President Corporate Services of Consolidated Services Limited, a Bermuda Management Company. Ms. Sousa is currently employed by Frontline as Head of Corporate Administration and has served as a director of Frontline since April 2013, Seadrill since November 2015, and NADL since September 2013. Ms. Sousa is Company Secretary of Golden Ocean and served as a director of Knightsbridge Shipping Limited, Golden Ocean's predecessor, from April 2013 to March 2015. She also previously served as a director of Golar LNG Limited from April 2013 until September 2014.

Ole B. Hjertaker has served Ship Finance Management AS as Chief Executive Officer since July 2009, prior to which he served as Chief Financial Officer from September 2006. Mr. Hjertaker also served Ship Finance Management AS as Interim Chief Financial Officer between July 2009 and January 2011. Prior to joining Ship Finance, Mr. Hjertaker was employed in the Corporate Finance division of DnB NOR Markets, a leading shipping and offshore bank. Mr. Hjertaker has extensive corporate and investment banking experience, mainly within the maritime/transportation industries. Mr. Hjertaker also serves as a director of Global Rig Company ASA.

Harald Gurvin was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Ship Finance Management AS in March 2012, prior to which he served as Senior Vice President from August 2008. Before joining Ship Finance in July 2006, Mr. Gurvin spent seven years with the global shipping group of Fortis Bank, specializing in shipping and offshore finance. Mr. Gurvin has an MSc in Shipping, Trade and Finance from the CASS Business School in London and an MSc in Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

B. COMPENSATION

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid to our directors and executive officers aggregate cash compensation of $2.1 million including an aggregate amount of $0.06 million for pension and retirement benefits. We reimburse directors for reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by them in connection with their service to us.

During 2015, 64,000 share options were exercised and none were issued. At December 31, 2015, there were a total of 125,000 options outstanding. In March 2016, we issued 36,575 new shares to satisfy the options outstanding at December 31, 2015. In March 2016, 279,000 options were awarded to employees and board members pursuant to the Company's Share Option Scheme. The options vest over a three year period and have a five year term. The initial exercise price is $14.38 per share and the first options will be exercisable from March 2017.

C. BOARD PRACTICES

In accordance with our Bye-laws, the number of directors shall be such number not less than two as we may by Ordinary Resolution determine from time to time, and each director shall hold office until the next annual general meeting following his election or until his successor is elected. We currently have six directors.

We currently have an Audit Committee, which is responsible for overseeing the quality and integrity of our financial statements and our accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the independent auditor's qualifications, independence and performance, and our internal audit function. Kate Blankenship is the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and the Audit Committee Financial Expert. Hans Petter Aas is also a member of the Audit Committee.

We currently have a Compensation Committee, which is responsible for establishing and reviewing the executive officers' and managements' compensation and benefits. Hans Petter Aas is the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee. Paul Leand and Harald Thorstein are also members of the Compensation Committee.

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As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain requirements of the NYSE that are applicable to U.S. listed companies.  For a listing and further discussion of how our corporate governance practices differ from those required of U.S. companies listed on the NYSE, please see Item 16G or visit the corporate governance section of our website at www.shipfinance.bm.

Our officers are elected by our Board of Directors as soon as possible following each Annual General Meeting and shall hold office for such period and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.

There are no service contracts between us and any of our directors providing for benefits upon termination of their employment or service.

D. EMPLOYEES

We currently employ, and during the year ended December 31, 2015, employed, seven persons on a full-time basis. We have contracted with Frontline Management, Golden Ocean Management and other third parties for certain managerial responsibilities for our fleet, and with Frontline Management for some administrative services, including corporate services.

E. SHARE OWNERSHIP

The beneficial interests of our Directors and officers in our common shares as of April 1, 2016, are as follows:

Director or Officer	Beneficial interest in Common Shares of $1.00 each	Additional interest in options to acquire Common Shares which have vested	Percentage of Common Shares Outstanding
Hans Petter Aas	25,000	—	*
Paul Leand	60,334	—	*
Kate Blankenship	12,711	—	*
Harald Thorstein	—	—	*
Bert Bekker	—	—	*
Georgina Sousa	—	—	*
Ole B. Hjertaker	91,840	—	*
Harald Gurvin	3,946	—	*

*    Less than one percent.

Share Option Scheme

In November 2006, our Board of Directors approved the Ship Finance International Limited Share Option Scheme. The subscription price for all options granted under the scheme will be reduced by the amount of all dividends declared by the Company per share in the period from the date of grant until the date the options are exercised. In 2015, two officers and three employees exercised options to acquire 64,000 shares at prices which averaged $10.55 per share, and we issued 64,000 new shares in order to satisfy the exercised options. In March 2016, we issued 36,575 new shares to satisfy 125,000 options expiring in March 2016. The exercise price was $12.11 per share. In March 2016, 279,000 options were awarded to employees and board members pursuant to the Company's Share Option Scheme. The options vest over a three year period and have a five year term. The initial exercise price is $14.38 per share and the first options will be exercisable from March 2017.

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Details of options to acquire common shares in the Company by our Directors and officers as of April 1, 2016, were as follows:

	Number of options
Director or Officer	Total	Vested	Exercise price		Expiration Date
Hans Petter Aas	22,500	—	$	14.38	March 2021
Paul Leand	17,500	—	$	14.38	March 2021
Kate Blankenship	17,500	—	$	14.38	March 2021
Harald Thorstein	17,500	—	$	14.38	March 2021
Bert Bekker	10,000	—	$	14.38	March 2021
Georgina Sousa	10,000	—	$	14.38	March 2021
Ole B. Hjertaker	79,000	—	$	14.38	March 2021
Harald Gurvin	35,000	—	$	14.38	March 2021

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ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

Ship Finance International Limited is indirectly controlled by another corporation (see below). The following table presents certain information as at April 1, 2016, regarding the ownership of our Common Shares with respect to each shareholder whom we know to beneficially own five percent or more of our outstanding Common Shares.

Owner	Number of Common Shares	Percent of Common Shares
Hemen Holding Ltd. (1)	26,179,293	28.01%
Farahead Investment Inc. (1)	7,900,000	8.45%

(1) Hemen Holding Ltd. is a Cyprus holding company and Farahead Investment Inc. is a Liberian company, both indirectly controlled by trusts established by Mr. John Fredriksen for the benefit of his immediate family. Mr. Fredriksen disclaims beneficial ownership of the above shares of our common stock, except to the extent of his voting and dispositive interests in such shares of common stock. Mr. Fredriksen has no pecuniary interest in the above shares of common stock. Related to our issue in January 2013 of $350 million of 3.25% convertible senior unsecured bonds due 2018, Hemen Holding Ltd. has loaned us up to 6,060,606 of its holding in our shares, so that we can in turn lend them to an affiliate of one of the underwriters of the bond issue in order to assist investors in those bonds to hedge their position. These loaned shares are included in the holdings presented in the above table.

The Company's major shareholders have the same voting rights as other shareholders of the Company.

As at March 31, 2016, the Company had 245 holders of record in the United States, including Cede & Co. as a single holder of record. We had a total of 93,504,575 Common Shares outstanding as of March 31, 2016.

We are not aware of any arrangements, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control.

B. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company, which was formed in 2003 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline, was partially spun-off in 2004 and its shares commenced trading on the NYSE in June 2004. A significant proportion of our assets were acquired from Frontline in 2004. The majority of our business continues to be transacted through contractual relationships between us and the following related parties, being companies in which Hemen and companies associated with Hemen have, or had, a significant direct or indirect interest:

- Frontline (including Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II, collectively the Frontline Charterers) (3)

- Frontline 2012 Limited ("Frontline 2012") (3)

- Seadrill

- NADL

- Golden Ocean (2)

- UFC (which is a joint venture approximately 50% owned by Golden Ocean)

- Deep Sea

- Deep Sea Supply BTG (which is a joint venture 50% owned by Deep Sea)

- Golar Management UK Limited ("Golar") (1)

- Arcadia Petroleum Limited ("Arcadia")

(1) From September 2014, Golar ceased to be a related party to the Company, following disassociation through the sale of shares held by a company associated with Hemen.

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(2) In March 2015, Golden Ocean merged with Knightsbridge Tankers Limited, leaving Knightsbridge Tankers Limited as the surviving legal entity and changing its name to Golden Ocean Group Limited.

(3) On November 30, 2015, Frontline and Frontline 2012 merged, leaving Frontline as the surviving legal entity and Frontline 2012 becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline.

As of April 1, 2016, we charter 14 double-hull vessels to Frontline Shipping under long-term capital leases, most of which were given economic effect from January 1, 2004.  At December 31, 2015, the balance of net investments in capital leases to Frontline Shipping was $467 million (2014: $682 million) of which $28 million (2014: $30 million) represents short-term maturities. On December 30, 2011, amendments were made to the original charter agreements relating to vessels chartered to the Frontline Charterers, in terms of which we received a compensation payment of $106 million and agreed to a $6,500 per day reduction in the time charter rate of each vessel for the period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2015. Thereafter, the charter rates were to revert to the previously agreed daily amounts. On June 5, 2015, further amendments were made to the charter agreements, permanently reducing the daily time-charter rates to $20,000 per day for VLCCs and $15,000 per day for Suezmax tankers from July 1, 2015, onwards. The charters for three of the vessels were transferred from Frontline Shipping II to Frontline Shipping, which is now the charter counterparty for all of the vessels. As part of the amended agreement, Frontline was released from its guarantee obligations under the charters, and in exchange a cash reserve of $2 million per vessel has been built up in Frontline Shipping as security for their obligations under the charters. As compensation for these amendments we received 55 million ordinary shares in Frontline, the fair value of which amounted to $150 million. Following the amendments effective from January 1, 2012, and then again from July 1, 2015, the leases were revised to reflect the compensation payment received and the reduction in future minimum lease payments to be received. In February 2016, Frontline enacted a 1-for-5 reverse stock split and our holding of Frontline now consists of 11 million ordinary shares.

Prior to December 31, 2011, the Frontline Charterers paid us a profit sharing rate of 20% of their earnings above average threshold charter rates on a TCE basis from their use of our fleet each fiscal year.  The amendments to the charter agreements made on December 30, 2011, increased the profit sharing percentage to 25% for future earnings above those threshold levels. Of the $106 million compensation payment received, $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to the 25% profit sharing agreement. We earned and recognized no revenue under the 25% profit sharing arrangement during the three and a half years of its duration, as the cumulative share of earnings did not attain the starting level of $50 million.

The amendments to the charter agreements made on June 5, 2015, further increased the profit sharing percentage to 50% for earnings above the new time-charter rates with effect from July 1, 2015, and this arrangement is not subject to any constraints. We earned $37 million under the 50% profit sharing agreement in 2015 (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil).

The amendments to the charter agreements made on December 30, 2011, additionally provided that during the temporary reduction in charter rates, the Frontline Charterers would pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a TCE basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day per vessel. In the year ended December 31, 2015, we earned and recognized $20 million revenue under this arrangement, which is also reported under "Profit sharing revenues" (2014: $33 million, 2013: $nil).

As of April 1, 2016, we charter two of our drilling units to the Seadrill Charterers under long-term capital leases, these units being owned by equity-accounted subsidiaries. At December 31, 2015, the balance of net investments in capital leases to the Seadrill Charterers was $788 million (2014: $855 million), of which $64 million (2014: $67 million) represents short-term maturities.

As of April 1, 2016, we charter a harsh environment jack-up drilling rig to a subsidiary of NADL under a long-term capital lease, this rig being owned by an equity-accounted subsidiary. At December 31, 2015 the balance of the net investment in the capital lease to the subsidiary was $530 million (2014: $574 million) of which $47 million (2014: $44 million) represents short-term maturities. The obligations under the bareboat charter were originally guaranteed by NADL. In February 2015, amendments were made to the bareboat charter, whereby Seadrill replaced NADL as charter guarantor.

In May 2013, the Company agreed to change the legal entity under the charters for five of the six vessels then on charter to subsidiaries of Deep Sea Supply Plc. The new charterer was Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V., which was a joint venture owned 50% by Deep Sea Supply Plc. and 50% by BTG Pactual. The new charters became effective on May 31, 2013, and the main terms of the charters remain unchanged. In September 2015, Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II B.V. merged with the newly established company Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II AS, with the latter as the surviving entity. Simultaneously, Deep Sea Supply BTG B.V. merged with the newly established company Deep Sea Supply BTG AS, with the latter as the surviving entity.

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As of April 1, 2016, one of our five offshore supply vessels chartered to subsidiaries of Deep Sea Supply BTG under long-term leases is accounted for as a capital lease, as was the offshore supply vessel Sea Bear chartered to Deep Sea before it was sold in February 2016. The other four offshore supply vessels are operating lease assets. At December 31, 2015, the balance of net investments in capital leases to subsidiaries of Deep Sea Supply BTG and Deep Sea was $44 million (2014: $65 million), of which $9 million (2014: $7 million) represented short-term maturities. At December 31, 2015, the net book value of operating assets leased to a subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG was $88 million (2014: $97 million).

In the third quarter of 2015, we took delivery of eight Capesize dry bulk carriers, which we had acquired in the second quarter of 2015 from subsidiaries of Golden Ocean for a total cost of $272 million. The vessels were immediately chartered back to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean on ten year time charters, at rates of $17,600 per day for the first seven years and $14,900 per day thereafter. The performance under the charters is fully guaranteed by Golden Ocean. We will also receive a 33% profit share of revenues above these rates, although no profit sharing revenue was recognized under this arrangement in the year ended December 31, 2015. The charters for these vessels are classified as operating leases and at December 31, 2015, the net book value of these vessels was $266 million (2014: $nil)

As of April 1, 2016, we charter four of our dry bulk carriers to UFC under short-term operating leases. At December 31, 2015, we chartered six dry bulk carriers to UFC, and the net book value of these operating lease assets was $146 million (2014: four dry bulk carriers with net book value $102 million). The charter agreements for these vessels included profit sharing arrangements, whereby we earned a 50% share of profits earned by the vessels above threshold levels. In the year ended December 31, 2015, we earned and recognized $2.5 million under these arrangements (2014: $1.1 million; 2013: $0.8 million). As of April 1, 2016, two of the four vessels on charter to UFC include profit sharing arrangements whereby we earn a 50% share of profits earned by the vessels above threshold levels.

We pay Frontline Management a management fee of $9,000 per day per vessel for all vessels chartered to Frontline Shipping, apart from certain vessels where the fee is suspended while they are sub-chartered on a bareboat basis. This daily fee has been payable since July 1, 2015, when amendments to the charter agreement became effective, before which the fixed daily fee was $6,500 per day. We also have 12 container vessels, 14 dry bulk carriers, two car carriers and two Suezmax tankers operating on time-charters or in the spot market, for which the supervision of the technical management is sub-contracted to Frontline Management. In the year ended December 31, 2015, management fees paid to Frontline Management amounted to $48 million (2014: $48 million; 2013: $54 million). The management fees are classified as vessel operating expenses.

We pay Golden Ocean Management a management fee of $7,000 per day per vessel for the eight vessels chartered to Golden Ocean. We also have 12 container vessels and 14 dry bulk carriers operating on time charters, for which part of the operating management is sub-contracted to Golden Ocean Management. In the year ended December 31, 2015, fees payable to Golden Ocean Management amounted to approximately $9.0 million (2014: $0.8 million; 2013: $0.7 million).

We have an administrative services agreement with Frontline Management under which they provide us with certain administrative support services, for which we pay our allocation of the actual costs they incur on our behalf, plus a margin. In the year ended December 31, 2015, we paid Frontline Management $0.5 million for these services (2014: $0.5 million; 2013: $0.4 million).

We pay Frontline a management fee of 1.25% of chartering revenues relating to the Suezmax tankers Glorycrown and Everbright. In 2015, $0.4 million was paid to Frontline Management pursuant to this arrangement (2014: $0.3 million; 2013 $nil).

We pay fees to Frontline Management for the management supervision of some of our newbuildings, which in 2015 amounted to approximately $0.1 million (2014: $2.9 million; 2013: $2.4 million).

In 2015, we sold three Suezmax tankers, Front Glory, Front Splendour and Mindanao, to unrelated third parties and paid $6.8 million to Frontline as compensation for early termination of the charters.

In December 2015, we received $113 million from Frontline when they redeemed in full, including accrued interest, five loan notes which we had received from them as compensation for the early termination of the charters on two VLCCs sold in 2015 (Golden Victory and Front Champion) and three VLCCs sold in 2014 (Front Comanche, Front Commerce and Front Opalia).

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In February 2016, the Company sold the offshore supply vessel Sea Bear to an unrelated party third party, and simultaneously agreed to terminate the corresponding charter with a subsidiary of Deep Sea. Total gross proceeds amounted to approximately $19.6 million, consisting of cash sales proceeds and amortizing senior unsecured loan notes received from Deep Sea as compensation for the early termination of the charter. The loan notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% and are redeemable over a period of six years.

C. INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

Not Applicable.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

A. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

See Item 18.

Legal Proceedings

We and our ship-owning subsidiaries are routinely party, as plaintiff or defendant, to claims and lawsuits in various jurisdictions for demurrage, damages, off hire and other claims and commercial disputes arising from the operation of their vessels, in the ordinary course of business or in connection with acquisition activities. We believe that resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on our operations or financial conditions.

Dividend Policy

Our Board of Directors adopted a policy in May 2004 in connection with our public listing, whereby we seek to pay a regular quarterly dividend, the amount of which is based on our contracted revenues and growth prospects. Our goal is to increase our quarterly dividend as we grow the business, but the timing and amount of dividends, if any, is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our operating results, financial condition, cash requirements, restrictions in terms of financing arrangements and other relevant factors.

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We have paid the following cash dividends in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015:

Payment Date	Amount per Share
2011
March 29, 2011	$	0.38
June 29, 2011	$	0.39
September 29, 2011	$	0.39
December 29, 2011	$	0.39
2012
March 28, 2012	$	0.30
June 28, 2012	$	0.39
September 28, 2012	$	0.39
December 28, 2012	$	0.39
December 28, 2012	$	0.39	(1)
2013
June 28, 2013	$	0.39
September 27, 2013	$	0.39
December 30, 2013	$	0.39
2014
March 28, 2014	$	0.40
June 30, 2014	$	0.41
September 30, 2014	$	0.41
December 30, 2014	$	0.41
2015
March 27, 2015	$	0.42
June 30, 2015	$	0.43
September 30, 2015	$	0.44
December 30, 2015	$	0.45

(1) This dividend was an accelerated dividend in respect of the fourth quarter of 2012.

On February 29, 2016, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.45 per share which was paid in cash on March 30, 2016.

B. SIGNIFICANT CHANGES

None

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ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING

Not applicable except for Item 9.A.4. and Item 9.C.

The Company's common shares were listed on the NYSE on June 15, 2004, and commenced trading on that date under the symbol "SFL".

The following table sets forth, for each of the five most recent full financial years, the high and low closing prices for the common shares on the NYSE. 

Fiscal year ended December 31,	High		Low
2015	$	17.69	$	13.89
2014	$	19.82	$	13.11
2013	$	17.78	$	14.35
2012	$	17.56	$	9.34
2011	$	22.43	$	8.66

The following table sets forth, for each full financial quarter for the two most recent fiscal years, the high and low closing prices for the common shares on the NYSE. 

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2016	High		Low
First quarter	$	16.57	$	10.31

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2015	High		Low
First quarter	$	16.01	$	13.89
Second quarter	$	17.38	$	14.80
Third quarter	$	17.10	$	14.43
Fourth quarter	$	17.69	$	15.19

Fiscal year ended December 31, 2014	High		Low
First quarter	$	19.20	$	15.95
Second quarter	$	19.26	$	16.80
Third quarter	$	19.82	$	16.92
Fourth quarter	$	17.39	$	13.11

The following table sets forth, for the most recent six months, the high and low closing prices for the common shares on the NYSE.

	High		Low
March 2016	$	14.75	$	12.94
February 2016	$	13.46	$	10.31
January 2016	$	16.57	$	12.04
December 2015	$	17.42	$	15.19
November 2015	$	17.69	$	16.63
October 2015	$	17.56	$	16.19

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ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A. SHARE CAPITAL

Not Applicable.

B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

The Memorandum of Association of the Company has previously been filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form F-4 (Registration No. 333-115705) filed with the SEC on May 25, 2004, and is hereby incorporated by reference into this Annual Report.

At our 2013 Annual General Meeting the shareholders voted to amend our Bye-laws, principally those governing General Meetings, proceedings of the Board of Directors and delegation of its powers. These amended Bye-laws of the Company as adopted by shareholders on September 20, 2013 have previously been filed as Exhibit 1.3 to the Company's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on April 9, 2015 and are hereby incorporated by reference to this Annual Report.

The purposes and powers of the Company are set forth in Items 6(1) and 7(a) through (h) of our Memorandum of Association and in the Second Schedule of the Bermuda Companies Act of 1981, which is attached as an exhibit to our Memorandum of Association.  These purposes include exploring, drilling, moving, transporting and refining petroleum and hydro-carbon products, including oil and oil products; the acquisition, ownership, chartering, selling, management and operation of ships and aircraft; the entering into of any guarantee, contract, indemnity or suretyship and to assure, support, secure, with or without the consideration or benefit, the performance of any obligations of any person or persons; and the borrowing and raising of money in any currency or currencies to secure or discharge any debt or obligation in any manner.

Bermuda law permits the Bye-laws of a Bermuda company to contain provisions excluding personal liability of a director, alternate director, officer, member of a committee authorized under Bye-law 98, resident representative or their respective heirs, executors or administrators to the company for any loss arising or liability attaching to him by virtue of any rule of law in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which the officer or person may be guilty.  Bermuda law also grants companies the power generally to indemnify directors, alternate directors and officers of the Company and any members of a committee authorized under Bye-law 98, resident representatives or their respective heirs, executors or administrators if any such person was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, alternate director or officer of the Company or member of a committee authorized under Bye-law 98, resident representative or their respective heirs, executors or administrators or was serving in a similar capacity for another entity at the Company's request.

Our shareholders have no pre-emptive, subscription, redemption, conversion or sinking fund rights. Shareholders are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Shareholders have no cumulative voting rights. Shareholders are entitled to dividends if and when they are declared by our Board of Directors, subject to any preferred dividend right of holders of any preference shares. Directors to be elected by shareholder require a majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present. For all other matters, unless a different majority is required by law or our Bye-laws, resolutions to be approved by shareholders require approval by a majority of votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, shareholders will be entitled to receive, ratably, our net assets available after the payment of all our debts and liabilities and any preference amount owed to any preference shareholders. The rights of shareholders, including the right to elect directors, are subject to the rights of any series of preference shares we may issue in the future.

Under our Bye-laws annual meetings of shareholders will be held each calendar year at a time and place selected by our Board of Directors (but never in the United Kingdom or Norway). Special meetings of shareholders may be called by our Board of Directors at any time and must be called at the request of shareholders holding at least 10% of our paid-up share capital carrying the right to vote at general meetings. Under our Bye-laws five days' notice of an annual meeting or any special meeting must be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at that meeting. Under Bermuda law accidental failure to give notice will not invalidate proceedings at a meeting. Our Board of Directors may set a record date at any time before or after any date on which such notice is dispatched.

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Special rights attaching to any class of our shares may be altered or abrogated with the consent in writing of not less than 75% of the issued shares of that class or with the sanction of a resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the holders of such shares voting in person or by proxy.

Our Bye-laws do not prohibit a director from being a party to, or otherwise having an interest in, any transaction or arrangement with the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested.  Our Bye-laws provide our Board of Directors the authority to exercise all of the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of our property and assets as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation.  Our directors are not required to retire because of their age, and our directors are not required to be holders of our common shares.  Directors serve for one year terms, and shall serve until re-elected or until their successors are appointed at the next annual general meeting.

Our Bye-laws provide that no director, alternate director, officer, person or member of a committee, if any, resident representative, or his heirs, executors or administrators, which we refer to collectively as an indemnitee, is liable for the acts, receipts, neglects, or defaults of any other such person or any person involved in our formation, or for any loss or expense incurred by us through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by us, or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of our monies shall be invested, or for any loss or damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency, or tortious act of any person with whom any monies, securities, or effects shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment, omission, default, or oversight on his part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in relation to the execution of his duties, or supposed duties, to us or otherwise in relation thereto.  Each indemnitee will be indemnified and held harmless out of our funds to the fullest extent permitted by Bermuda law against all liabilities, loss, damage or expense (including but not limited to liabilities under contract, tort and statute or any applicable foreign law or regulation and all reasonable legal and other costs and expenses properly payable) incurred or suffered by him as such director, alternate director, officer, person or committee member or resident representative (or in his reasonable belief that he is acting as any of the above).  In addition, each indemnitee shall be indemnified against all liabilities incurred in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in such indemnitee's favor, or in which he is acquitted.  We are authorized to purchase insurance to cover any liability he may incur under the indemnification provisions of our Bye-laws.

C. MATERIAL CONTRACTS

The Company has not entered into any new material contracts since January 1, 2015, other than those entered in the ordinary course of business.

Attached as exhibits to this annual report are the contracts we consider to be both material and outside the ordinary course of business, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, for the two-year period immediately preceding the date of this annual report.

Frontline Charter Ancillary Agreement

We previously entered into charter ancillary agreements with respect to the vessels leased to the Frontline Charterers under which the Frontline Charterers paid us a profit sharing payment equal to 20% of the charter revenues earned by the Frontline Charterers in excess of specified threshold levels. On December 30, 2011, amendments were made to the original agreements with the Frontline Charterers, relating to 28 double-hull vessels at the time, whereby we agreed to temporarily reduce by $6,500 per day the base charter rates payable on each vessel. The temporary reduction originally applied from January 1, 2012, until December 31, 2015, and thereafter the base charter rates were to revert to the original agreed levels. For the duration of the temporary reduction, we were entitled to receive 100% of any excess above the reduced charter rates earned by the Frontline Charterers on our vessels, calculated annually on an average daily TCE basis and subject to a maximum excess of $6,500 per day per vessel. Amounts received under this arrangement were classified as "cash sweep" income. For the year ended December 31, 2015, we received cash sweep income of $19.9 million (2014: $32.7 million). The amendments to the charter agreements made on December 30, 2011, increased the profit sharing percentage to 25% for future earnings above the threshold levels. We were paid up front compensation of $106.0 million on December 30, 2011, of which $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to the 25% profit sharing agreement. We earned and recognized no revenue under the 25% profit sharing arrangement during the three and a half years of its duration, as the cumulative share of earnings did not attain the starting level of $50 million.

On June 5, 2015, amendments were made to the leases on the remaining 12 VLCCs and five Suezmaxes with the Frontline Charterers, the related management agreements and further amendments to the charter ancillary agreements for the remainder of the charter periods. As a result of the amendments to the charter ancillary agreements, which took effect on July 1, 2015, the daily hire payable to us was reduced to $20,000 per day and $15,000 per day for VLCCs and Suezmaxes, respectively.

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Operating cost fees paid by us were increased from $6,500 per day per vessel to $9,000 per day per vessel. The charters for three of the vessels were transferred from Frontline Shipping II to Frontline Shipping, which is now the charter counterpart for all of the vessels. In return for the amendments, Frontline issued 55.0 million new shares to Ship Finance and the profit share above the new daily hire rates was increased from 25% to 50%, payable quarterly and calculated on an average daily TCE basis. As part of the amended agreement, Frontline was released from its guarantee obligations under the charters, and in exchange a cash reserve of $2 million per vessel has been built up in Frontline Shipping as security for its obligations under the charters.

Other than as set forth above, there are no material contracts to which the Company or any its subsidiaries is a party for the two-year period immediately preceding the date of this annual report, other than those entered into in the ordinary course of business.

D. EXCHANGE CONTROLS

The Bermuda Monetary Authority, or the BMA, must give permission for all issuances and transfers of securities of a Bermuda exempted company like us. We have received a general permission from the BMA to issue any unissued common shares, and for the free transferability of the common shares as long as our common shares are listed on the NYSE. Our common shares may therefore be freely transferred among persons who are non-residents of Bermuda.

Although we are incorporated in Bermuda, we are classified as non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes by the BMA. Other than transferring Bermuda Dollars out of Bermuda, there are no restrictions on our ability to transfer funds into and out of Bermuda or to pay dividends to U.S. residents who are holders of our common shares or other non-resident holders of our common shares in currency other than Bermuda Dollars.

E. TAXATION

U.S. Taxation

The following discussion is based upon the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, existing and proposed U.S. Treasury Department regulations, or the Treasury Regulations, administrative rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions, all as of the date of this annual report.  Unless otherwise noted, references to the "Company" include the Company's Subsidiaries.  This discussion assumes that we do not have an office or other fixed place of business in the United States.

Taxation of the Company's Shipping Income: In General

The Company anticipates that it will derive a significant portion of its gross income from the use and operation of vessels in international commerce and that this income will principally consist of freights from the transportation of cargoes, hire or lease from time or voyage charters and the performance of services directly related thereto, which the Company refers to as "shipping income."

Shipping income that is attributable to transportation that begins or ends, but that does not both begin and end, in the United States will be considered to be 50% derived from sources within the United States.  Shipping income attributable to transportation that both begins and ends in the United States will be considered to be 100% derived from sources within the United States.  The Company is not permitted by law to engage in transportation that gives rise to 100% U.S. source income.

Shipping income attributable to transportation exclusively between non-U.S. ports will be considered to be 100% derived from sources outside the United States.  Shipping income derived from sources outside the United States will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.

Based upon the Company's anticipated shipping operations, the Company's vessels will operate in various parts of the world, including to or from U.S. ports. Unless exempt from U.S. federal income taxation under Section 883 of the Code, the Company will be subject to U.S. federal income taxation, in the manner discussed below, to the extent its shipping income is considered derived from sources within the United States.

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Application of Section 883 of the Code

Under the relevant provisions of Section 883 of the Code, or Section 883, the Company will be exempt from U.S. federal income taxation on its U.S. source shipping income if:

(i) It is organized in a "qualified foreign country," which is one that grants an equivalent exemption from tax to corporations organized in the United States in respect of the shipping income for which exemption is being claimed under Section 883, and which the Company refers to as the Country of Organization Requirement; and

(ii) It can satisfy any one of the following two stock ownership requirements for more than half the days during the taxable year:

• the Company's stock is "primarily and regularly traded on an established securities market" located in the United States or a "qualified foreign country," which the Company refers to as the Publicly-Traded Test; or

• more than 50% of the Company's stock, in terms of value, is beneficially owned by any combination of one or more individuals who are residents of a "qualified foreign country" or foreign corporations that satisfy the Country of Organization Requirement and the Publicly-Traded Test, which the Company refers to as the 50% Ownership Test.

The U.S. Treasury Department has recognized Bermuda, the country of incorporation of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as a "qualified foreign country." In addition, the U.S. Treasury Department has recognized Liberia, Panama, the Isle of Man, Singapore, the Marshall Islands, Malta and Cyprus, the countries of incorporation of certain of the Company's vessel-owning subsidiaries, as "qualified foreign countries."  Accordingly, the Company and its vessel-owning subsidiaries satisfy the Country of Organization Requirement.

Therefore, the Company's eligibility to qualify for exemption under Section 883 is wholly dependent upon being able to satisfy one of the stock ownership requirements.

As discussed below, for the 2015 taxable year we believe the Company satisfied the Publicly-Traded Test, since on more than half the days in the taxable year we believe the Company's common shares were primarily and regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States, namely the NYSE.

As to the Publicly-Traded Test, the Treasury Regulations under Section 883 provide, in pertinent part, that stock of a foreign corporation will be considered to be "primarily traded" on an established securities market in a country if the number of shares of each class of stock that is traded during any taxable year on all established securities markets in that country exceeds the number of shares in each such class that is traded during that year on established securities markets in any other single country.

The Publicly-Traded Test also requires our common shares be "regularly traded" on an established securities market.  Under the Treasury Regulations, our common shares are considered to be "regularly traded" on an established securities market if shares representing more than 50% of our outstanding common shares, by both total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote and total value, are listed on the market, referred to as the "listing threshold." The Treasury Regulations further require that with respect to each class of stock relied upon to meet the listing threshold (i) such class of stock is traded on the market, other than in minimal quantities, on at least 60 days during the taxable year or 1/6 of the days in a short taxable year, which is referred to as the "trading frequency test", and (ii) the aggregate number of shares of such class of stock traded on such market during the taxable year is at least 10% of the average number of shares of such class of stock outstanding during such year (as appropriately adjusted in the case of a short taxable year), which is referred to as the "trading volume test."  Even if we do not satisfy both the trading frequency and trading volume tests, the Treasury Regulations provide that the trading frequency and trading volume tests will be deemed satisfied if our common shares are traded on an established securities market in the United States and such stock is regularly quoted by dealers making a market in our common shares.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, our common shares will not be considered to be regularly traded on an established securities market for any taxable year in which 50% or more of the vote and value of the outstanding common shares are owned, actually or constructively under certain stock attribution rules, on more than half the days during the taxable year by persons who each own 5% or more of the value of our common shares, which we refer to as the 5 Percent Override Rule.

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In order to determine the persons who actually or constructively own 5% or more of our common shares, or 5% Shareholders, we are permitted to rely on those persons that are identified on Schedule 13G and Schedule 13D filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as having a 5% or more beneficial interest in our common shares. In addition, an investment company identified on a Schedule 13G or Schedule 13D filing which is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, will not be treated as a 5% Shareholder for such purposes.

For our 2015 taxable year, we do not believe that we were subject to the 5 Percent Override Rule and, therefore, we believe that we satisfied the Publicly-Traded Test. There are, however, factual circumstances beyond our control that could cause the Company to lose the benefit of the Section 883 exemption and thereby become subject to U.S. federal income tax on its U.S. source shipping income.  For example, Hemen owned approximately 36% of our outstanding common shares as of December 31, 2015.  There is, therefore, a risk that the Company could no longer qualify for exemption under Section 883 for a particular taxable year if other 5% Shareholders were, in combination with Hemen, to own 50% or more of the outstanding common shares of the Company on more than half the days during the taxable year. Due to the factual nature of the issues involved, there can be no assurances as to the tax-exempt status of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

In the event the 5 Percent Override Rule is triggered, the 5 Percent Override Rule will nevertheless not apply if we can establish that among the closely-held group of 5% Shareholders, there are sufficient 5% Shareholders that are considered to be "qualified shareholders" for purposes of Section 883 to preclude non-qualified 5% Shareholders in the closely-held group from owning 50% or more of our common shares for more than half the number of days during the taxable year.

In any year that the 5 Percent Override Rule is triggered with respect to us, we are eligible for the exemption from tax under Section 883 only if we can nevertheless satisfy the Publicly-Traded Test (which requires, among other things, showing that the exception to the 5 Percent Override Rule applies) or if we can satisfy the 50% Ownership Test. In either case, certain substantiation and reporting requirements regarding the identity of our shareholders must be satisfied in order to qualify for the Section 883 exemption. These requirements are onerous and there is no assurance that we would be able to satisfy them.

Taxation in Absence of the Section 883 Exemption

To the extent the benefits of Section 883 are unavailable with respect to any item of U.S. source income, the Company's U.S. source shipping income, to the extent not considered to be "effectively connected" with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, as described below, would be subject to a 4% tax imposed by Section 887 of the Code on a gross basis, without the benefit of deductions, which we refer to as the "4% gross basis tax regime." Since, under the sourcing rules described above, no more than 50% of the Company's shipping income would be treated as being derived from U.S. sources, the maximum effective rate of U.S. federal income tax on the Company's shipping income, to the extent not considered to be "effectively connected" with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, would never exceed 2% under the 4% gross basis tax regime.

To the extent the benefits of the Section 883 exemption are unavailable and our U.S. source shipping income is considered to be "effectively connected" with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, as described below, any such "effectively connected" U.S. source shipping income, net of applicable deductions, would be subject to the U.S. federal corporate income tax currently imposed at rates of up to 35%. In addition, we may be subject to the 30% "branch profits" tax on earnings "effectively connected" with the conduct of such U.S. trade or business, as determined after allowance for certain adjustments, and on certain interest paid or deemed paid attributable to the conduct of such U.S. trade or business.

Our U.S. source shipping income would be considered "effectively connected" with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business only if:

• we had, or were considered to have, a fixed place of business in the United States involved in the earning of U.S. source shipping income; and

• substantially all of our U.S. source shipping income were attributable to regularly scheduled transportation, such as the operation of a vessel that followed a published schedule with repeated sailings at regular intervals between the same points for voyages that begin or end in the United States, or, in the case of income from the chartering of a vessel, were attributable to a fixed place of business in the United States.

We do not have, nor will we permit circumstances that would result in having, any vessel sailing to or from the United States on a regularly scheduled basis. Based on the foregoing and on the expected mode of our shipping operations and other activities, we believe that none of our U.S. source shipping income is or will be "effectively connected" with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business.

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Gain on Sale of Vessels

Regardless of whether we qualify for exemption under Section 883, we will not be subject to U.S. federal income taxation with respect to gain realized on a sale of a vessel, provided the sale is considered to occur outside of the United States under U.S. federal income tax principles.  In general, a sale of a vessel will be considered to occur outside of the United States for this purpose if title to the vessel, and risk of loss with respect to the vessel, pass to the buyer outside of the United States.  It is expected that any sale of a vessel by us will be considered to occur outside of the United States.

U.S. Taxation of Our Other Income

In addition to our shipping operations, we charter drillrigs to third parties who conduct drilling operations in various parts of the world.  Since we are not engaged in a trade or business in the United States, we do not expect to be subject to U.S. federal income tax on any of our income from such charters.

Taxation of U.S. Holders

The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations relevant to an investment decision by a U.S. Holder, as defined below, with respect to our common shares.  This discussion does not purport to deal with the tax consequences of owning our common shares to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules.  You are encouraged to consult your own tax advisors concerning the overall tax consequences arising in your own particular situation under U.S. federal, state, local or foreign law of the ownership of our common shares.

As used herein, the term U.S. Holder means a beneficial owner of our common shares that (i) is a U.S. citizen or resident, a U.S. corporation or other U.S. entity taxable as a corporation, an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source, or a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust, (ii) owns our common shares as a capital asset, generally, for investment purposes, and (iii) owns less than 10% of our common shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

If a partnership holds our common shares, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership.  If you are a partner in a partnership holding our common shares, you are encouraged to consult your own tax advisor regarding this issue.

Distributions

Subject to the discussion below of passive foreign investment companies, or PFICs, any distributions made by us with respect to our common shares to a U.S. Holder will generally constitute dividends, which may be taxable as ordinary income or "qualified dividend income" as described in more detail below, to the extent of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles.  Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits will be treated first as a nontaxable return of capital to the extent of the U.S. Holder's tax basis in his common shares on a dollar-for-dollar basis and thereafter as capital gain.  Because we are not a U.S. corporation, U.S. Holders that are corporations will not be entitled to claim a dividends-received deduction with respect to any distributions they receive from us.  

Dividends paid on our common shares to a U.S. Holder who is an individual, trust or estate, which we refer to as a U.S. Individual Holder, will generally be treated as "qualified dividend income" that is taxable to such U.S. Individual Holders at preferential tax rates provided that (1) the common shares are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States (such as the NYSE, on which our common shares are listed); (2) we are not a PFIC for the taxable year during which the dividend is paid or the immediately preceding taxable year (see discussion below); and (3) the U.S. Individual Holder has owned the common shares for more than 60 days in the 121-day period beginning 60 days before the date on which the common shares become ex-dividend.  

There is no assurance that any dividends paid on our common shares will be eligible for these preferential rates in the hands of a U.S. Individual Holder.  Any dividends paid by the Company which are not eligible for these preferential rates will be taxed as ordinary income to a U.S. Individual Holder.

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Sale, Exchange or other Disposition of Common Shares

Assuming we do not constitute a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares in an amount equal to the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder from such sale, exchange or other disposition and the U.S. Holder's tax basis in such common shares.  Such gain or loss will be treated as long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder's holding period in the common shares is greater than one year at the time of the sale, exchange or other disposition.  Otherwise, it will be treated as short-term capital gain or loss.  A U.S. Holder's ability to deduct capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Status and Significant Tax Consequences

Special U.S. federal income tax rules apply to a U.S. Holder that holds stock in a foreign corporation classified as a PFIC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.  In general, we will be treated as a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder if, for any taxable year in which such holder held our common shares, either at least 75% of our gross income for such taxable year consists of "passive income" (e.g., dividends, interest, capital gains and rents derived other than in the active conduct of a rental business), or at least 50% of the average value of the assets held by the corporation during such taxable year produce, or are held for the production of, "passive income."

For purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC, we will be treated as earning and owning our proportionate share of the income and assets, respectively, of any of our subsidiary corporations in which we own at least 25% of the value of the subsidiary's stock.  Income earned, or deemed earned, by us in connection with the performance of services would not constitute passive income.  By contrast, rental income would generally constitute "passive income" unless we were treated under specific rules as deriving our rental income in the active conduct of a trade or business.

Although there is no legal authority directly on point, we believe that, for purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC, the gross income we derive or are deemed to derive from the time chartering activities of our wholly-owned subsidiaries more likely than not constitutes services income, rather than rental income.  Correspondingly, we believe that such income does not constitute "passive income," and the assets that we or our wholly-owned subsidiaries own and operate in connection with the production of such income, in particular, the vessels, do not constitute passive assets for purposes of determining whether we are a PFIC.  We believe there is substantial legal authority supporting our position consisting of case law and Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, pronouncements concerning the characterization of income derived from time charters and voyage charters as services income for other tax purposes. This position is principally based upon the positions that (1) our time charter income will constitute services income, rather than rental income, and (2) Frontline Management and Golden Ocean Management, which provide services to certain of our time-chartered vessels, will be respected as separate entities from the Frontline Charterers and the Golden Ocean Charterer, with which they are respectively affiliated.

We intend to take the position that we were not treated as a PFIC for our 2015 taxable year. For the 2016 taxable year and future taxable years, depending upon the relative amount of income we derive from our various assets as well as their relative fair market values, it is possible that we may be treated as a PFIC.  

We note that there is no direct legal authority under the PFIC rules addressing our current and proposed method of operation. In addition, although we intend to conduct our affairs in a manner to avoid being classified as a PFIC with respect to any taxable year, we cannot assure you that the nature of our operations will not change in the future.  Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court of law will accept our position, and there is a significant risk that the IRS or a court of law could determine that we are a PFIC.

As discussed more fully below, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder would be subject to different taxation rules depending on whether the U.S. Holder makes an election to treat us as a "Qualified Electing Fund", which election we refer to as a QEF Election. As an alternative to making a QEF election, a U.S. Holder should be able to make a "mark-to-market" election with respect to our common shares, as discussed below, and which election we refer to as a Mark-to-Market Election. In any event, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year ending on or after December 31, 2013, a U.S. Holder would be required to file an annual report with the Internal Revenue Service for that year with respect their holding in our common shares.

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Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Timely QEF Election

If a U.S. Holder makes a timely QEF Election, which U.S. Holder we refer to as an Electing Holder, the Electing Holder must report each year for U.S. federal income tax purposes its pro rata share of our ordinary earnings and our net capital gain, if any, for our taxable year that ends with or within the taxable year of the Electing Holder, regardless of whether or not distributions were received from us by the Electing Holder.  The Electing Holder's adjusted tax basis in the common shares will be increased to reflect taxed but undistributed earnings and profits.  Distributions of earnings and profits that had been previously taxed will result in a corresponding reduction in the adjusted tax basis in the common shares and will not be taxed again once distributed.  A U.S. Holder would make a QEF Election with respect to any taxable year that we are a PFIC by filing one copy of IRS Form 8621 with its U.S. federal income tax return.  To make a QEF Election, a U.S. Holder must receive annually certain tax information from us.  There can be no assurances that we will be able to provide such information annually.  An Electing Holder would generally recognize capital gain or loss on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares.  

Taxation of U.S. Holders Making a Mark-to-Market Election

Alternatively, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year and, as we anticipate, our common shares are treated as "marketable stock," a U.S. Holder would be permitted to make a Mark-to-Market Election with respect to our common shares, provided the U.S. Holder completes and files IRS Form 8621 in accordance with the relevant instructions and related Treasury Regulations.  If that election is made, the U.S. Holder generally would include as ordinary income in each taxable year the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the common shares at the end of the taxable year over such holder's adjusted tax basis in the common shares.  The U.S. Holder would also be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the common shares over its fair market value at the end of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the Mark-to-Market Election.  A U.S. Holder's tax basis in its common shares would be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amount.  Gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares would be treated as ordinary income, and any loss realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the common shares would be treated as ordinary loss to the extent that such loss does not exceed the net mark-to-market gains previously included in income by the U.S. Holder.

Taxation of U.S. Holders Not Making a Timely QEF or Mark-to-Market Election

Finally, if we were to be treated as a PFIC for any taxable year, a U.S. Holder who does not make either a QEF Election or a Mark-to-Market Election for that year, whom we refer to as a Non-Electing Holder, would be subject to special rules with respect to (1) any excess distribution (i.e., the portion of any distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder on our common shares in a taxable year in excess of 125 % of the average annual distributions received by the Non-Electing Holder in the three preceding taxable years, or, if shorter, the Non-Electing Holder's holding period for the common shares), and (2) any gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares.  Under these special rules:

• the excess distribution or gain would be allocated ratably over the Non-Electing Holders' aggregate holding period for the common shares;

• the amount allocated to the current taxable year and any taxable years before the Company became a PFIC would be taxed as ordinary income; and

• the amount allocated to each of the other taxable years would be subject to tax at the highest rate of tax in effect for the applicable class of taxpayer for that year, and an interest charge for the deemed deferral benefit would be imposed with respect to the resulting tax attributable to each such other taxable year.

These penalties would not apply to a pension or profit sharing trust or other tax-exempt organization that did not borrow funds or otherwise utilize leverage in connection with its acquisition of our common shares.  If we were a PFIC, and a Non-Electing Holder who is an individual died while owning our common shares, such holder's successor generally would not receive a step-up in tax basis with respect to such common shares.

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

A beneficial owner of common shares (other than a partnership) that is not a U.S. Holder is referred to herein as a Non-U.S. Holder.

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Dividends on Common Shares

Non-U.S. Holders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on dividends received from us with respect to our common shares, unless that dividend is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder's conduct of a trade or business in the United States.  If the Non-U.S. Holder is entitled to the benefits of a U.S. income tax treaty with respect to those dividends, that income is taxable, or taxable at the full rate, only if it is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States.

Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of Common Shares

Non-U.S. Holders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of our common shares, unless:

• the gain is effectively connected with the Non-U.S. Holder's conduct of a trade or business in the United States (and, if the Non-U.S. Holder is entitled to the benefits of an income tax treaty with respect to that gain, that gain is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States); or

• the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year of disposition and other conditions are met.

If the Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the income from the common shares, including dividends and the gain from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the common shares, that is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business will generally be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as discussed in the previous section relating to the taxation of U.S. Holders. In addition, if you are a corporate Non-U.S. Holder, your earnings and profits that are attributable to the effectively connected income, subject to certain adjustments, may be subject to an additional branch profits tax at a rate of 30%, or at a lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, dividend payments, or other taxable distributions, made within the United States to you will be subject to information reporting requirements.  Such payments will also be subject to "backup withholding" if you are a non-corporate U.S. Holder and you:

• fail to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number;

• are notified by the IRS that you have failed to report all interest or dividends required to be shown on your U.S. federal income tax returns; or

• in certain circumstances, fail to comply with applicable certification requirements.

Non-U.S. Holders may be required to establish their exemption from information reporting and backup withholding by certifying their status on an applicable IRS Form W-8.

If you are a Non-U.S. Holder and you sell your common shares to or through a U.S. office of a broker, the payment of the proceeds is subject to both U.S. backup withholding and information reporting unless you certify that you are a non-U.S. person, under penalties of perjury, or otherwise establish an exemption.  If you sell your common shares through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker and the sales proceeds are paid to you outside the United States, then information reporting and backup withholding generally will not apply to that payment.  However, U.S. information reporting, but not backup withholding, will apply to a payment of sales proceeds, including a payment made to you outside the United States, if you sell your common shares through a non-U.S. office of a broker that is a U.S. person or has some other contacts with the United States. Such information reporting requirements will not apply, however, if the broker has documentary evidence that you are a non-U.S. person and certain other conditions are met, or you otherwise establish an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax.  Rather, you generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under backup withholding rules that exceed your income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS.

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Individuals who are U.S. Holders (and to the extent specified in applicable Treasury regulations, certain individuals who are Non-U.S. Holders and certain U.S. entities) who hold "specified foreign financial assets" (as defined in Section 6038D of the Code) are required to file IRS Form 8938 with information relating to the asset for each taxable year in which the aggregate value of all such assets exceeds $75,000 at any time during the taxable year or $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year (or such higher dollar amount as prescribed by applicable Treasury regulations).  Specified foreign financial assets would include, among other assets, our common shares, unless the shares are held through an account maintained with a U.S. financial institution. Substantial penalties apply to any failure to timely file IRS Form 8938, unless the failure is shown to be due to reasonable cause and not due to willful neglect. Additionally, in the event an individual U.S. Holder (and to the extent specified in applicable Treasury regulations, an individual Non-U.S. Holder or a U.S. entity) that is required to file IRS Form 8938 does not file such form, the statute of limitations on the assessment and collection of U.S. federal income taxes of such holder for the related tax year may not close until three years after the date that the required information is filed.  U.S. Holders (including U.S. entities) and Non-U.S. Holders are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding their reporting obligations under this legislation.

Bermuda Taxation

Under current Bermuda law, we are not subject to tax on income or capital gains. We have received from the Minister of Finance under The Exempted Undertaking Tax Protection Act 1966, as amended, an assurance that, in the event that Bermuda enacts legislation imposing tax computed on profits, income, any capital asset, gain or appreciation, or any tax in the nature of estate duty or inheritance, then the imposition of any such tax shall not be applicable to us or to any of our operations or shares, debentures or other obligations, until March 31, 2035. We could be subject to taxes in Bermuda after that date. This assurance is subject to the proviso that it is not to be construed to prevent the application of any tax or duty to such persons as are ordinarily resident in Bermuda or to prevent the application of any tax payable in accordance with the provisions of the Land Tax Act 1967 or otherwise payable in relation to any property leased to us. We and our subsidiaries incorporated in Bermuda pay annual government fees to the Bermuda government.

F. DIVIDENDS AND PAYING AGENTS

Not Applicable.

G. STATEMENT BY EXPERTS

Not Applicable.

H. DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. In accordance with these requirements, we file reports and other information with the SEC. These materials, including this annual report and the accompanying exhibits, may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.  You may obtain information on the operation of the public reference room by calling 1 (800) SEC-0330, and you may obtain copies at prescribed rates from the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at its principal office in Washington, D.C. 20549.  The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. In addition, documents referred to in this annual report may be inspected at our principal executive offices at Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 08. Our filings are also available on our website at www.shipfinance.bm. This web address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. Information on our website does not constitute part of this annual report.

I. SUBSIDIARY INFORMATION

Not Applicable.

ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to various market risks, including interest rates and foreign currency fluctuations. We use interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk and currency swaps to manage currency risks. We may enter into derivative instruments from time to time for speculative purposes.

84

At December 31, 2015, the Company had entered into combined currency and interest rate swap contracts with a total notional principal of NOK600 million ($105 million), to hedge against fluctuations in interest and exchange rates on our NOK600 million floating rate unsecured bonds due 2017. Under these contracts, variable NIBOR interest rates including additional margin is swapped for fixed interest at an average of 6.06%, and both the payment of interest and eventual settlement of the bonds will have an effective exchange rate of NOK5.69 = $1. These contracts expire in October 2017 and we estimate that we would pay $43 million to terminate them as of December 31, 2015 (2014: $30 million).

Similarly, at December 31, 2015, the Company had entered into combined currency and interest rate swap contracts with a total notional principal of NOK900 million ($151 million), to hedge against fluctuations in interest and exchange rates on our NOK900 million floating rate unsecured bonds due 2019. Under these contracts, variable NIBOR interest rates including additional margin is swapped for fixed interest at an average of 6.03%, and both the payment of interest and eventual settlement of the bonds will have an effective exchange rate of NOK5.96 = $1. These contracts expire in March 2019 and we estimate that we would pay $56 million to terminate them as of December 31, 2015 (2014: $35 million).

At December 31, 2015, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had entered into interest rate swap contracts with a combined notional principal amount of $767 million at rates excluding margin over LIBOR of between 0.80% per annum and 4.15% per annum. In addition, one equity-accounted subsidiary had entered into interest rate swaps with a combined notional principal amount of $200 million at rates excluding margin over LIBOR of between 1.77% per annum and 2.01% per annum. The swap agreements mature between December 2017 and April 2023, and we estimate that we would pay $16 million to terminate these agreements as of December 31, 2015 (2014: pay $41 million).

Approximately $0.2 billion of the above swaps were in excess of related debt at December 31, 2015, as a result of NOK bonds purchased and held as treasury bonds, one of the swaps commencing in December 2016 and another of the swaps commencing in January 2017. Thus, the overall effect of our swaps is to fix the interest rate on approximately $1.0 billion of our floating rate debt at December 31, 2015, at a weighted average interest rate of 4.83% per annum including margin.

Several of our charter contracts contain interest adjustment clauses, whereby the charter rate is adjusted to reflect the actual interest paid on the outstanding loan, effectively transferring the interest rate exposure to the counterparty under the charter contract. At December 31, 2015, a total of $1.1 billion of our floating rate debt was subject to such interest adjustment clauses, including our equity accounted subsidiaries. Of this, approximately $0.2 billion was also subject to interest rate swaps entered into for the benefit of the charterer, with the balance of $0.9 billion remaining on a floating rate basis.

At December 31, 2015, our net exposure, including equity-accounted subsidiaries, to interest rate fluctuations on our outstanding debt was $98 million, compared with $86 million at December 31, 2014. Our net exposure to interest fluctuations is based on our total of $2.0 billion floating rate debt outstanding at December 31, 2015, less the $1.0 billion notional principle of our interest rate swaps and the $0.9 billion remaining floating rate debt subject to interest adjustment clauses under charter contracts. A one per-cent change in interest rates would thus increase or decrease interest expense by $1.0 million per year as of December 31, 2015 (2014: $0.9 million).

In addition to the above interest rate and currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, in February 2016 we entered into interest rate swap contracts with initial principal amounts totaling $68.9 million, swapping variable LIBOR interest rates for a fixed interest rate of 1.2625% per annum. At the date of this report, we were not party to any other derivative contracts.

The Company may in the future enter into short-term TRS arrangements relating to our own shares and bonds or securities in other companies.

Apart from our NOK600 million and NOK900 million floating rate bonds, which have been hedged, the majority of our transactions, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, our functional currency.

ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

Not Applicable.

85

PART II

ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries have been subject to a material default in the payment of principal, interest, a sinking fund or purchase fund installment or any other material default that was not cured within 30 days. In addition, the payments of our dividends are not, and have not been in arrears or have not been subject to material delinquency that was not cured within 30 days.

ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 15. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

a) Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Pursuant to Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act, management assessed the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2015. Based upon that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the evaluation date.

 b) Management's annual report on internal controls over financial reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) or 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

• pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;

• provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of Company's management and directors; and

• provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

Management conducted the evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting using the control criteria framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission published in its report entitled Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).

Our management with the participation of our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer assessed the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act, as of December 31, 2015. Based upon that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer concluded that the Company's internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31, 2015.

86

c) Attestation report of the registered public accounting firm

MSPC, Certified Public Accountants and Advisors, a Professional Corporation, our independent registered public accounting firm, has issued their attestation report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015. Such report appears on page F-2.

 d) Changes in internal control over financial reporting

There were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this annual report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 16A. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our Board of Directors has determined that our Audit Committee has one Audit Committee Financial Expert. Kate Blankenship is an independent Director and is the Audit Committee Financial Expert, as such terms are defined under SEC rules.

ITEM 16B. CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to all entities controlled by us and our employees, directors, officers and agents of the Company. We have posted our code of ethics on our website at www.shipfinance.bm. We will provide any person, free of charge, with a copy of our code of ethics upon written request to our registered office.

ITEM 16C. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Our principal accountant for 2015 and 2014 was MSPC. The following table sets forth the fees related to audit and other services provided by MSPC.

	2015		2014
Audit Fees (a)	$	540,000	$	540,000
Audit-Related Fees (b)	$	117,000	$	117,000
Tax Fees (c)	—		—
All Other Fees (d)	$	41,221	$	50,149
Total	$	698,221	$	707,149

(a) Audit Fees

Audit fees represent professional services rendered for the audit of our annual financial statements and services provided by the principal accountant in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

(b) Audit -Related Fees

Audit-related fees consisted of assurance and related services rendered by the principal accountant related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements which have not been reported under Audit Fees above.

(c) Tax Fees

Tax fees represent fees for professional services rendered by the principal accountant for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning.

(d) All Other Fees

All other fees include services other than audit fees, audit-related fees and tax fees set forth above.

87

(e) Audit Committee's Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

Our Board of Directors has adopted pre-approval policies and procedures in compliance with paragraph (c)(7)(i) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X, that require the Board of Directors to approve the appointment of our independent auditor before such auditor is engaged and approve each of the audit and non-audit related services to be provided by such auditor under such engagement by the Company. All services provided by the principal auditor in 2015 and 2014 were approved by the Board of Directors pursuant to the pre-approval policy.

ITEM 16D. EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

Not applicable.

ITEM 16E. PURCHASE OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

No shares have been repurchased by the Company or any “affiliated purchaser,” as such term is defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) of the Exchange Act, since January 2006.

ITEM 16F. CHANGE IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT

Not applicable.

ITEM 16G. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Pursuant to an exception under the NYSE listing standards available to foreign private issuers, we are not required to comply with all of the corporate governance practices followed by U.S. companies under the NYSE listing standards.  The significant differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE standards applicable to listed U.S. companies are set forth below.

Executive Sessions.The NYSErequires that non-management directors meet regularly in executive sessions without management. The NYSEalso requires that all independent directors meet in an executive session at least once a year.  As permitted under Bermuda law and our Bye-laws, our non-management directors have not regularly held executive sessions without management, and we do not expect them to do so in the future.

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee.  The NYSErequires that a listed U.S. company have a nominating/corporate governance committee of independent directors and a committee charter specifying the purpose, duties and evaluation procedures of the committee. As permitted under Bermuda law and our Bye-laws, we do not currently have a nominating or corporate governance committee.

Audit Committee.  The NYSErequires, among other things, that a listed U.S. company have an audit committee with a minimum of three members. As permitted by Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, our audit committee consists of two independent members of our Board of Directors.

Corporate Governance Guidelines.  The NYSErequires U.S. companies to adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. The guidelines must address, among other things: director qualification standards, director responsibilities, director access to management and independent advisers, director compensation, director orientation and continuing education, management succession and an annual performance evaluation. We are not required to adopt such guidelines under Bermuda law and we have not adopted such guidelines.

ITEM 16H. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not applicable.

88

PART III

ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

See Item 18.

ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The following financial statements listed below and set forth on pages F-1 through F-45 are filed as part of this annual report:

Financial Statements: Ship Finance International Limited

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-3
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-4
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014	F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-6
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-7
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	F-9

89

ITEM 19.               EXHIBITS

Number	Description of Exhibit
1.1*	Memorandum of Association of Ship Finance International Limited (the "Company"), incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company's Registration Statement, SEC File No. 333-115705, filed on May 21, 2004 (the "Original Registration Statement").
1.2*	Amended and Restated Bye-laws of the Company, as adopted on September 28, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 of the Company's 6-K filed on October 22, 2007.
1.3*	Amended and Restated Bye-laws of the Company, as adopted on September 20, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.3 of the Company's 2014 Annual Report filed on Form 20-F on April 9, 2015.
2.1*	Form of Common Stock Certificate of the Company, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's Original Registration Statement.
4.1*	Form of Performance Guarantee dated January 1, 2004, issued by Frontline Ltd, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of the Company's Original Registration Statement.
4.2*	Amendment No. 4 to Performance Guarantee dated January 1, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company's 2009 Annual Report as filed on Form 20-F on April 1, 2010.
4.3*	Form of Time Charter, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company's Original Registration Statement.
4.4*	Form of Vessel Management Agreements, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company's Original Registration Statement.
4.5*	Form of Charter Ancillary Agreement dated January 1, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 of the Company's Original Registration Statement.
4.6*	Addendum No. 6 to Charter Ancillary Agreement dated January 1, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of the Company's 2009 Annual Report as filed on Form 20-F on April 1, 2010.
4.7*	Amendments dated August 21, 2007, to the Charter Ancillary Agreements, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of the Company's 2007 Annual Report as filed on Form 20-F on March 17, 2008.
4.8*	New Administrative Services Agreement dated November 29, 2007, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.10 of the Company's 2007 Annual Report as filed on Form 20-F on March 17, 2008.
4.9*	Share Option Scheme, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of the Company's 2006 Annual Report as filed on Form 20-F on July 2, 2007.
4.11*	Bond Agreement relating to Ship Finance International Limited Callable Senior Unsecured Bond Issue 2010/2014, dated October 6, 2010 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.11 of the Company's 2010 Annual Report filed on Form 20-F on March 25, 2011.
4.12*	Bond Agreement relating to Ship Finance International Limited Senior Unsecured Callable Convertible Bond Issue 2011/2016, dated February 11, 2011 incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 of the Company's 2010 Annual Report filed on Form 20-F on March 25, 2011.
4.13*	Addendum No. 7 to Charter Ancillary Agreement dated January 1, 2004, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.13 of the Company's 2011 Annual Report filed on Form 20-F on April 27, 2012.
4.14*	Addendum No. 3 to Charter Ancillary Agreement dated June 20, 2005, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.14 of the Company's 2011 Annual Report filed on Form 20-F on April 27, 2012.
4.15a*	Indenture by and among the Company, U.S. Bank National Association and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, dated January 30, 2013, incorporated by reference to the Company's report on Form 6-K filed on February 4, 2013.
4.15b*	First Supplemental Indenture by and among the Company, U.S. Bank National Association and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, dated January 30, 2013, incorporated by reference to the Company's report on Form 6-K filed on February 7, 2013.
4.16*	Bond Agreement relating to Ship Finance International Limited Callable Senior Unsecured Bond Issue 2012/2017, dated October 16, 2012, incorporated by reference to the Company's 2013 Annual Report filed on Form 20-F on March 28, 2014.

90

4.17*	Bond Agreement relating to Ship Finance International Limited Callable Senior Unsecured Bond Issue 2014/2019, dated March 17, 2014, incorporated by reference to the Company's 2013 Annual Report filed on Form 20-F on March 28, 2014.
4.18	Amended and Restated Charter Ancillary Agreement among the Company, the vessel owning subsidiaries of the Company, Frontline Ltd. and Frontline Shipping Limited, dated June 5, 2015.
8.1	Subsidiaries of the Company.
12.1	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
12.2	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
13.1	Certification of the Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
13.2	Certification of the Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
15.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Presentation Linkbase Document

* Incorporated herein by reference.

91

SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

		SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
		(Registrant)
Date:	April 1, 2016	By:	/s/ Harald Gurvin
			Harald Gurvin
			Principal Financial Officer

92

Ship Finance International Limited

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	F-2
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-3
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-4
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2015 and 2014	F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-6
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013	F-7
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements	F-9

F-1

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

Ship Finance International Limited

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ship Finance International Limited and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015. We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control— Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management's annual report on internal controls over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall consolidated financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ship Finance International Limited and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2015, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

/s/ MSPC

Certified Public Accountants and Advisors,

A Professional Corporation

New York, New York

April 1, 2016

F-2

Ship Finance International Limited

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands of $, except per share amounts)

	2015			2014			2013
Operating revenues
Direct financing lease interest income - related parties	34,193			45,363			55,385
Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income - other	—			—			4,231
Finance lease service revenues - related parties	46,460			46,488			52,390
Finance lease service revenues - other	—			—			1,846
Profit sharing revenues - related parties	59,607			33,756			770
Time charter revenues - related parties	30,319			10,039			5,647
Time charter revenues - other	130,459			83,013			77,778
Bareboat charter revenues - related parties	12,596			16,364			18,324
Bareboat charter revenues - other	55,419			53,407			42,705
Voyage charter revenues - other	35,783			34,608			9,724
Other operating income	1,904			4,449			2,060
Total operating revenues	406,740			327,487			270,860
Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters, net	7,364			23,931			18,025
Operating expenses
Vessel operating expenses - related parties	56,939			49,170			54,916
Vessel operating expenses - other	63,892			70,300			50,618
Depreciation	78,080			67,393			58,436
Vessel impairment charge	42,410			11,800			—
Administrative expenses - related parties	1,032			965			439
Administrative expenses - other	5,705			6,644			7,110
Total operating expenses	248,058			206,272			171,519
Net operating income	166,046			145,146			117,366
Non-operating income / (expense)
Interest income – related parties, associated companies	18,672			24,464			19,575
Interest income – related parties, other	13,395			4,029			482
Interest income - other	7,075			11,958			10,023
Interest expense - other	(70,583		)	(86,081		)	(87,225		)
Gain/(loss) on purchase of  bonds	1,007			(21		)	(1,218		)
Gain on sale of investment in associated company	—			6,055			—
Gain on redemption of loan notes - related parties	28,904			—			—
Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other	44,552			—			—
Available-for sale securities impairment charge	(20,552		)	—			—
Other financial items, net	(21,289		)	(16,232		)	2,003
Net income before equity in earnings of associated companies	167,227			89,318			61,006
Equity in earnings of associated companies	33,605			33,497			28,200
Net income	200,832			122,815			89,206
Per share information:
Basic earnings per share	$	2.15		$	1.32		$	1.00
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	93,450			93,331			89,508
Diluted earnings per share	$	1.88		$	1.24		$	0.99
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	119,008			116,747			95,424
Cash dividend per share declared and paid	$	1.74		$	1.63		$	1.17

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-3

Ship Finance International Limited

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands of $)

	2015		2014		2013
Comprehensive income, net of tax
Net income	200,832		122,815		89,206
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	27,154		(351	)	41,827
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments in associated companies	158		(5	)	2,897
Reclassification into net income of previous fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	(1,348	)	(4,504	)	2,102
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	981		(8,355	)	699
Reclassification into net income of previous fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	20,552		—		—
Other items of comprehensive (loss)/income	(136	)	(179	)	(58	)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	47,361		(13,394	)	47,467
Comprehensive income	248,193		109,421		136,673

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-4

Ship Finance International Limited

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

as of December 31, 2015 and 2014

(in thousands of $)

	2015		2014
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	70,175		50,818
Available for sale securities	199,594		73,656
Trade accounts receivable	2,057		3,253
Due from related parties	45,659		152,491
Other receivables	10,441		10,488
Inventories	5,056		6,927
Prepaid expenses and accrued income	5,790		5,075
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, current portion	37,145		37,517
Total current assets	375,917		340,225
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317		1,377,133
Newbuildings	40,149		87,567
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, long-term portion	474,298		709,014
Investment in associated companies	84,615		53,457
Loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term	387,712		346,031
Loans to related parties - others, long-term	—		79,294
Other long-term assets	27,746		8,581
Deferred charges	32,271		36,958
Financial instruments (long-term): at fair value	800		3,294
Total assets	3,064,825		3,041,554
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	208,031		182,415
Trade accounts payable	835		2,432
Due to related parties	416		1,109
Accrued expenses	12,646		18,190
Financial instruments (short-term): at fair value	—		517
Other current liabilities	17,037		9,092
Total current liabilities	238,965		213,755
Long-term liabilities
Long-term debt	1,458,445		1,550,044
Financial instruments (long-term): at fair value	113,642		106,679
Other long-term liabilities	11,963		17,584
Total liabilities	1,823,015		1,888,062
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Stockholders' equity
Share capital ($1 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2015 and 2014); (93,468,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015; 93,404,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014).	93,468		93,404
Additional paid-in capital	285,859		285,248
Contributed surplus	588,133		586,089
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,037	)	(48,240	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss – associated companies	(2,126	)	(2,284	)
Retained earnings	277,513		239,275
Total stockholders' equity	1,241,810		1,153,492
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	3,064,825		3,041,554

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-5

Ship Finance International Limited

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands of $)

	2015		2014		2013
Operating activities
Net income	200,832		122,815		89,206
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	78,080		67,393		58,436
Vessel impairment charge	42,410		11,800		—
Available for sale securities impairment charge	20,552		—		—
Amortization of deferred charges	11,613		11,271		11,305
Amortization of seller's credit	(1,904	)	(1,903	)	(1,983	)
Equity in earnings of associated companies	(33,605	)	(33,497	)	(28,200	)
Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters	(7,364	)	(23,931	)	(18,025	)
Gain on sale of investment in associated company	—		(6,055	)	—
Gain on redemption of Horizon loan notes and warrants	(44,552	)	—		—
Gain on redemption of Frontline loan notes	(28,904	)	—		—
Adjustment of derivatives to fair value recognized in net income	13,278		7,699		(7,950	)
(Gain)/loss on repurchase of bonds	(1,007	)	21		1,218
Interest receivable in form of notes	(2,182	)	(3,197	)	(2,767	)
Other, net	(1,134	)	(458	)	(1,396	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Trade accounts receivable	1,196		5,109		(4,313	)
Due from related parties	14,105		(20,634	)	49,189
Other receivables	(840	)	(9,418	)	(740	)
Inventories	(2,529	)	(320	)	(3,656	)
Prepaid expenses and accrued income	(715	)	(1,104	)	(3,236	)
Trade accounts payable	(1,572	)	(1,095	)	2,047
Accrued expenses	(5,302	)	4,358		271
Other current liabilities	7,945		3,547		718
Net cash provided by operating activities	258,401		132,401		140,124
Investing activities
Repayments from investments in direct financing and sales-type leases	35,946		43,120		51,220
Additions to newbuildings	(223,109	)	(202,333	)	(109,337	)
Purchase of vessels	(273,552	)	(192,864	)	—
Proceeds from sale of vessels and termination of charters	42,275		199,429		83,583
Proceeds from sale of investment in associated company	111,095		—		—
Proceeds from redemption of Horizon loan notes and warrants	71,681		—		—
Proceeds from redemption of Frontline loan notes	112,687		—		—
Net amounts (paid to)/received from associated companies	(62,083	)	88,585		(81,308	)
Proceeds from repayment of investment loan (included in other receivables)	—		50,000		—
Other investments and long-term assets, net	(20,722	)	(7,877	)	(18,140	)
Net cash used in investing activities	(205,782	)	(21,940	)	(73,982	)
Financing activities
Proceeds from shares issued, net of issuance costs	675		927		128,880
Payments in lieu of issuing shares for exercised share options	—		(1,196	)	(448	)
Repurchase of bonds	(23,787	)	(75,262	)	(254,132	)
Proceeds from issuance of short-term and long-term debt	595,305		733,632		705,347
Repayments of short-term and long-term debt	(435,706	)	(616,783	)	(530,186	)
Debt fees paid	(7,155	)	(7,460	)	(8,390	)
Cash dividends paid	(162,594	)	(152,142	)	(109,114	)
Net cash used in financing activities	(33,262	)	(118,284	)	(68,043	)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	19,357		(7,823	)	(1,901	)
Cash and cash equivalents at start of the year	50,818		58,641		60,542
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	70,175		50,818		58,641
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	68,215		82,524		77,630

 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-6

Ship Finance International Limited

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013

(in thousands of $, except number of shares)

	2015		2014		2013
Number of shares outstanding
At beginning of year	93,404,000		93,260,000		85,225,000
Shares issued	64,000		144,000		8,035,000
At end of year	93,468,000		93,404,000		93,260,000
Share capital
At beginning of year	93,404		93,260		85,225
Shares issued	64		144		8,035
At end of year	93,468		93,404		93,260
Additional paid-in capital
At beginning of year	285,248		285,632		144,258
Payments in lieu of issuing shares	—		(1,196	)	(448	)
Amortization of stock based compensation	—		29		220
Shares issued	611		783		120,880
Equity component of convertible bond issuance, net	—		—		20,722
At end of year	285,859		285,248		285,632
Contributed surplus
At beginning of year	586,089		581,569		561,372
Amortization of deferred equity contributions	2,044		4,520		20,197
At end of year	588,133		586,089		581,569
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
At beginning of year	(48,240	)	(34,851	)	(79,421	)
(Gain)/loss on hedging financial instruments reclassified into earnings	(1,348	)	(4,504	)	2,102
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	27,154		(351	)	41,827
Loss on available for sale securities reclassified into earnings	20,552		—		—
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	981		(8,355	)	699
Other comprehensive loss	(136	)	(179	)	(58	)
At end of year (for breakdown see below)	(1,037	)	(48,240	)	(34,851	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss – associated companies
At beginning of year	(2,284	)	(2,279	)	(5,176	)
Fair value adjustment to hedging financial instruments	158		(5	)	2,897
At end of year (consists entirely of fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments)	(2,126	)	(2,284	)	(2,279	)
Retained earnings
At beginning of year	239,275		268,602		288,510
Net income	200,832		122,815		89,206
Dividends declared	(162,594	)	(152,142	)	(109,114	)
At end of year	277,513		239,275		268,602
Total stockholders' equity	1,241,810		1,153,492		1,191,933

Accumulated other comprehensive loss	2015		2014		2013
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	(15,159	)	(40,965	)	(36,110	)
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	14,446		(7,087	)	1,268
Other items	(324	)	(188	)	(9	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,037	)	(48,240	)	(34,851	)

F-7

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

F-8

SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. GENERAL

Ship Finance International Limited ("Ship Finance" or the "Company") is an international ship and offshore asset owning and chartering company, incorporated in October 2003 in Bermuda as a Bermuda exempted company. The Company's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SFL". The Company is primarily engaged in the ownership, operation and chartering out of vessels and offshore related assets on medium and long-term charters.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 12 very large crude oil carriers ("VLCCs"), four Suezmax crude oil carriers, eight Capesize dry bulk carriers, five Supramax dry bulk carriers, seven Handysize dry bulk carriers, two Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers, 18 container vessels, two car carriers, two jack-up drilling rigs, two ultra-deepwater drilling units, six offshore supply vessels and two chemical tankers. The two ultra-deepwater drilling units and one of the jack-up drilling rigs referred to above are owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that are accounted for using the equity method (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). At December 31, 2015, the Company had also contracted to acquire two newbuilding container vessels scheduled for delivery in 2016 and two product tankers scheduled for delivery in 2017. In addition, the Company has entered into agreements to charter-in two 18,000-20,000 TEU newbuilding container vessels on a long-term bareboat basis when they are delivered from the shipyard in 2016 and 2017.

Since its incorporation in 2003 and public listing in 2004, Ship Finance has established itself as a leading international ship and offshore asset owning and chartering company, expanding both its asset and customer base.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP"). The consolidated financial statements include the assets and liabilities and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation. Where necessary, comparative figures for previous years have been reclassified to conform to changes in presentation in the current year.

Consolidation of variable interest entities

A variable interest entity is defined in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810 "Consolidation" ("ASC 810") as a legal entity where either (a) the total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated support; (b) equity interest holders as a group lack either i) the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact on its economic success, ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the voting rights of some investors in the entity are not proportional to their economic interests and the activities of the entity involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with a disproportionately small voting interest.

ASC 810 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, being the interest holder, if any, which has both (1) the power to direct the activities of the entity which most significantly impact on the entity's economic performance, and (2) the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses from the entity which could potentially be significant to the entity.

We evaluate our subsidiaries, and any other entities in which we hold a variable interest, in order to determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of the entity, and where it is determined that we are the primary beneficiary we fully consolidate the entity.

F-9

Investments in associated companies

Investments in companies over which the Company exercises significant influence but which it does not consolidate are accounted for using the equity method. The Company records its investments in equity-method investees on the consolidated balance sheets as "Investment in associated companies" and its share of the investees' earnings or losses in the consolidated statements of operations as "Equity in earnings of associated companies." At December 31, 2015, two ultra-deepwater drilling units and one jack-up drilling rig are owned by three wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of accounting estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign currencies

The Company's functional currency is the U.S. dollar as the majority of revenues are received in U.S. dollars and the majority of the Company's expenditures are made in U.S. dollars. The Company's reporting currency is also the U.S. dollar. Most of the Company's subsidiaries report in U.S. dollars. Transactions in foreign currencies during the year are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at the date of the transaction. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated using rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Foreign currency non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated using historical rates of exchange. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are included under "Other financial items" in the consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue and expense recognition

Revenues and expenses are recognized on the accrual basis.

The Company generates its revenues from the charter hire of its vessels and offshore related assets, and freight billings. Revenues are generated from time charter hire, bareboat charter hire, direct financing lease interest income, sales-type lease interest income, finance lease service revenues, profit sharing arrangements and freight billings, where contracts exist, the charter and voyage rates are predetermined, service is provided and the collection of the revenue is reasonably assured.

Each charter agreement is evaluated and classified as an operating or a capital lease. Rental receipts from operating leases are recognized in income as it is earned ratably on a straight line basis over the duration of the period of each charter as adjusted for off-hire days.

Rental payments from capital leases, which are either direct financing leases or sales-type leases, are allocated between lease service revenue, if applicable, lease interest income and repayment of net investment in leases. The amount allocated to lease service revenue is based on the estimated fair value, at the time of entering the lease agreement, of the services provided which consist of ship management and operating services.

Voyage revenues are recognized ratably over the estimated length of each voyage, and accordingly are allocated between reporting periods based on the relative transit time in each period. Voyage expenses are recognized as incurred. Probable losses on voyages are provided for in full at the time such losses can be estimated.

Vessel operating expenses are expensed as incurred. Under a time charter, specified voyage costs such as fuel and port charges are paid by the charterer and other non-specified voyage expenses, such as commissions, are paid by the Company. Vessel operating costs include crews, voyage costs not applicable to the charterer, maintenance and insurance and are paid by the Company. Under a bareboat charter, the charterer assumes responsibility for all voyage and vessel operating costs and risks of operation. If payment is received in advance from charterers, it is recorded as deferred charter revenue and recognized as revenue over the period to which it relates.

Amounts receivable from profit sharing arrangements with Frontline Shipping Limited ("Frontline Shipping") and Frontline Shipping II Limited ("Frontline Shipping II"), which are related parties, are accrued based on amounts earned at the reporting date. Such profit share income has two elements:

F-10

- 50% profit sharing: From January 1, 2012, up to and including June 30, 2015, the charter agreements with Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II included provisions whereby they were to pay the Company profit sharing of 25% of their earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis from their use of the Company's fleet above average threshold charter rates each fiscal year. In December 2011, the Company received a $106 million compensation payment from Frontline Ltd. ("Frontline"), of which $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to this 25% profit sharing agreement. The amendments to the charter agreements made on June 5, 2015, increased the profit sharing percentage to 50% for earnings above new threshold levels from July 1, 2015, onwards. The Company did not recognize any income under the 25% profit sharing agreement, as the cumulative share of earnings did not attain the starting level of $50 million over the three and a half years of the agreement's duration. The new 50% profit sharing agreement is not subject to any such constraints.

- Cash sweep: The charter agreements effective from January 1, 2012, were essentially the continuation of previous agreements amended to temporarily reduce the time-charter rates by $6,500 per day for the four year period commencing January 1, 2012. The agreements additionally provided that during the four year period Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II would pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day per vessel.

As detailed in Note 23: "Related party transactions"; the Company also has profit sharing arrangements with related parties Golden Ocean Group Limited ("Golden Ocean") and United Freight Carriers ("UFC"). Amounts receivable under these arrangements are accrued on the basis of amounts earned at the reporting date.

All contingent elements of rental income, such as profit share, cash sweep and interest rate adjustments, are recognized when the contingent conditions have materialized.

Cash and cash equivalents

For the purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, all demand and time deposits and highly liquid, low risk investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered equivalent to cash.

Available for sale securities

Available for sale securities held by the Company consist of share investments and interest-earning listed and unlisted corporate bonds. It is expected that corporate bonds will be held to maturity or redemption, and any premium paid on their acquisition is amortized over the life of the bond. Available for sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income. If circumstances arise which lead the Company to believe that the issuer of a corporate bond may be unable meet its payment obligations in full, or that the fair value at acquisition of the share investment or corporate bond may otherwise not be fully recoverable, then to the extent that a loss is expected to arise that unrealized loss is recorded as an impairment in the statement of operations, with an adjustment if necessary to any unrealized gains or losses previously recorded in other comprehensive income.

The fair value of unlisted corporate bonds is determined from an analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the bonds, credit ratings and default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market.

Trade accounts receivable

The amount shown as trade accounts receivable at each balance sheet date includes receivables due from customers for hire of vessels and offshore related assets, net of allowance for doubtful balances. At each balance sheet date, all potentially uncollectable accounts are assessed individually to determine any allowance for doubtful receivables. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, no provision was made for doubtful receivables.

Inventories

Inventories are comprised principally of fuel and lubricating oils and are stated at the lower of cost and market value. Cost is determined on a first-in first-out basis.

F-11

Vessels and equipment (including operating lease assets)

Vessels and equipment are recorded at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and, if appropriate, impairment charges. The cost of these assets less estimated residual value is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated remaining economic useful life of the asset. The estimated economic useful life of our offshore assets, including drilling rigs and drillships, is 30 years and for all other vessels it is 25 years. 

Where an asset is subject to an operating lease that includes fixed price purchase options, the projected net book value of the asset is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net book value at an option date, the initial depreciation schedule is amended so that the carrying value of the asset is written down on a straight line basis to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to amortize the remaining carrying value, on a straight line basis, to the estimated scrap value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

This accounting policy for fixed assets has the effect that if an option is exercised there will be either a) no gain or loss on the sale of the asset or b) in the event that the option is exercised at a price in excess of the net book value at the option date, a gain will be reported in the statement of operations at the date of delivery to the new owners, under the heading "gain on sale of assets and termination of charters".

Office equipment is depreciated at 20% per annum on a reducing balance basis.

Newbuildings

The carrying value of vessels under construction ("newbuildings") represents the accumulated costs to the balance sheet date which the Company has paid by way of purchase installments and other capital expenditures together with capitalized loan interest and associated finance costs. No charge for depreciation is made until a newbuilding is put into operation.

Capitalized interest

Interest expense is capitalized during the period of construction of newbuilding vessels based on accumulated expenditures for the applicable vessel at the Company's capitalization rate of interest. The amount of interest capitalized in an accounting period is determined by applying an interest rate ("the capitalization rate") to the average amount of accumulated expenditures for the vessel during the period. The capitalization rate used in an accounting period is based on the rates applicable to borrowings outstanding during the period. The Company does not capitalize amounts in excess of actual interest expense incurred in the period.

Investment in Capital Leases

Leases (charters) of our vessels where we are the lessor are classified as either capital leases or operating leases, based on an assessment of the terms of the lease. For charters classified as capital leases, the minimum lease payments (reduced in the case of time-chartered vessels by projected vessel operating costs) plus the estimated residual value of the vessel are recorded as the gross investment in the capital lease.

For capital leases that are direct financing leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the carrying value of the vessel is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The net investment in the lease consists of the gross investment less the unearned income. Over the period of the lease each charter payment received, net of vessel operating costs if applicable, is allocated between "lease interest income" and "repayment of investment in lease" in such a way as to produce a constant percentage rate of return on the balance of the net investment in the direct financing lease. Thus, as the balance of the net investment in each direct financing lease decreases, a lower proportion of each lease payment received is allocated to lease interest income and a greater proportion is allocated to lease repayment. For direct financing leases relating to time chartered vessels, the portion of each time charter payment received that relates to vessel operating costs is classified as "lease service revenue".

F-12

For capital leases that are sales-type leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the present value of its components, i.e. the minimum lease payments and the estimated residual value, is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The discount rate used in determining the present values is the interest rate implicit in the lease. The present value of the minimum lease payments, computed using the interest rate implicit in the lease, is recorded as the sales price, from which the carrying value of the vessel at the commencement of the lease is deducted in order to determine the profit or loss on sale. As is the case for direct financing leases, the unearned lease interest income is amortized to income over the period of the lease so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the lease.

Where a capital lease relates to a charter arrangement containing fixed price purchase options, the projected carrying value of the net investment in the lease is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net investment in the lease at an option date, the rate of amortization of unearned lease interest income is adjusted to reduce the net investment to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to reduce the net investment in the lease to the un-guaranteed residual value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

This accounting policy for investments in capital leases has the effect that if an option is exercised there will either be a) no gain or loss on the exercise of the option or b) in the event that an option is exercised at a price in excess of the net investment in the lease at the option date, a gain will be reported in the statement of operations at the date of delivery to the new owners.

If the terms of an existing lease are agreed to be amended, other than by renewing the lease or extending its term, in a manner that would have resulted in a different classification of the lease had such amended terms been in effect at the lease inception, the amended lease agreement shall be considered to be a new lease agreement over the remainder of its term. If the terms of a capital lease are amended in a way that does not result in it being treated as a new operating lease agreement, the remaining minimum lease payments and, if appropriate, the estimated residual value will be amended to reflect the revised terms, with a corresponding increase or decrease in unearned income.

Other Long-Term Investments

Other long-term investments are measured at fair value using the best available value indicators, and are included in "Other long-term assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company currently has one long-term investment, consisting of shares in a container vessel owner/operator which are not publicly traded, and the best estimate available for the valuation of this investment is the cost basis. When using this basis of valuation, the Company carries out regular reviews for possible impairment adjustments. Following such a review, an impairment adjustment of $2.9 million was made to the carrying value of this asset in 2012, reducing its carrying value to $nil (December 31, 2015: $nil; December 31, 2014: $nil).

At December 31, 2014, the Company had another long-term investment consisting of warrants to purchase shares in a U.S. company, which were received in 2012, together with other assets, as part of the consideration for the Company agreeing to terminate certain long-term charter agreements. Although shares in the U.S. company were traded on the over-the-counter market, the warrants were not listed. The Company considered that the best method of establishing the fair value of these warrants was to calculate their value in relation to the current market price of the underlying shares, taking into account the terms, restrictions and other features of the warrants, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of the issuing company, trading characteristics of the issuing company's shares, and actual sale transactions of comparable securities completed in secondary markets. The Company carried out regular reviews of the value of this investment, and adjusted the carrying value accordingly. In 2012, the Company concluded that the initial value of the warrants may not be recoverable and recorded an impairment charge of $0.5 million, reducing the carrying value to $1.2 million (December 31, 2014: $1.2 million). The Company sold this long-term investment in May 2015 (see Note 9: Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other).

Deemed Equity Contributions

The Company has accounted for the acquisition of vessels from Frontline at Frontline's historical carrying value. The difference between the historical carrying value and the net investment in each lease was recorded as a deferred deemed equity contribution. These deferred deemed equity contributions were presented as a reduction in the net investment in direct financing leases in the balance sheet, due to the related party nature of both the transfer of the vessels and the subsequent direct financing leases. The deferred deemed equity contributions were amortized as credits to contributed surplus over the life of the lease arrangements, as lease payments were applied to the principal balance of each lease receivable. Amendments were made to the charter agreements on June 5, 2015, reducing daily lease payments from July 1, 2015, onwards. In the course of re-stating the amended leases, it was concluded that amortization of the deferred deemed equity contributions is no longer appropriate and these items are now incorporated into the revised lease schedules.

F-13

Impairment of long-lived assets, including other long-term investments

The carrying value of long-lived assets, including other long-term investments, that are held by the Company are reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For vessels, such indicators may include historically low spot charter rates and second hand vessel values. The Company assesses recoverability of the carrying value of the asset by estimating the future net cash flows expected to result from the asset, including eventual disposition, taking into account the possibility of any existing medium and long-term charter arrangements being terminated early. If the future expected net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the carrying value of the asset and its fair value. In addition, long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less estimated costs to sell. The Company carried out a review of the carrying value of its vessels, drilling rigs and long-term investments in the year ended December 31, 2015, and concluded that the carrying values of two container vessels and two off-shore supply vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against those assets. In the year ended December 31, 2014, reviews of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that the carrying value of five container vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against those assets, which were sold in 2015. No impairment loss was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2013.

Deferred charges

Loan costs, including debt arrangement fees, are capitalized and amortized on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant loan. The straight line basis of amortization approximates the effective interest method in the Company's statement of operations. Amortization of loan costs is included in interest expense. If a loan is repaid early, any unamortized portion of the related deferred charges is charged against income in the period in which the loan is repaid. Similarly, if a portion of a loan is repaid early, the corresponding portion of the unamortized related deferred charges is charged against income in the period in which the early repayment is made.

Convertible bonds

The Company accounts for debt instruments with convertible features in accordance with the details and substance of the instruments at the time of their issuance. For convertible debt instruments issued at a substantial premium to equivalent instruments without conversion features, or those that may be settled in cash upon conversion, it is presumed that the premium or cash conversion option represents an equity component. Accordingly, the Company determines the carrying amounts of the liability and equity components of such convertible debt instruments by first determining the carrying amount of the liability component by measuring the fair value of a similar liability that does not have an equity component. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the embedded conversion option is then determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the total proceeds from the issue. The resulting equity component is recorded, with a corresponding offset to debt discount which is subsequently amortized to interest cost using the effective interest method over the period the debt is expected to be outstanding as an additional non-cash interest expense. Transaction costs associated with the instrument are allocated pro-rata between the debt and equity components.

For conventional convertible bonds which do not have a cash conversion option or where no substantial premium is received on issuance, it may not be appropriate to split the bond into the liability and equity components.

Derivatives

Interest rate and currency swaps

The Company enters into interest rate swap transactions from time to time to hedge a portion of its exposure to floating interest rates. These transactions involve the conversion of floating interest rates into fixed rates over the life of the transactions without an exchange of underlying principal. The Company also enters into currency swap transactions from time to time to hedge against the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on loan liabilities. Currency swap transactions involve the exchange of fixed amounts of other currencies for fixed US dollar amounts over the life of the transactions, including an exchange of underlying principal. The Company may also enter into a combination of interest and currency swaps "cross currency interest rate swaps". The fair values of the interest rate and currency swap contracts, including cross currency interest rate swaps, are recognized as assets or liabilities, and for certain of the Company's swaps the changes in fair values are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. When the interest rate and/or currency swap or combination, qualifies for hedge accounting under ASC Topic 815 "Derivatives and Hedging" ("ASC 815"), and the Company has formally designated the swap as a hedge to the underlying loan, and when the hedge is effective, the changes in the fair value of the swap are recognized in other comprehensive income. If it becomes probable that the hedged forecasted transaction to which these swaps relate will not occur, the amounts in other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings immediately.

F-14

Financial Instruments

In determining the fair value of its financial instruments, the Company uses a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments, including most derivatives and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as options pricing models are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

Drydocking provisions

Normal vessel repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense when incurred. The Company recognizes the cost of a drydocking at the time the drydocking takes place, that is, it applies the "expense as incurred" method.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed based on the income available to common stockholders and the weighted average number of shares outstanding for basic EPS. Diluted EPS includes the effect of the assumed conversion of potentially dilutive instruments.

Share-based compensation

The Company accounts for share-based payments in accordance with ASC Topic 718 "Compensation – Stock Compensation" ("ASC 718"), under which the fair value of stock options issued to employees is expensed over the period in which the options vest. The Company uses the simplified method for making estimates of the expected term of stock options.

3. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" in order to ensure that revenue recognition requirements are the same under both US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). ASU 2014-09 removes inconsistencies and provides a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues. ASU 2014-09 was effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 "Deferral of the Effective Date" to delay the implementation of ASU 2014-09 by one year, in response to feedback from preparers, practitioners and users of financial statements. Accordingly, ASU 2014-09 is now effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for reporting and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16 "Derivatives and Hedging" in order to standardize the determination of whether the host contract in a hybrid financial instrument issued in the form of a share is more akin to debt or to equity. ASU 2014-16 requires that all terms and features of the hybrid instrument, including the embedded derivative feature itself, must be taken into account when establishing separate accounting for the embedded derivative. ASU 2014-16 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December15, 2015. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-16 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" in order to clarify the basis for consolidation of certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. Specifically, ASU 2015-02 (i) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities, (ii) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (iii) affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships, and (iv) provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” to simplify presentation of debt issuance costs. The amendments in this update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this update. ASU 2015-03 is effective for public entities with reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 "Interest - Imputation of Interest" to address the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, which were not specifically addressed in ASU 2015-03. The Company believes that the implementation of this update will only affect the presentation of debt issuance costs which will be shown as a direct deduction of the related debt instead of under non-current assets in the accompanying balance sheets.

In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-10 "Technical Corrections and Improvements" to clarify and make minor improvements to the Codification and correct unintended application of guidance. The FASB does not expect the numerous amendments to have a significant effect on accounting practice. ASU 2015-10 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 31, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" to reduce the complexity and cost of the subsequent measurement of inventory, in particular when using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost methods. The provisions of ASU 2015-11 specifically exclude inventory that is measured using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. Entities should measure inventory within the scope of ASU 2015-11 at the lower of cost and net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. ASU 2016-01 particularly relates to the fair value and impairment of equity investments, financial instruments measured at amortized cost, and the use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is only permitted for certain particular amendments within ASU 2016-01, where financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-01 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 "Leases" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 creates a new Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 "Leases" to replace the previous Topic 840 "Leases." ASU 2016-02 affects both lessees and lessors, although for the latter the provisions are similar to the previous model, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and also the new revenue recognition provisions contained in ASU 2014-09 (see above). ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07 "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures" to simplify the transition to the equity method of accounting. ASU 2016-07 eliminates the requirement that when an investment qualifies for the use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership, the investor must adjust the investment, results of operations and retained earnings retrospectively as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods in which the investment had been held. ASU 2016-07 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

4. SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company has only one reportable segment. The Company's assets operate on a world-wide basis and the Company's management does not evaluate performance by geographical region or by asset type, as they believe that any such information would not be meaningful.

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5. TAXATION

Bermuda

Under current Bermudan law, the Company is not required to pay taxes in Bermuda on either income or capital gains. The Company has received written assurance from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda that, in the event of any such taxes being imposed, the Company will be exempted from taxation until the year 2035.

United States

The Company does not accrue U.S. income taxes as, in the opinion of U.S. counsel, the Company is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business and is exempted from a gross basis tax under Section 883 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

A reconciliation between the income tax expense resulting from applying statutory income tax rates and the reported income tax expense has not been presented herein, as it would not provide additional useful information to users of the financial statements as the Company's net income is subject to neither Bermuda nor U.S. tax.

Other Jurisdictions

Certain of the Company's subsidiaries and branches in Norway and the United Kingdom are subject to income tax in their respective jurisdictions. The tax paid by subsidiaries of the Company that are subject to income tax is not material.

6. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The computation of basic EPS is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year and the consolidated net income of the Company. Diluted EPS includes the effect of the assumed conversion of potentially dilutive instruments.

The components of the numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands of $)	2015	2014	2013
Basic:
Net income available to stockholders	200,832	122,815	89,206
Diluted:
Net income available to stockholders	200,832	122,815	89,206
Interest paid on 3.75% convertible bonds	5,078	5,060	5,092
Interest paid on 3.25% convertible bonds	17,371	17,371	—
	223,281	145,246	94,298

The components of the denominator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands)	2015	2014	2013
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Effect of dilutive share options	23	84	163
Effect of dilutive convertible debt	25,535	23,332	5,753
	119,008	116,747	95,424

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The 3.25% convertible bonds issued in January 2013 were not dilutive at December 31, 2013.

7. OPERATING LEASES

Rental income

The minimum future revenues to be received under the Company's non-cancelable operating leases on its vessels as of December 31, 2015, are as follows: 

(in thousands of $)
Year ending December 31,
2016	263,340
2017	252,799
2018	211,819
2019	175,756
2020	147,902
Thereafter	293,855
Total minimum lease revenues	1,345,471

The cost and accumulated depreciation of vessels leased to third parties on operating leases at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Cost	1,964,852	1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133

An impairment charge of $29.2 million was recorded against the carrying value of two container vessels in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $11.8 million).

8. GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS

The Company has recorded gains on sale of assets and termination of charters as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands)	2015	2014		2013
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	7,364	(1,384	)	18,025
Gain on termination of charters	—	25,315		—
Total gain on sale of assets and termination of charters	7,364	23,931		18,025

The Company distinguishes between gains on termination of charters, where ownership of the underlying vessel is retained, and gains on sale of assets, where the vessel is disposed of and there may be an associated charter termination fee paid or received for early termination of the underlying charter.

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Gain on sale of vessels

The container vessels SFL Eagle, SFL Tiger, SFL Hunter, SFL Hawk and SFL Falcon were operating lease assets, secured against a $210 million loan facility for which Ship Finance International Limited provided an indirect limited performance guarantee. In January 2015, the guarantee became exhausted and in February 2015 the Company signed an agreement with the lenders under the loan facility whereby ownership of the vessels together with associated working capital was transferred to unrelated third parties, and Ship Finance International Limited and its subsidiaries ceased to have any further interest in the vessels or obligations under the loan facility (see Note 19: Long-term debt). An impairment charge of $11.8 million had been recorded against the carrying value of these vessels in the fourth quarter of 2014, and an aggregate loss of $114,000 was recorded on their disposal in February 2015.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Suezmax tankers Front Glory, Front Splendour and Mindanao, which were accounted for as direct financing lease assets, were sold to unrelated third parties in September 2015, October 2015 and December 2015, respectively. Gains of $3.4 million, $2.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, were recorded on their disposal, after deducting compensation paid for early termination of the charters (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

The aggregate net gain on sale of vessels in the year ended December 31, 2015, was $7.4 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company sold three VLCCs to unrelated parties and realized losses of $1.4 million on their disposal.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company sold one oil/bulk/ore carrier ("OBO"), one single-hull VLCC, two double-hull VLCCs and one Suezmax tanker to unrelated parties and realized gains of $18.0 million on their disposal.

Gain on termination of charters

In September 2010, the Company agreed five year time-charters at a net rate of approximately $14,000 per day per vessel for four 34,000 dwt Handysize dry bulk carriers, which were under construction at the time. The vessels were delivered from the shipyard in the second half of 2011 and the first half of 2012, and duly commenced the agreed time-charters. In July 2012, however, the charterer stopped paying the agreed charter hire and the vessels were returned to the Company. Proceedings were initiated against the charterer to recover unpaid charter hire and the matter was settled in the year ended December 31, 2014. A gain on termination of charters amounting to $25.3 million was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2014, net of legal and other costs.

9. GAIN ON SALE OF LOAN NOTES AND SHARE WARRANTS - OTHER

In May 2015, the Company sold its holding of loan notes in Horizon Lines, LLC and share warrants in Horizon Lines, Inc. for total net cash proceeds of approximately $71.7 million. These unlisted second lien interest-bearing loan notes and share warrants had been received as compensation on termination of charters to Horizon Lines, LLC in April 2012. At the time of disposal, the notes had a carrying value of approximately $25.9 million (December 31, 2014: $23.7 million) and the warrants had a carrying value of approximately $1.2 million (December 31, 2014: $1.2 million), resulting in a total gain of $44.6 million on disposal.

10. OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS

Other financial items comprise the following items: 

F-19

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands of $)	2015		2014		2013
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of non-designated derivatives	(13,051	)	(7,636	)	7,726
Net cash payments on non-designated derivatives	(6,453	)	(7,196	)	(2,653	)
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of designated derivatives (ineffective portion)	(227	)	(63	)	224
Other items	(1,558	)	(1,337	)	(3,294	)
Total other financial items	(21,289	)	(16,232	)	2,003

The net movement in the fair values of non-designated derivatives and net cash payments thereon relate to non-designated, terminated or de-designated interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps. The net movement in the fair values of designated derivatives relates to the ineffective portion of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps that have been designated as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair values of the effective portion of interest rate swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges are reported under "Other comprehensive income". The above net increase/ (decrease) in valuation of non-designated derivatives in the year ended December 31, 2015, includes $(1.3) million (2014: $(4.5) million; 2013: $2.1 million) reclassified from "Other comprehensive income", as a result of certain interest rate swaps relating to loan facilities no longer being designated as cash flow hedges.

Other items in the year ended December 31, 2015, include a net gain of $53,000 arising from foreign currency translation (2014: $109,000; 2013: $507,000). Other items also include bank charges and fees relating to loan facilities.

11. AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES

Marketable securities held by the Company are debt securities and share investments considered to be available-for-sale securities.  

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Amortized cost	185,148	80,743
Accumulated net unrealized (loss)/gain	14,446	(7,087	)
Carrying value	199,594	73,656

The Company's investment in marketable securities consists of investments in listed shares and secured notes which mature in 2019. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income. The net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities included in other comprehensive income as at December 31, 2015, was $14.4 million (2014: net unrealized loss $7.1 million).

The investment in listed shares at December 31, 2015, consists of shares in Frontline with a carrying value of $164.5 million (2014: $nil) (see Note 23: Related party transactions, and Note 16: Investment in associated companies).

The investment in secured notes at December 31, 2015, consists of listed and unlisted corporate bonds with a total carrying value of $35.1 million (2014: $49.9 million). In December 2015, the Company determined that the bonds were other than temporarily impaired and recorded an impairment charge of $20.6 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil), reducing their amortized cost to fair value at December 31, 2015.

The above available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2014, also included unlisted second lien interest-bearing loan notes with carrying value $23.7 million. These loan notes included accumulated interest receivable, had a total face value of $59.4 million, and were issued by Horizon Lines, LLC as part of compensation received on termination of charters. The Company sold these loan notes in May, 2015 (see Note 9: Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other).

F-20

12. TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade accounts receivable

Trade accounts receivable are presented net of allowances for doubtful debts. The allowance for doubtful trade accounts receivable was $nil at both December 31, 2015 and 2014. As at December 31, 2015, the Company has no reason to believe that any amount included in trade accounts receivable will not be recovered through due process or negotiation.

Other receivables

Other receivables are presented with no allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

13. VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Cost	1,964,852	1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133

During 2015, the Company took delivery of eight second-hand dry bulk carriers at an aggregate cost of $272.0 million and three newbuilding container vessels at an aggregate cost of $270.7 million. During 2014, the Company took delivery of two second-hand dry bulk carriers at an aggregate cost of $61.8 million, nine second-hand container vessels at an aggregate cost of $127.9 million and two newbuilding container vessels at an aggregate cost of $173.8 million.

An impairment charge of $29.2 million was recorded against the carrying value of two container vessels in the year ended December 31, 2015. In the year ended December 31, 2014, an impairment charge of $11.8 million was recorded against the carrying value of five container vessels, which were all disposed of in February 2015 (see Note 8: Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters).

Depreciation expense was $78.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $67.4 million; 2013: $58.4 million).

14. NEWBUILDINGS

The carrying value of newbuildings represents the accumulated costs which the Company has paid in purchase installments and other capital expenditures relating to the acquisition of newbuilding vessels, together with capitalized loan interest. Interest capitalized in the cost of newbuildings amounted to $404,000 in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $290,000; 2013: $257,000).

As at December 31, 2015, the Company had agreements for the delivery of four newbuilding vessels (2014: two newbuilding vessels); two for container vessels and two for oil product carriers (2014: two container vessels), with accumulated costs of $40.1 million (2014: $87.6 million). During the year ended December 31, 2015, agreements were entered into for the acquisition of three newbuilding container vessels and two newbuilding oil product tankers, while three newbuilding container vessels were delivered.

15. INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES

As at December 31, 2015, 14 of the Company's VLCCs and Suezmaxes were chartered to Frontline Shipping on long-term, fixed rate time charters which extend for various periods depending on the age of the vessels, ranging from approximately four to eleven years. Frontline Shipping is a subsidiary of Frontline, a related party, and the terms of the charters do not provide them with an option to terminate the charter before the end of its term.

F-21

Additionally, one of the Company's offshore supply vessels is chartered on a long-term bareboat charter to DESS Cyprus Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply Plc. ("Deep Sea"), a related party. Another of the Company's offshore supply vessels is chartered on a long-term bareboat charter to Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG AS ("Deep Sea Supply BTG"), which is a joint venture owned 50% by Deep Sea and 50% by BTG Pactual Oil & Gas Empreendimentos e Particapacoes S.A. ("BTG Pactual"). The terms of the charters provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessels at certain dates throughout the charters, which expire in 2020.

The above 16 of the Company's assets were accounted for as direct financing leases at December 31, 2015 (2014: 19), all of which are leased to related parties.

The following lists the components of the investments in direct financing leases as at December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014: 

(in thousands of $)	2015		2014
Total minimum lease payments to be received	825,460		1,174,327
Less: amounts representing estimated executory costs including profit thereon, included in total minimum lease payments	(362,959	)	(330,056	)
Net minimum lease payments receivable	462,501		844,271
Estimated residual values of leased property (un-guaranteed)	195,238		239,002
Less: unearned income	(146,296	)	(243,419	)
	511,443		839,854
Less: deferred deemed equity contribution	—		(86,585	)
Less: unamortized gains	—		(6,738	)
Total investment in direct financing and sales-type  leases	511,443		746,531
Current portion	37,145		37,517
Long-term portion	474,298		709,014
	511,443		746,531

On June 5, 2015, amendments were made to the charter agreements with Frontline Shipping, which related to 12 VLCCs and five Suezmax tankers accounted for as direct financing leases. Three of the Suezmax tankers have since been sold. The amendments, which are presented in more detail in Note 23: Related party transactions, resulted in a reduction in minimum lease payments to be received and an increase in executory costs from July 1, 2015, onwards. These amendments, together with the $150.2 million fair value of Frontline shares received as compensation, are reflected in the above position as at December 31, 2015. Under the provisions of ASC Topic 840 “Leases”, the modifications to the lease agreements do not constitute new leases. In the course of re-stating the amended leases, it was concluded that the amortization of the deferred deemed equity contribution and other gains is no longer appropriate, and these items are now incorporated into the revised lease schedules.

An impairment charge of $13.2 million was recorded against the carrying value of the two offshore supply vessels accounted for as direct financing lease assets in the year ended December 31, 2015. One of these vessels was sold in February 2016 (see Note 27: Subsequent events).

The minimum future gross revenues to be received under the Company's non-cancellable direct financing leases as of December 31, 2015, are as follows:

(in thousands of $) Year ending December 31,
2016	109,340
2017	109,042
2018	109,042
2019	109,042
2020	96,410
Thereafter	292,584
Total minimum lease revenues	825,460

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16. INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

The Company has certain wholly-owned subsidiaries which are accounted for using the equity method, as it has been determined under ASC 810 that they are variable interest entities in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

In addition, on June 5, 2015, the Company received 55 million shares in Frontline, equivalent to approximately 27.73% of Frontline's issued share capital at the time (see Note 23: Related party transactions). Frontline, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Oslo Stock Exchange and reports its operating results on a quarterly basis, was determined to be an associated company following receipt of these shares. On November 30, 2015, Frontline merged with Frontline 2012 Ltd ("Frontline 2012"). and increased its issued share capital, thereby reducing the Company's shareholding in Frontline to approximately 7.03%. Accordingly, Frontline was assessed as no longer being an associated company and the Frontline shares are now held as available for sale securities (see Note 11: Available for sale securities). The Company's share of the net income of Frontline, in the period of the year ended December 31, 2015, during which it was an associated company accounted for using the equity method, was $2.6 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil). The Company also received a dividend of $2.8 million from Frontline in December 2015, which was recorded against the carrying value of this investment.

At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company had the following participation in investments that are recorded using the equity method:

	2015		2014		2013
SFL West Polaris Limited	—		—		100.00	%
SFL Deepwater Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
SFL Hercules Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
SFL Linus Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
Bluelot Shipping Company Limited	—		—		100.00	%
SFL Corte Real Limited	—		—		100.00	%

The determination that Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary of SFL Deepwater Ltd. ("SFL Deepwater"), SFL Hercules Ltd. ("SFL Hercules"), and SFL Linus Ltd. ("SFL Linus") is due to these subsidiaries each owning assets on which the underlying leases include both fixed price call options and fixed price put options or purchase obligations.

The determination that Ship Finance was not the primary beneficiary of SFL West Polaris Limited ("SFL West Polaris") was similarly due to this subsidiary owning an asset on which the underlying lease included both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option. Following the exercise of a purchase option, SFL West Polaris was sold in December 2014 (see below).

The determination that Ship Finance was not the primary beneficiary of Bluelot Shipping Company Limited ("Bluelot") and SFL Corte Real Limited ("Corte Real") was due to these subsidiaries, which did not own vessels, each having been incorporated specifically to participate in a three-party lease agreement, which could be effectively terminated by one of the other parties (see below). The three-party lease agreements were terminated in the first quarter of 2014.

SFL West Polaris was a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2008 for the purpose of holding an ultra deepwater drillship and leasing that vessel to Seadrill Polaris Ltd. ("Seadrill Polaris"), fully guaranteed by its parent company Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill"), a related party. The vessel was chartered on a bareboat basis and the terms of the charter provided the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessel at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, SFL West Polaris had a put option to sell the vessel to Seadrill Polaris at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expired in 2023. Because the main asset of SFL West Polaris was the subject of a lease which included both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option, it was determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance was a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance was not the primary beneficiary. In December 2014, the parent company of the charterer advised the Company of its intention to exercise a purchase option, and the transaction was effected on December 30, 2014 as a sale of SFL West Polaris. The Company recorded a gain of $6.1 million on the sale, which was recorded as "Gain on sale of investment in associated company". In December 2012, SFL West Polaris entered into a $420 millionfive year term loan and revolving credit facility, which was used in January

F-23

2013 to refinance the previous facility established in 2008. Although SFL West Polaris ceased to be a subsidiary in December 2014, the Company guaranteed $88.0 million of this debt until June 19, 2015, when the guarantee obligation was released.

SFL Deepwater is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2008 for the purpose of holding two ultra deepwater drilling rigs and leasing those rigs to Seadrill Deepwater Charterer Ltd. and Seadrill Offshore AS, fully guaranteed by their parent company Seadrill. In June 2013, SFL Deepwater transferred one of the rigs and the corresponding lease to SFL Hercules (see below). Accordingly, SFL Deepwater now holds one ultra deepwater drilling rig which is leased to Seadrill Deepwater Charterer Ltd. In October 2013, SFL Deepwater entered into a $390 millionfive year term loan and revolving credit facility, which was used in November 2013 to refinance the previous loan facility. At December 31, 2015, the balance outstanding under the new facility was $221.1 million (2014: $303.3 million), and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50.0 million (2014: $nil). The Company guaranteed $80.0 million of this debt at December 31, 2015 (2014: $85.0 million). The rig is chartered on a bareboat basis and the terms of the charter provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the rig at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, there is an obligation for the charterer to purchase the rig at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expires in 2023. Because the main asset of SFL Deepwater is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price purchase obligation, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

SFL Hercules is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2012 for the purpose of holding an ultra deepwater drilling rig and leasing that rig to Seadrill Offshore AS, fully guaranteed by its parent company Seadrill. The rig was transferred, together with the corresponding lease, to SFL Hercules from SFL Deepwater in June 2013. In May 2013, SFL Hercules entered into a $375 millionsix year term loan and revolving credit facility to partly finance its acquisition of the rig from SFL Deepwater. The facility was drawn in June 2013, and at December 31, 2015, the balance outstanding under this facility was $256.3 million (2014: $283.7 million). At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50.0 million (2014: $50.0 million). The Company guaranteed $80.0 million of this debt at December 31, 2015 (2014: $85.0 million). Because the main asset of SFL Hercules is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price purchase obligation at the end of the charter, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

SFL Linus is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, acquired in 2013 from North Atlantic Drilling Ltd ("NADL"), a related party. SFL Linus holds a harsh environment jack-up drilling rig which was delivered from the ship yard in February 2014 and immediately leased to North Atlantic Linus Charterer Ltd., fully guaranteed by its parent company NADL. In October 2013, SFL Linus entered into a $475 millionfive year term loan and revolving credit facility to partly finance the acquisition of the rig. The facility was drawn in February 2014, and at December 31, 2015, the balance outstanding under this facility was $353.8 million (2014: $451.3 million). At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50.0 million (2014: $nil). The Company guaranteed $90.0 million of this debt at December 31, 2015 (2014: $90.0 million). In February 2015, amendments were made to the lease, whereby Seadrill replaced NADL as lease guarantor. Because the main asset of SFL Linus is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

Bluelot and Corte Real are 100% owned subsidiaries of Ship Finance, each incorporated in 2010 for the purpose of leasing in a 13,800 twenty-foot equivalent units ("TEU") container vessel on a bareboat charter basis, respectively the CMA CGM Magellan and the CMA CGM Corte Real, and leasing the vessel out on a time-charter basis to CMA CGM. In November and December 2013, CMA CGM exercised its options to acquire the two vessel-owning entities, and the charter agreements were terminated in January and March 2014, respectively. The business activities of Bluelot and Corte Real were discontinued upon the re-delivery of their vessels, since when they have been fully consolidated.

F-24

Summarized balance sheet information of the Company's equity method investees is as follows:

	As of December 31, 2015
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Current assets	120,251	33,735	—	38,936	47,580	—	—
Non-current assets	1,212,302	366,893	—	362,419	482,990	—	—
Total assets	1,332,553	400,628	—	401,355	530,570	—	—
Current liabilities	128,455	25,221	—	28,624	74,610	—	—
Non-current liabilities (1)	1,119,483	335,881	—	354,025	429,577	—	—
Total liabilities	1,247,938	361,102	—	382,649	504,187	—	—
Total shareholders' equity	84,615	39,526	—	18,706	26,383	—	—

	As of December 31, 2014
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Current assets (1)	127,268	44,297	—	38,619	44,352	—	—
Non-current assets	1,324,765	397,191	—	397,226	530,348	—	—
Total assets	1,452,033	441,488	—	435,845	574,700	—	—
Current liabilities	122,861	38,376	—	32,945	51,540	—	—
Non-current liabilities (1)	1,275,715	371,147	—	391,500	513,068	—	—
Total liabilities	1,398,576	409,523	—	424,445	564,608	—	—
Total shareholders' equity	53,457	31,965	—	11,400	10,092	—	—

(1) SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus non-current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include $137.4 million (2014: $100.0 million), $125.3 million (2014: $135.3 million) and $125.0 million (2014: $110.7 million) due to Ship Finance, respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions). In addition, SFL Linus current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include a further $23.2 million (2014: $nil) due to Ship Finance (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

Summarized statement of operations information of the Company's wholly-owned equity method investees is shown below. 

	Year ended December 31, 2015
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	82,731	22,424	—	23,315	36,992	—	—
Net operating revenues	82,725	22,422	—	23,313	36,990	—	—
Net income (2)	31,001	7,561	—	7,306	16,134	—	—

	Year ended December 31, 2014
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	108,632	24,917	22,251	24,565	33,236	1,171	2,492
Net operating revenues	105,567	24,905	22,234	24,544	33,221	232	431
Net income (2)	33,497	8,023	4,643	7,755	12,413	232	431

F-25

	Year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus		Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	122,792	46,145	23,701	13,832	—		19,490	19,624
Net operating revenues	88,121	46,109	23,681	13,808	—		2,261	2,262
Net income (3)	28,200	17,747	2,324	3,645	(38	)	2,261	2,261

(2) The net income of SFL Deepwater, SFL West Polaris, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus in the year ended December 31, 2015, includes interest payable to Ship Finance amounting to $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $9.6 million), $nil (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $6.5 million), $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $3.5 million) and $5.6 million (2014: $4.9 million; 2013: $nil), respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus have loan facilities for which Ship Finance provides limited guarantees, as indicated above. These loan facilities contain financial covenants, with which Ship Finance and Seadrill must comply. As at December 31, 2015, Ship Finance and Seadrill were in compliance with all of the covenants under these long-term debt facilities.

17. ACCRUED EXPENSES

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Vessel operating expenses	3,676	6,305
Administrative expenses	1,206	1,330
Interest expense	7,764	10,555
	12,646	18,190

18. OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Deferred and prepaid charter revenue	5,549	7,982
Employee taxes	152	899
Other items	11,336	211
	17,037	9,092

Other items at December 31, 2015, include $10.9 million installments payable on newbuildings (2014: $nil).

19. LONG-TERM DEBT

(in thousands of $)	2015		2014
Long-term debt:
3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	117,500		125,000
Norwegian kroner 600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017	63,681		76,487
3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	350,000		350,000
Norwegian kroner 900 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2019	85,434		119,277
U.S. dollar denominated floating rate debt (LIBOR plus margin) due through 2023	1,049,861		1,061,695
	1,666,476		1,732,459
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(208,031	)	(182,415	)
	1,458,445		1,550,044

F-26

 The outstanding debt as of December 31, 2015, is repayable as follows:

(in thousands of $) Year ending December 31,
2016	208,031
2017	185,246
2018	532,553
2019	255,744
2020	117,590
Thereafter	367,312
Total debt	1,666,476

The weighted average interest rate for floating rate debt denominated in U.S. dollars and Norwegian kroner ("NOK") as at December 31, 2015, was 4.22% per annum (2014: 4.98%). These rates take into consideration the effect of related interest rate swaps. At December 31, 2015, the three month dollar LIBOR was 0.613% (2014: 0.256%) and the three month Norwegian Interbank Offered Rate ("NIBOR") was 1.13% (2014: 1.48%).

3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016

On February 10, 2011, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $125.0 million. Interest on the bonds is fixed at 3.75% per annum and is payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on February 10 and August 10. The bonds were convertible into Ship Finance International Limited common shares at any time up to 10 banking days prior to February 10, 2016. The conversion price at the time of issue was $27.05 per share, representing a 35% premium to the share price at the time, and since then dividend distributions reduced the conversion price to $16.61 at December 31, 2015. The Company had the right to call the bonds after March 3, 2014, if the value of the shares underlying each bond exceeds, for a specified period of time, 130% of the principal amount of the bond. In December 2015, the Company purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling $7.5 million (2014; $nil) and the net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $117.5 million (2014: $125.0 million). In February 2016, the amount outstanding was fully redeemed in cash without any conversion into shares having taken place (see Note 27: Subsequent events).

NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017

On October 19, 2012, the Company issued a senior unsecured bond loan totaling NOK600 million in the Norwegian credit market. The bonds bear quarterly interest at NIBOR plus a margin and are redeemable in full on October 19, 2017. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at the Company's option from April 19, 2017, upon giving bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.50% of par value plus accrued interest. Since their issue, at December 31, 2015, the Company has purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK43.0 million (2014: NOK36.0 million), of which NOK8.0 million (2014: NOK8.0 million) were subsequently re-sold. The Company holds bonds purchased as treasury bonds. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was NOK565 million, equivalent to $63.7 million (2014: NOK572 million, equivalent to $76.5 million).

3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018

On January 30, 2013, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $350.0 million. Interest on the bonds is fixed at 3.25% per annum and is payable in cash quarterly in arrears on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. The bonds are convertible into Ship Finance International Limited common shares at any time up to ten banking days prior to February 1, 2018. The conversion price at the time of issue was $21.945 per share, representing a 33% premium to the share price at the time. Since then, dividend distributions have reduced the conversion price to $16.2456 per share. In conjunction with the bond issue, the Company loaned up to 6,060,606 of its common shares to an affiliate of one of the underwriters of the issue, in order to assist investors in the bonds to hedge their position. The shares that were lent by the Company were borrowed from Hemen Holding Ltd., the largest shareholder of the Company, for a one-time loan fee of $1.0 million.

As required by ASC 470-20 "Debt with conversion and other options", the Company calculated the equity component of the convertible bond, taking into account both the fair value of the conversion option and the fair value of the share lending arrangement. The equity component was valued at $20.7 million and this amount was recorded as "Additional paid-in capital", with a corresponding adjustment to "Deferred charges" which are amortized to "Interest expense" over the appropriate period.

F-27

The amortization of this item amounted to $4.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014. $4.1 million).

NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019

On March 19, 2014, the Company issued a senior unsecured bond loan totaling NOK900 million in the Norwegian credit market. The bonds bear quarterly interest at NIBOR plus a margin and are redeemable in full on March 19, 2019. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at the Company's option from September 19, 2018, upon giving the bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.50% of par value plus accrued interest. Subsequent to their issue, at December 31, 2015, the Company has purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK 142.0 million (2014: NOK8.0 million), which are being held as treasury bonds. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was NOK758.0 million, equivalent to $85.4 million (2014: NOK892.0, equivalent to $119.3).

$210 million secured term loan facility

In April 2006, five wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $210.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks to partly fund the acquisition of five new container vessels. The facility bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and had a term of twelve years from the date of drawdown for each vessel. The terms of the loan were initially linked to long-term charters of the vessels, and the Company did not provide a corporate guarantee for the facility. In April 2012, the long-term charters were terminated and the terms of the loan agreement were amended. Although the facility continued without recourse to the Company, as part of the amended agreement the Company guaranteed that revenues received by the vessel-owning subsidiaries would achieve certain minimum levels for each vessel. In January 2015, this indirect limited performance guarantee became exhausted and in February 2015 the Company signed an agreement with the lenders under the facility whereby ownership of the five vessels together with associated working capital was transferred to unrelated third parties and Ship Finance International Limited and its subsidiaries have no future interest in the vessels or obligations under the loan facility. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $nil (2014: $171.4 million).

$30 million secured revolving credit facility

In February 2008, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $30.0 million secured revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of a 1,700 TEU container vessel, which also served as security for the facility. The facility, which was fully prepaid and canceled in January 2015, bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and had a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $nil (2014: $3.0 million).

$49 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In March 2008, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $49.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two newbuilding chemical tankers, which also serve as security for the facility. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of ten years. At December 31, 2015, the amount available under the revolving part of the facility was $12.0 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $8.0 million (2014: $28.0 million).

$43 million secured term loan facility

In February 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $42.6 million secured term loan facility with a bank, bearing interest at LIBOR plus a margin and with a term of approximately five years. The facility is secured against a Suezmax tanker. In November 2014, the terms of the loan were amended and restated, and the facility now matures in November 2019. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $26.3 million (2014: $29.1 million).

$725 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In March 2010, the Company entered into a $725 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against 26 vessels chartered to Frontline at the time. The facility, which was fully prepaid and canceled in February 2015, bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and was repayable over a term of five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $nil (2014: $71.5 million).

$43 million secured term loan facility

F-28

In March 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $42.6 million secured term loan facility with a bank, bearing interest at LIBOR plus a margin and with a term of approximately five years. The facility is secured against a Suezmax tanker. In March 2015, the terms of the loan were amended and restated, and the facility now matures in March 2020. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $26.3 million (2014: $29.1 million).

$54 million secured term loan facility

In November 2010, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $53.7 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two Supramax dry bulk carriers. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of eight years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $34.1 million (2014: $38.0 million).

$95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In February 2011, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank, secured against a jack-up drilling rig. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $2.5 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $22.5 million (2014: $57.5 million).

$75 million secured term loan facility

In March 2011, three wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $75.4 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against three Supramax dry bulk carriers. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately eight years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $50.8 million (2014: $56.6 million).

$171 million secured term loan facility

In May 2011, eight wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $171.0 million secured loan facility with a syndicate of banks. The facility is supported by China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, or SINOSURE, which provides an insurance policy in favor of the banks for part of the outstanding loan. The facility is secured against a 1,700 TEU container vessel and seven Handysize dry bulk carriers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately ten years from delivery of each vessel. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $122.2 million (2014: $134.2 million).

$167 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In July 2011, five wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $166.8 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility agreement with a syndicate of banks, secured against five VLCCs chartered to Frontline at the time. The facility, which was fully prepaid and canceled in June 2015, bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and was repayable over a term of six years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $nil (2014: 72.2 million).

$53 million secured term loan facility

In November 2012, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $53.2 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two car carriers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $39.9 million (2014: $44.3 million).

$45 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In June 2014, seven wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $45.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank, secured against seven 4,100 TEU container vessels. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $9.0 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $36.0 million (2014: $45.0 million).

$101 million secured term loan facility

F-29

In August 2014, six wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $101.4 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against six offshore supply vessels. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $87.8 million (2014: $98.7 million). One of the vessels was sold in February 2016 (see Note 27: Subsequent events) and the facility now relates to the remaining five vessels.

$20 million secured term loan facility

In September 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $20.0 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two 5,800 TEU container vessels. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $20.0 million (2014: $20.0 million).

$128 million secured term loan facility

In September 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $127.5 million secured term loan facility with a bank, for the post-delivery financing of two newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels, which were delivered in 2014. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $117.9 million (2014: $126.4 million).

$128 million secured term loan facility

In November 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $127.5 million secured term loan facility with a bank, for the post-delivery financing of two newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels, which were delivered in January 2015. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $121.1 million (2014: $nil).

$39 million secured term loan facility

In December 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $39.0 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately eight years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $34.0 million (2014: $36.4 million).

$250 million secured revolving credit facility

In June 2015, 17 wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a $250.0 million secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against 17 tankers chartered to Frontline Shipping. Three of the tankers have since been sold, and the facility now relates to the remaining 14 tankers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of three years. At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the facility was $154.6 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $73.5 million (2014: $nil).

$166 million secured term loan facility

In July 2015, eight wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a $166.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against eight Capesize dry bulk carriers acquired in 2015. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $159.5 million (2014: $nil).

$210 million secured term loan facility

In November 2015, three subsidiaries entered into a $210.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks, to partly fund the acquisition of three newbuilding container vessels, against which the facility is secured. One of the vessels was delivered in November 2015, a second was delivered in February 2016, and the remaining vessel is scheduled for delivery later in 2016. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years from the delivery of each vessel. At December 31, 2015, the net amount outstanding was $70.0 million (2014: $nil).

F-30

The aggregate book value of assets pledged as security against borrowings at December 31, 2015, was $2,087 million (2014: $2,062 million). 

Agreements related to long-term debt provide limitations on the amount of total borrowings and secured debt, and acceleration of payment under certain circumstances, including failure to satisfy certain financial covenants. As of December 31, 2015, the Company is in compliance with all of the covenants under its long-term debt facilities. The $101 million secured term loan facility entered into in August 2014 contains certain financial covenants on Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG. As at December 31, 2015, Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG were in compliance with all covenants under the respective loan agreements.

20. OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Unamortized sellers' credit	11,960	15,042
Other items	3	2,542
	11,963	17,584

The Company's six offshore supply vessels were acquired from Deep Sea and were originally chartered back to subsidiaries of Deep Sea under bareboat charter agreements. As part of the purchase consideration, the Company received seller's credits totaling $37.0 million which are being recognized as additional bareboat revenues over the period of the charters. In connection with the transfer in May 2013 of the charters for five of the vessels from subsidiaries of Deep Sea to a subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG, the seller's credits for these five vessels were also transferred to the new counterparty.

Other items at December 31, 2014, included the $2.5 million fair value of the guarantee provided by the Company to the providers of the loan facility to SFL West Polaris, following the sale of that company (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). Ship Finance International Limited was released from the guarantee in June 2015.

21. SHARE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

Authorized share capital is as follows: 

(in thousands of $, except share data)	2015	2014
125,000,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each	125,000	125,000

Issued and fully paid share capital is as follows:

(in thousands of $, except share data)	2015	2014
93,468,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each (2014: 93,404,000 shares)	93,468	93,404

The Company's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company issued a total of 64,000 new shares in order to satisfy options exercised by two officers and three employees (2014: 144,000 new shares issued to satisfy options exercised by three directors, one officer and two employees). The weighted average exercise price of the options was $10.55 per share (2014: $6.44 per share), resulting in a premium on issue of $0.6 million (2014: $0.8 million). No other shares were issued and sold in the years ended December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014.

F-31

In November 2006, the Board of Directors approved the Ship Finance International Limited Share Option Scheme (the "Option Scheme"). The Option Scheme permits the Board of Directors, at its discretion, to grant options to employees, officers and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The fair value cost of options granted is recognized in the statement of operations, and the corresponding amount is credited to additional paid in capital (see also Note 22: Share option plan). During 2014, one officer exercised options and in lieu of issuing 80,000 new shares the Company made a payment totaling $1.2 million, equal to the intrinsic value of the options on the date of exercise. These amounts are accounted for as repurchases of the Company's shares and the payments are recorded as reductions in additional paid-in capital.

In January 2013, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $350 million. The bonds are convertible into common shares at any time up to ten banking days prior to February 1, 2018. The conversion price at the time of issue was $21.945 per share, representing a 33% premium to the share price at the time. Since then, dividend distributions have reduced the conversion price to $16.2456 per share. As required by ASC 470-20 "Debt with conversion and other options", the Company calculated the equity component of the convertible bond, which was valued at $20.7 million and recorded as "Additional paid-in capital" (see Note 19: Long-term Debt).

The Company has accounted for the acquisition of vessels from Frontline at Frontline's historical carrying value. The difference between the historical carrying values and the net investment in the leases was recorded as a deferred deemed equity contribution, which was presented as a reduction in net investment in direct financing leases in the balance sheet. This accounting treatment arose from the related party nature of both the initial transfer of the vessels and the subsequent leases.  The deferred deemed equity contributions were amortized to contributed surplus over the life of the lease arrangements, as lease payments were applied to the principal balance of the lease receivable. In the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company credited contributed surplus with $2.0 million of such deemed equity contributions (year ended December 31, 2014: $4.5 million). On June 5, 2015, the charter agreements with Frontline were amended with effect from July 1, 2015 (see Note 23: Related party transactions), following which the unamortized deferred deemed equity contributions were incorporated into the lease schedules and no further amounts have been credited to contributed surplus.

22. SHARE OPTION PLAN

The Option Scheme adopted in November 2006 will expire in November 2016. The subscription price for all options granted under the scheme will be reduced by the amount of all dividends declared by the Company per share in the period from the date of grant until the date the option is exercised, provided the subscription price shall never be reduced below the par value of the share. Options granted under the scheme will vest at a date determined by the board at the date of the grant. The options granted under the plan to date vest over a period of one to three years and have a five year term. There is no maximum number of shares authorized for awards of equity share options, and either authorized unissued shares of Ship Finance or treasury shares held by the Company may be used to satisfy exercised options.

The following summarizes share option transactions related to the Option Scheme in 2015, 2014 and 2013: 

	2015			2014			2013
	Options		Weighted average exercise price $	Options		Weighted average exercise price $	Options		Weighted average exercise price $
Options outstanding at beginning of year	189,000		13.17	423,000		9.99	498,000		10.27
Granted	—		—	—		—	—		—
Exercised	(64,000	)	10.55	(224,000	)	5.41	(75,000	)	5.29
Forfeited	—		—	(10,000	)	5.56	—		—
Options outstanding at end of year	125,000		12.56	189,000		13.17	423,000		9.99
Exercisable at end of year	125,000		12.56	189,000		13.17	374,333		9.22

The exercise price of each option is progressively reduced by the amount of any dividends declared. The above figures show the average of the reduced exercise prices at the beginning and end of the year for options then outstanding. For options granted, exercised or forfeited during the year, the above figures show the average of the exercise prices at the time the options were granted, exercised or forfeited, as appropriate.

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The fair values of options granted are estimated on the date of the grant, using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model. The fair values are then expensed over the periods in which the options vest. No new options were granted in 2015, 2014 and 2013, and all options outstanding at December 31, 2015, were fully vested. (see Note 27: Subsequent events).

The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2015 was $0.3 million on the day of exercise (2014: $2.9 million; 2013: $0.9 million). The intrinsic value of options fully vested but not exercised at December 31, 2015, is $0.5 million and their average remaining term is 0.22 years.

As of December 31, 2015, the unrecognized compensation costs relating to non-vested options granted under the Option Scheme was $nil (2014: $nil).

23. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company, which was formed in 2003 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline, was partially spun-off in 2004 and its shares commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2004. A significant proportion of the Company's business continues to be transacted with related parties.

The Company has had transactions with the following related parties, being companies in which our principal shareholders Hemen Holding Ltd. and Farahead Investment Inc. (hereafter jointly referred to as "Hemen") and companies associated with Hemen have, or had, a significant direct or indirect interest:

–    Frontline (3)

–    Frontline 2012 (3)

–    Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II (collectively the Frontline Charterers)

–    Seadrill

–    NADL

–    Golden Ocean Group Limited ("Golden Ocean") (2)

–    United Freight Carriers ("UFC" - which is a joint venture approximately 50% owned by Golden Ocean)

–    Deep Sea

–    Deep Sea Supply BTG (which is a joint venture 50% owned by Deep Sea)

–    Golar Management UK Limited ("Golar") (1)

–    Arcadia Petroleum Limited ("Arcadia")

(1) From September 2014, Golar ceased to be a related party to the Company, following disassociation through the sale of shares held by a company associated with Hemen.

(2) In March 2015, Golden Ocean Group Limited merged with Knightsbridge Tankers Limited, leaving Knightsbridge Tankers Limited as the surviving legal entity and changing its name to Golden Ocean Group Limited.

(3) On November 30, 2015, Frontline and Frontline 2012 merged, leaving Frontline as the surviving legal entity and Frontline 2012 becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline.

The Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following amounts due from and to related parties, excluding direct financing lease balances (see Note 15: Investments in direct financing leases): 

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(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Amounts due from:
Frontline Charterers	18,052	30,714
Frontline Ltd	2,816	9,012
UFC	1,639	232
Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG	—	1,338
SFL Linus	23,152	—
Seadrill	—	111,195
Total amount due from related parties	45,659	152,491
Loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term
SFL Deepwater	137,437	100,036
SFL Hercules	125,275	135,250
SFL Linus	125,000	110,745
Total loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term	387,712	346,031
Loans to related parties - others, long-term
Frontline Ltd	—	79,294
Total loans to related parties - others, long-term	—	79,294
Amounts due to:
Frontline Charterers	229	196
Frontline Management	143	848
Other related parties	44	65
Total amount due to related parties	416	1,109

SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus are wholly-owned subsidiaries which are not fully consolidated but are accounted for under the equity method as at December 31, 2015. As described below in "Related party loans", at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the long-term loans from Ship Finance to SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules, and SFL Linus are presented net of amounts due to them by Ship Finance on their respective current accounts.

Related party leasing and service contracts

As at December 31, 2015, 14 of the Company's vessels leased to Frontline Shipping and two of its offshore supply vessels leased to subsidiaries of Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG, respectively, are recorded as direct financing leases. In addition, at December 31, 2015, four offshore supply vessels were leased to a subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG, eight dry bulk carriers were leased to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean and a further six dry bulk carriers were leased to UFC under operating leases.

At December 31, 2015, the combined balance of net investments in direct financing leases with Frontline Shipping, Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG was $511.4 million (2014: $839.9 million) of which $37.1 million (2014: $37.5 million) represents short-term maturities.

At December 31, 2015, the net book value of assets leased under operating leases to Deep Sea Supply BTG, Golden Ocean and UFC was $499.6 million (2014: $198.9 million).

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A summary of leasing revenues earned from the Frontline Charterers, Seadrill, Deep Sea, Deep Sea Supply BTG, Golden Ocean and UFC is as follows:

(in millions of $)	2015	2014	2013
Operating lease income	42.9	26.4	24.0
Direct financing lease interest income	34.2	45.4	55.4
Finance lease service revenue	46.5	46.5	52.4
Direct financing lease repayments	35.9	43.1	47.4
Profit sharing revenues	59.6	33.8	0.8

In May 2013, the Company agreed to change the legal entity under the charters for five of the six vessels on charter to subsidiaries of Deep Sea. The new charterer is Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG, which is a joint venture owned 50% by Deep Sea and 50% by BTG Pactual. The new charters became effective on May 31, 2013, and the main terms of the charters remain unchanged.

On December 30, 2011, amendments were made to the charter agreements with Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II, which related to 28 vessels accounted for as direct financing leases. In terms of the amending agreements, the Company received a compensation payment of $106 million and agreed to a $6,500 per day reduction in the time charter rate of each vessel for the period January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2015. Thereafter, the charter rates were to revert to the previously agreed daily amounts. The leases were amended to reflect the compensation payment received and the reduction in future minimum lease payments to be received. During 2012, 2013 and 2014, 11 of the vessels were sold.

On June 5, 2015, further amendments were made to the charter agreements relating to the remaining 17 vessels. The amendments, which are effective from July 1, 2015, and do not affect the duration of the leases, include reductions in the daily time-charter rates to $20,000 per day for VLCCs and $15,000 per day for Suezmax tankers. As consideration for the agreed amendments, the Company received 55 million ordinary shares in Frontline, the fair value of which amounted to $150.2 million, and also an increase in the profit sharing percentage (see below). The charters for three of the vessels were transferred from Frontline Shipping II to Frontline Shipping, which is now the charter counterparty for all of the vessels. As part of the amended agreement, Frontline was released from its guarantee obligations under the charters, and in exchange a cash reserve of $2 million per vessel has been built up in Frontline Shipping as security for its obligations under the charters.

The Company's holding of Frontline ordinary shares represented approximately 27.73% of the issued share capital of Frontline at the time of receipt in June 2015. On November 30, 2015, Frontline merged with Frontline 2012 and increased its issued share capital, reducing the Company's holding to approximately 7.03%. Accordingly, from June 5, 2015, to November 30, 2015, the Company's shareholding was accounted for as an investment in associated companies (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). Since December 1, 2015, the Company's holding of Frontline shares has been held under available for sale securities (see Note 11: Available for sale securities).

Prior to December 31, 2011, Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II paid the Company profit sharing of 20% of their earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis from their use of the Company's fleet above average threshold charter rates each fiscal year. The amendments to the charter agreements made on December 30, 2011, increased the profit sharing percentage to 25% for future earnings above those threshold levels. Of the $106 million compensation payment received, $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to the 25% profit sharing agreement. The Company earned and recognized profit sharing revenue under the 25% arrangement in the year ended December 31, 2015, of $nil (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil). The amendments to the charter agreements effective from July 1, 2015, increased the profit sharing percentage from 25% to 50% for earnings above the new reduced time-charter rates. The Company earned and recognized profit sharing revenue under the 50% arrangement of $37.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil).

The amendments to the charter agreements effective from January 1, 2012, additionally provided that for the four year period of the temporary reduction in charter rates, Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II would pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day per vessel. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company earned and recognized $19.9 million revenue under this arrangement (2014: $32.7 million; 2013: $0.0 million), which is also reported under "Profit sharing revenues". This arrangement was discontinued from July 1, 2015, when the amendments agreed in June 2015 became effective.

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In the event that vessels on charter to the Frontline Charterers are agreed to be sold, the Company may either pay or receive compensation for the termination of the lease. In September 2015, October 2015 and December 2015, the Suezmax tankers Front Glory, Front Splendour and Mindanao on charter to Frontline Shipping were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees payable of $2.2 million, $1.3 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

In November 2014, three VLCCs, namely Front Comanche, Front Commerce and Front Opalia, on charter to the Frontline Charterers were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees receivable of $49.2 million. Of the termination fees receivable, $10.5 million was received in cash and $38.7 million was received in the form of amortizing loan notes from Frontline receivable over the approximately eight remaining years of the canceled leases. The initial face value of the notes received, on which interest at 7.25% was receivable, was $48.4 million and their initial fair value of $38.7 million was determined from analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the notes, default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market.

In January 2013 the non-double VLCC Edinburgh was sold and its lease cancelled, with an agreed termination fee payable of $7.8 million. In February 2013 and March 2013, the Suezmax tanker Front Pride and theOBO Front Guider were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees receivable of $2.1 million and $11.7 million, respectively. In November 2013, the VLCCs Golden Victory and Front Champion were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees receivable of $37.3 million and $30.4 million, respectively. Of the $67.7 million combined fees receivable for the two VLCCs sold in November 2013, $10.9 million was received in cash and $56.8 million was received in the form of amortizing loan notes from Frontline receivable over the approximately eight remaining years of the cancelled leases. The initial face value of the notes received, on which interest at 7.25% was receivable, was $79.0 million and their initial fair value of $56.8 million was determined on the same basis as that used for the notes received in 2014.

In December 2015, Frontline redeemed in full the loan notes received by the Company on the sale of the two VLCCs in November 2013 and three VLCCs in November 2014. The aggregate amount received on redemption was $113.2 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil), including accrued interest of $0.5 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil). At the time of the redemption, the loan notes had a carrying value of $83.8 million (December 31, 2014: $87.5 million), resulting in a gain of $28.9 million on disposal.

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had eight dry bulk carriers operating on time-charters to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean, which include profit sharing arrangements whereby the Company earns a 33% share of profits earned by the vessels above threshold levels. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company earned no income under this arrangement (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil).

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had six dry bulk carriers operating on time-charters to UFC, which include profit sharing arrangements whereby the Company earns a 50% share of profits earned by the vessels above threshold levels. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company earned and recognized $2.5 million under this arrangement (2014: $1.1 million; 2013: $0.8 million).

As at December 31, 2015, the Company was owed a total of $18.1 million (2014: $30.7 million) by Frontline Shipping in respect of leasing contracts and profit share.

At December 31, 2015, the Company was owed $2.8 million (2014: $9.0 million) by Frontline in respect of various short-term items. At December 31, 2014, these items included the $7.8 million carrying value of the short-term portion of loan notes receivable (2015: $nil) and $0.4 million accrued interest on the loan notes (2015: $nil). At December 31, 2014, the Company also had a long-term loan of $79.3 million due from Frontline, being the carrying value of the long-term portion of loan notes receivable (2015: $nil).

At December 31, 2015, the Company was owed $1.6 million (2014: $0.2 million) by UFC in respect of leasing contracts and profit share.

At December 31, 2014, the Company was owed $1.3 million by Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG in respect of leasing contracts (2015: $nil).

At December 31, 2015, the Company was owed $23.2 million by SFL Linus in addition to the loan due to the Company (2014: $nil) - see below.

F-36

On December 30, 2014, the Company sold SFL West Polaris to Seadrill (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies) and at December 31, 2014, the Company was owed $111.2 million by Seadrill in relation to this transaction (2015:$nil).

The vessels leased to Frontline Shipping are on time charter terms and for each such vessel the Company pays a fixed management/operating fee of $9,000 per day to Frontline Management (Bermuda) Ltd. ("Frontline Management"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontline. This daily fee has been payable since July 1, 2015, when amendments to the charter agreements became effective, before which the fixed daily fee was $6,500 per day. An exception to this arrangement is for any vessel leased to Frontline Shipping which is sub-chartered on a bareboat basis, for which there is no management fee payable for the duration of the bareboat sub-charter. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company also had 12 container vessels, 14 dry bulk carriers, two Suezmax tankers and two car carriers operating on time charter or in the spot market, for which the supervision of the technical management was sub-contracted to Frontline Management. In the year ended December 31, 2015, management fees paid to Frontline Management amounted to $48.0 million (2014: $48.4 million; 2013: $54.2 million).

The vessels leased to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean are on time charter terms and for each vessel the Company pays a fixed management/operating fee of $7,000 per day to Golden Ocean Group Management (Bermuda) Ltd. ("Golden Ocean Management"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Golden Ocean. Additionally, in the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had 12 container vessels and 14 dry bulk carriers operating on time-charters, for which part of the operating management was sub-contracted to Golden Ocean Management. In the year ended December 31, 2015, management fees paid to Golden Ocean Management amounted to approximately $9.0 million (2014: $0.8 million; 2013: $0.7 million). Management fees are classified as vessel operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company paid a commission of 1% to Frontline Management in respect of all payments received in respect of the five-year sales-type leases on the Suezmax tankers Glorycrown and Everbright. This arrangement ended in September 2013, when the leases were terminated, following which we agreed to pay Frontline a management fee of 1.25% of chartering revenues. In 2015, $0.4 million was paid to Frontline Management pursuant to the new arrangement (2014: $0.3 million). Under the old arrangement $0.1 million was paid in 2013.

The Company also paid $0.5 million in 2015 (2014: $0.5 million, 2013: $0.4 million) to Frontline Management for the provision of management and administrative services.

The Company pays fees to Frontline Management for the management supervision of some of its newbuildings, which in 2015 amounted to $0.1 million (2014: $2.9 million; 2013: $2.4 million).

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company paid $0.4 million (2014: $0.4 million; 2013: $0.3 million) to Frontline Management AS for the provision of office facilities in Oslo, and $0.1 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil) to Arcadia for the provision of office facilities in London. The Company paid $nil in 2015 (2014: $0.1 million; 2013: $0.2 million) to Golar Management UK Limited for the provision of office facilities in London. Golar Management UK Limited ceased to be a related party in October 2014.

As at December 31, 2015, the Company owes Frontline Management and Frontline Management AS a combined total of $0.1 million (2014: $0.8 million) for various items, including newbuilding supervision fees, technical supervision fees and office costs.

Related party loans – associated companies

Ship Finance has entered into agreements with SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus granting them loans of $145.0 million, $145.0 million and $125.0 million, respectively. The loans to SFL Deepwater and SFL Hercules are fixed interest rate loans, and the loan to SFL Linus was interest free until the newbuilding jack-up drilling rig was delivered to that company, since when it has been a fixed interest rate loan. These loans are repayable in full on October 1, 2023, October 1, 2023 and June 30, 2029, respectively, or earlier if the companies sell their drilling units. Ship Finance is entitled to take excess cash from these companies, and such amounts are recorded within their current accounts with Ship Finance. The loan agreements specify that the balance on the current accounts will have no interest applied and will be settled by offset against the eventual repayments of the fixed interest loans. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company received interest income on these loans of $6.5 million from SFL Deepwater (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $9.6 million), $6.5 million from SFL Hercules (2014: $6.5 million; 2013$3.5 million) and $5.6 million from SFL Linus (2014: $4.9 million, 2013: $nil) totaling $18.7 million.

F-37

Ship Finance also granted a $145.0 million fixed interest rate loan to SFL West Polaris, which was repaid when that company was sold on December 30, 2014. The terms of the loan were similar to those in the above continuing loans, and in the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company received interest income on this loan of $nil (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $6.5 million).

Related party purchases and sales of vessels – 2015

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company acquired eight Capesize dry bulk carriers from subsidiaries of Golden Ocean for a total acquisition cost of $272.0 million. The vessels were immediately chartered back to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean on ten year time charters, at rates of $17,600 per day for the first seven years and $14,900 per day thereafter. In addition, the Company will receive a 33% profit share of revenues above these rates. Golden Ocean was granted an option to purchase all eight of the vessels at the expiry of the charters. If the purchase option is not exercised, Ship Finance has the option to extend the charters for an additional three years at the rate of $14,900 per day per vessel.

Related party purchases and sales of vessels – 2014

The ultra deepwater drilling unit West Polaris is owned by SFL West Polaris, which was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ship Finance accounted for using the equity method (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). In December 2014, Seadrill advised the Company of its intention to exercise a purchase option, and the transaction was effected on December 30, 2014 as the sale of SFL West Polaris. The Company recorded a gain of $6.1 million on the sale, which was recorded as "Gain on sale of investment in associated company".

Related party purchases and sales of vessels – 2013

In July 2013, the Company announced the acquisition of the newbuilding harsh-environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus from a subsidiary of NADL, for a total acquisition cost of $600 million. The rig, which was delivered in February 2014, was leased back to a subsidiary of NADL for a period in excess of 15 years, and the subsidiary was granted four purchase options at dates during and at the end of the charter period. Additionally, Ship Finance has an option to sell the rig back to the subsidiary at the end of the charter period. The rig is owned by SFL Linus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ship Finance accounted for using the equity method (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies).

24. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

In certain situations, the Company may enter into financial instruments to reduce the risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates. The Company has a portfolio of swaps which swap floating rate interest to fixed rate, and which also fix the Norwegian kroner to US dollar exchange rate applicable to the interest payable and principal repayment on the NOK bonds due 2017 and 2019. From a financial perspective these swaps hedge interest rate and exchange rate exposure. The counterparties to such contracts are DNB Bank, Nordea Bank Finland Plc., ABN AMRO Bank N.V., NIBC Bank N.V., Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), ING Bank N.V., Danske Bank A/S and Swedbank AB (publ). Credit risk exists to the extent that the counterparties are unable to perform under the contracts, but this risk is considered remote as the counterparties are all banks which have provided the Company with loans.

F-38

The following tables present the fair values of the Company's derivative instruments that were designated as cash flow hedges and qualified as part of a hedging relationship, and those that were not designated: 

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	—	292
Non-designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	—	225
Total derivative instruments - short-term liabilities	—	517
Designated derivative instruments -long-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	11,458	40,058
Cross currency interest rate swaps	87,642	63,083
Non-designated derivative instruments -long-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	2,897	1,565
Cross currency interest rate swaps	11,645	1,973
Total derivative instruments - long-term liabilities	113,642	106,679

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Designated derivative instruments -long-term assets:
Interest rate swaps	487	710
Non-designated derivative instruments -long-term assets:
Interest rate swaps	313	2,584
Total derivative instruments - long-term assets	800	3,294

F-39

Interest rate risk management

The Company manages its debt portfolio with interest rate swap agreements denominated in U.S. dollars and Norwegian kroner to achieve an overall desired position of fixed and floating interest rates. At December 31, 2015, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had entered into interest rate swap transactions, involving the payment of fixed rates in exchange for LIBOR or NIBOR, as summarized below. The summary includes all swap transactions, most of which are hedges against specific loans.

Notional Principal (in thousands of $)	Inception date	Maturity date	Fixed interest rate
$31,604 (reducing to $24,794)	March 2008	August 2018	4.05% - 4.15%
$34,140 (reducing to $23,394)	April 2011	December 2018	2.13% - 2.80%
$50,760 (reducing to $34,044)	May 2011	January 2019	0.80% - 2.58%
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)	August 2011	August 2021	2.50% - 2.93%
$157,933 (terminating at $79,733)	May 2012	August 2022	1.76% - 1.85%
$105,436 (equivalent to NOK600 million)	October 2012	October 2017	5.92% - 6.23%		*
$39,900 (reducing to $32,142)	February 2013	December 2017	0.81% - 0.82%
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)	March 2013	April 2023	1.85% - 1.97%
$151,008 (equivalent to NOK900 million)	March 2014	March 2019	6.03	%	*
$108,375 (reducing to $70,125)	December 2016	December 2021	1.86% - 3.33%
$110,500 (reducing to $70,125)	January 2017	January 2022	1.56% - 3.09%
$33,973 (reducing to $19,413)	September 2015	March 2022	1.67	%

* These swaps relate to the NOK600 million and the NOK900 million unsecured bonds, and the fixed interest rates paid are exchanged for NIBOR plus the margin on the bonds. For the remaining swaps the fixed interest rate paid is exchanged for LIBOR, excluding margin on the underlying loans.

The interest rate swap with a notional principal of $108.4 million has an inception date of December 2016, and the interest rate swap with a notional principal of $110.5 million has an inception date of January, 2017. The total notional principal amount subject to swap agreements as at December 31, 2015, excluding those with inception dates in the future, was $804.8 million (2014: $1,094.1 million).

Foreign currency risk management

The Company has entered into currency swap transactions, involving the payment of U.S. dollars in exchange for Norwegian kroner, which are designated as hedges against the NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017 and the NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019. 

Principal Receivable	Principal Payable	Inception date	Maturity date
NOK600 million	US$105.4 million	October 2012	October 2017
NOK900 million	US$151.0 million	March 2014	March 2019

Apart from the NOK600 million and NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017 and 2019, respectively, the majority of the Company's transactions, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, the functional currency of the Company. Other than the corresponding currency swap transactions summarized above, the Company has not entered into forward contracts for either transaction or translation risk. Accordingly, there is a risk that currency fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the Company's cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

F-40

Fair Values

The carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's financial assets and liabilities at December 31, 2015, and 2014, are as follows: 

	2015	2015	2014	2014
(in thousands of $)	Carrying value	Fair value	Carrying value	Fair  value
Non-derivatives:
Available for sale securities	199,594	199,594	73,656	73,656
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,681	63,719	76,487	75,210
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	85,434	79,549	119,277	108,542
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	117,500	118,021	125,000	124,375
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	350,000	378,315	350,000	335,563
Derivatives:
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	800	800	3,294	3,294
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	—	—	517	517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642	113,642	106,679	106,679

The above long-term receivables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, include $0.3 million which relates to non-designated swap contracts (2014: $2.6 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges. The above short-term payables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, include $nil which relates to non-designated swap contracts (2014: $0.2 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges. The above long-term payables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, include $14.5 million which relates to non-designated swap contracts (2014: $3.5 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges.

In accordance with the accounting policy relating to interest rate and currency swaps (see Note 2 "Accounting policies: Derivatives – Interest rate and currency swaps"), where the Company has designated the swap as a hedge, and to the extent that the hedge is effective, changes in the fair values of interest rate swaps are recognized in other comprehensive income. Changes in the fair value of other swaps and the ineffective portion of swaps designated as hedges are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

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The above fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2015, are measured as follows: 

		Fair value measurements using
	Total fair value as at December 31, 2015	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets	Significant Other Observable Inputs	Significant Unobservable Inputs
(in thousands of $)		(Level 1)	(Level 2)	(Level 3)
Assets:
Available for sale securities	199,594	199,594
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts - long-term receivables	800		800
Total assets	200,394	199,594	800	—
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719	63,719
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	79,549	79,549
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	118,021	118,021
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	378,315	378,315
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642		113,642
Total liabilities	753,246	639,604	113,642	—

The above fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2014, were measured as follows:

		Fair value measurements using
	Total fair value as at December 31, 2014	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets	Significant Other Observable Inputs	Significant Unobservable Inputs
(in thousands of $)		(Level 1)	(Level 2)	(Level 3)
Assets:
Available for sale securities	73,656	49,913		23,743
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	3,294		3,294
Total assets	76,950	49,913	3,294	23,743
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	75,210	75,210
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	108,542	108,542
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	124,375	124,375
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	335,563	335,563
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	517		517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	106,679		106,679
Total liabilities	750,886	643,690	107,196	—

ASC Topic 820 "Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures" ("ASC 820") emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, and should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within levels one and two of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within level three of the hierarchy).

F-42

Level 1 inputs utilize unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in level one that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, other than quoted prices, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities, which typically are based on an entity's own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

Available for sale securities consist of (i) listed Frontline shares (December 31, 2015, only), (ii) secured listed and unlisted corporate bonds and (iii) Horizon Lines, LLC second lien loan notes (December 31, 2014, only). The fair value of the listed Frontline shares and the listed and unlisted corporate bonds consists of their aggregate market value as at the balance sheet date. The fair value of the Horizon Lines, LLC loan notes at December 31, 2014, was a Level 3 input, determined from analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the notes, credit ratings and default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market. The Horizon Lines, LLC loan notes were sold in May 2015 (see note 9: Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other).

The following table shows the changes in the fair value of the asset with Level 3 valuation during the year ended December 31, 2015:

(in thousands of $)	Horizon Lines, LLC loan notes
Fair values - Level 3 inputs:
Balance as at December 31, 2014	23,743
Interest income, receivable in form of unlisted second lien loan notes - see (a) below	2,182
Balance on sale of notes at May 29, 2015	25,925

(a) The interest income of $2.2 million is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations under "Interest income - other".

There were no changes to the above valuation during the year ended December 31, 2015, no related gains or losses recognized in "Other Comprehensive Income" and no transfers of items between Level 3 and other valuation levels.

The estimated fair values for the floating rate NOK bonds due 2017 and 2019, and the 3.75% and 3.25% unsecured convertible bonds are based on the quoted market prices as at the balance sheet date.

The fair value of interest rate and currency swap contracts is calculated using a well-established independent valuation technique applied to contracted cash flows and LIBOR/NIBOR interest rates as at the balance sheet date.

Concentrations of risk

There is a concentration of credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents to the extent that most of the amounts are carried with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, ABN AMRO, Nordea, DNB and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. However, the Company believes this risk is remote.

Since the Company was spun-off from Frontline in 2004, Frontline has accounted for a significant proportion of our operating revenues. In the year ended December 31, 2015, Frontline accounted for 33% of our operating revenues (2014: 37%, 2013: 38%). There is thus a concentration of revenue risk with Frontline.

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25. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Assets Pledged

	2015
Book value of assets pledged under ship mortgages (see Note 19)	$2,087 million

Other Contractual Commitments

The Company has arranged insurance for the legal liability risks for its shipping activities with Gard P.& I. (Bermuda) Ltd, Assuranceforeningen Skuld (Gjensidig), The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Limited, The Korea Shipowner’s Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association, The West of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association (Luxembourg), North of England P&I Association Limited, The Standard Club Europe Ltd and The United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Europe) Limited, all of which are mutual protection and indemnity associations. The Company is subject to calls payable to the associations based on the Company’s claims record in addition to the claims records of all other members of the associations. A contingent liability exists to the extent that the claims records of the members of the associations in the aggregate show significant deterioration, which may result in additional calls on the members.

SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, which are accounted for using the equity method. Accordingly, their assets and liabilities are not consolidated in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, but are presented on a net basis under "Investment in associated companies" - see Note 16. As at December 31, 2015, their combined borrowings amounted to $831.2 million and the Company guaranteed $250.0 million of this debt.

At December 31, 2015, the Company had commitments under contracts to acquire newbuilding vessels totaling $261.9 million (2014: $85.0 million). In addition, two subsidiaries had contractual commitments relating to the chartering-in of two 18,000-20,000 TEU container vessels on 15 year bareboat charters amounting to $406.1 million at December 31, 2015 (2014: $nil), of which $30.0 million represents initial payments due on delivery of the vessels. There are no other contractual commitments at December 31, 2015.

The Company is routinely party both as plaintiff and defendant to laws suits in various jurisdictions under charter hire obligations arising from the operation of its vessels in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that the resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial position. The Company has not recognized any contingent gains or losses arising from the pending results of any such law suits.

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26. CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

The Company's consolidated financial statements include 26 variable interest entities, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. These subsidiaries own vessels with existing charters during which related and third parties have fixed price options to purchase the respective vessels, at dates varying from September 2017 to July 2025. It has been determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these entities, as none of the purchase options are deemed to be at bargain prices and none of the charters include sales options.

At December 31, 2015, the vessels of two of these entities are accounted for as direct financing leases with a combined carrying value of $44.3 million, unearned lease income of $9.0 million and estimated residual values of $5.9 million. The outstanding loan balances in these two entities total $23.9 million, of which the short-term portion is $4.8 million.

The other 24 fully consolidated variable interest entities own vessels which are accounted for as operating lease assets, with a total net book value at December 31, 2015, of $609.6 million. The outstanding loan balances in these entities total $309.9 million, of which the short-term portion is $30.0 million.

27. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In February 2016, the Company took delivery of the newbuilding container vessel Maersk Skarstind, which immediately commenced a five year time charter to Maersk Line A/S. The vessel-owning subsidiary drew down $70.0 million against the $210 million facility secured against this and two other newbuilding vessels, one of which is yet to be delivered.

In February 2016, the Company redeemed in cash the full outstanding amount under the 3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016.

In February 2016, Frontline enacted a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of its ordinary shares. Accordingly, the Company's holding in Frontline changed from 55 million shares to 11 million shares, remaining at approximately 7.0% of Frontline's issued share capital.

In February 2016, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts with initial principal amounts totaling $68.9 million, swapping variable LIBOR interest rates for a fixed interest rate of 1.2625% per annum.

On February 29, 2016, the Board of Ship Finance declared a dividend of $0.45 per share which was paid in cash on March 30, 2016.

In February 2016, the Company sold the offshore supply vessel Sea Bear to an unrelated party third party, and simultaneously agreed to terminate the corresponding charter with a subsidiary of Deep Sea. Total gross proceeds amounted to approximately $19.6 million, consisting of cash sales proceeds and amortizing senior unsecured loan notes received from Deep Sea as compensation for the early termination of the charter. The loan notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% and are redeemable over a period of six years.

In March 2016, the Company issued 36,575 new shares to satisfy the share options exercised by two officers and three employees. The exercise price was $12.11 per share, resulting in a total premium on issue of $0.4 million.

In March 2016, the Company awarded a total of 279,000 options to six Board members, two officers and five employees, pursuant to the Company's Share Option Scheme. The options have a five year term and a three year vesting period and the first options will be exercisable from March 2017 onwards. The initial strike price is $14.38 per share.

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EX-4.18

Exhibit 4.18

AMENDED AND RESTATED

CHARTER ANCILLARY AGREEMENT

by and among

SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED,

THE VESSEL OWNING SUBSIDIARIES NAMED HEREIN,

FRONTLINE LTD,

and

FRONTLINE SHIPPING LIMITED

CHARTER ANCILLARY AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CHARTER ANCILLARY AGREEMENT is originally entered into on 1 January 2004 and amended by an addendum no. 1 thereto dated 15 June 2004, an addendum no. 2 thereto dated 3 February 2005, an addendum no. 3 thereto dated 4 April 2005, an addendum no. 4 thereto dated 9 March 2006, an addendum no. 5 thereto dated 21 August 2007, an addendum no. 6 thereto dated 22 March 2010 and an addendum no. 7 thereto dated 22 December 2011 and amended and restated by an accession and first amendment and restatement agreement dated _______June 5_______ 2015 (the "Amendment and Restatement Agreement") and is made by and among Ship Finance International Limited, a Bermuda company (the "Company"), the vessel owning subsidiaries named on Schedule A hereto (the "Owners"), Frontline Ltd, a Bermuda corporation ("Frontline"), and Frontline Shipping Limited, a Bermuda corporation (the "Charterer").

The Company, the Owners, Frontline and the Charterer are collectively referred to herein as the "Parties".

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Owners are the owners of those vessels (the "Vessels") set forth opposite their names on Schedule A hereto;

WHEREAS, the Company is the owner, either directly or indirectly, of all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Owners;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Charters, each of the Owners has agreed to charter its Vessel to the Charterer, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Management Agreements, Frontline Management (Bermuda) Ltd. ("Frontline Management") has agreed to provide to the Owners certain technical and operational management services with respect to the Vessels, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Performance Guarantee, Frontline has agreed to guarantee the performance of the obligations of Frontline Management under the Management Agreements;

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to evidence the Parties' understanding with respect to, among other things, the payment by the Charterer to the Company of certain profit sharing bonus amounts, off hire arrangements and certain collateral arrangements with respect to the Charterer's obligations under this Agreement and the Charters;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants, conditions, and agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1:DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION; EFFECTIVE DATE

1.1 Definitions

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below.

"Accumulated Off Hire Allowance" means, with respect to a Vessel, the aggregate Off Hire Allowance for such Vessel giving effect to the Off Hire Allowance for the calendar year in which such determination is made and for all prior years from inception of its respective Charter until any date of determination.

"Accumulated Off Hire Amount" means, with respect to a Vessel, the aggregate Off Hire Amount for such Vessel from inception of its respective Charter until any date of determination.

"Affiliate" of a Person means any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with such Person.

"Agreement" means this Charter Ancillary Agreement, as it may be amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time.

"Annual Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(c).

"Bonus Amount" means, with respect to the Vessels, the portion of a Bonus Payment for any period of determination, which shall be calculated in accordance with the following formula:

Bonus amount = 0.50 x (TCE revenues of Vessels - the aggregate for all the Vessels of A x B)

Where:

TCE revenues of Vessels	=	the revenues of the Charterer on a time charter equivalent basis attributable to the Vessels during such period of determination (calculated in a manner consistent with that used in Frontline's public reports), provided that for purposes of calculating bareboat revenues on a time charter equivalent basis, expenses shall be assumed to equal $ 9,000 per Vessel per day.
A	=	the applicable Current Base Rate per Vessel.
B	=	the number of days the relevant Vessel has been chartered to the Charterer under the relevant Charter during the period of determination.

"Bonus Payment" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

"Bonus Payment Schedule" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

"Business Day" means any day other than (a) Saturday or Sunday or (b) any other day on which banks in New York or Oslo are permitted or required to be closed.

"Charters" means the Time Charters between the Charterer and the Owners, in each case with respect to the Vessel owned by each such Owner, as set forth on Schedule A.

"Current Base Rate" means the rate payable per Vessel per day under the Charter applicable to such Vessel, i.e.

(i) USD 20,000 for each VLCC; and

(ii) USD 15,000 for each Suezmax.

"Earnings Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

"Event of Default" means:

(a) any material breach by the Charterer of any provision of any Charter (including without limitation the failure to make charter payments thereunder when due);

(b) any material breach by the Charterer or Frontline of any provision of this Agreement, the Performance Guarantee or the Security Documents;

(c) any material breach by Frontline Management of any provision of any Management Agreement;

(d) failure by the Charterer, Frontline Management or Frontline to comply with Sanctions; or

(e) any of the Charterer, Frontline Management or Frontline or their respective directors, officers or employees is or becomes a Restricted Party or a person listed on any Sanctions List.

"Free Cash" means cash in hand or on freely available bank deposits.

"GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect from time to time.

"Indebtedness" means at a particular time, without duplication, (i) any indebtedness for borrowed money or issued in substitution for or exchange of indebtedness for borrowed money, (ii) any indebtedness evidenced by any note, bond, debenture or other debt security, (iii) any indebtedness for the deferred purchase price of property or services with respect to which a Person is liable, contingently or otherwise, as obligor or otherwise, (iv) any commitment by which a Person assures a creditor against loss (including, without limitation, contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit), (v) any indebtedness guaranteed in any manner by a Person (including, without limitation, guarantees in the form of an agreement to repurchase or reimburse), (vi) any obligations under capitalized leases with respect to which a Person is liable, contingently or otherwise as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or with respect to which obligations a Person assures a creditor against loss, and (vii) any indebtedness secured by a lien on a Person's assets; provided, however, that the obligations of the Charterer under the Charters shall not be deemed to be Indebtedness.

"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, and the filing of or agreement to give any financing statement or like instrument under the laws of any jurisdiction).

"Management Agreements" means those certain Management Agreements entered into or to be entered into between Frontline Management and the Owners, in each case with respect to the Vessel owned by each such Owner, as set forth on Schedule B.

"Off Hire Allowance" means, for any calendar year with respect to a Vessel, an amount equal to 5 multiplied by the Current Base Rate for the relevant Vessel.

"Off Hire Amount" means, with respect to a Vessel, an amount equal to the number of days of actual off-hire for such Vessel multiplied by the Current Base Rate for the relevant Vessel.

"Organizational Documents" means, with respect to a particular Person (other than an individual), the certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, partnership agreement, limited liability company agreement or similar organizational document or agreement, as applicable, of such person.

"Performance Guarantee" means that certain deed of guarantee issued by Frontline in favour of the Company and the Owners.

"Permitted Liens" means:

(a) Liens for taxes or assessments that are not yet delinquent or, if delinquent, are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and for which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as required by GAAP, have been established;

(b) materialmen's, mechanic's, repairman's, employee's, contractor's, operator's and other similar Liens or charges arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts that are not yet delinquent (including any amounts being withheld as provided by law), or if delinquent, are being contested in good faith by appropriate actions and for which adequate reserves or other appropriate provisions, if any, as required by GAAP, have been established;

(c) vessel chartering, drydocking or maintenance, the furnishing of supplies and bunkers to vessels, repairs and improvements to vessels, crews' wages and other maritime Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(d) Liens for salvage and general average; and

(e) easements, rights-of-way, servitudes, permits, surface leases and other rights in respect of surface operations arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

"Quarterly Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a).

"Restricted Party" means a person (i) that is listed on any Sanctions List, (ii) that is domiciled, registered as located or having its main place of business in, or is incorporated under the laws of, a country subject to Sanctions which attach legal effect to being domiciled, located, having its main place of business in, or incorporated under the laws such country, (iii) with which the Company, the Subsidiaries or their respective lenders are prohibited from dealing with or otherwise engaging in a transaction with due to Sanctions, or (iv) is directly or indirectly owned by 50 percent or more or controlled by a person referred to in (i) and/or (ii) above.

"Sanctions" means the economic or financial sanctions laws and/or regulations, trade embargoes, prohibitions, restrictive measures, decisions, executive orders, or notices from regulators implemented, adapted, imposed, administered, enacted, or enforced by any Sanctions Authority.

"Sanctions Authority" means the United Nations, the European Union, the United States of America and any authority acting on behalf of any of them in connection with Sanctions.

"Sanctions List" means any list of persons or entities subject to Sanctions published in connection with Sanctions by or on behalf of any Sanctions Authority.

"Security Documents" means any documents establishing the Security Interests.

"Security Interests" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

"Subsidiaries" means the Owners and any other current or future direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company.

"Suezmax" means each of the Vessels that is between 120,000 and 200,000 dwt.

"Vessels" has the meaning set forth in the first recital.

"VLCC" means each of the Vessels that is between 200,000 and 320,000 dwt.

1.2 References; Headings; Interpretation

All references in this Agreement to Annexes, Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Annexes, Exhibits, Schedules, Articles, Sections, subsections and other

subdivisions of or to this Agreement unless expressly provided otherwise. Titles appearing at the beginning of any Articles, Sections, subsections or other subdivisions of this Agreement are for convenience only, do not constitute any part of this Agreement, and shall be disregarded in construing the language hereof. The words "this Agreement," "herein," "hereby," "hereunder" and "hereof' and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular subdivision unless expressly so limited. The words "this Article," "this Section" and "this subsection" and words of similar import refer only to the Article, Section or subsection hereof in which such words occur. The word "or" is not exclusive, and the word "including" (in its various forms) means including without limitation. Pronouns in masculine, feminine or neuter genders shall be construed to state and include any other gender, and words, terms and titles (including terms defined herein) in the singular form shall be construed to include the plural and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires.

1.3 Effective Date

This Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Date (as such term is defined in the Amendment and Restatement Agreement).

ARTICLE 2: COVENANTS

2.1 Negative Covenants of the Charterer

The Charterer hereby covenants and undertakes with the Company and each of the Owners that the Charterer will not, without the consent of the Company:

(a) amend its Organizational Documents in a manner that would adversely affect the Company, the Owners or any of them;

(b) take any action, or omit to take any action, which could reasonably be expected to result in a violation of its Organizational Documents;

(c) fail at any time to have at least one independent director in accordance with its Organizational Documents;

(d) engage in any business other than the operation and chartering of the Vessels and the activities incidental thereto;

(e) incur any Indebtedness, other than trade payables and other current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(f) enter into any transaction that involves (i) a sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Charterer and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) a sale, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of any subsidiary of the Charterer or (iii) any merger, consolidation or business combination of the Charterer or any of its subsidiaries with another Person (other than a merger, consolidation or business combination among two or more of such subsidiaries);

(g) enter into any transaction with any Affiliate (other than the Company or any Subsidiary), except for any such transaction entered into on an arm's-length basis and on terms no less favourable to the Charterer than would be available from a disinterested or unconnected third party;

(h) permit the incurrence of any Lien on any of its assets, other than Permitted Liens and other than as contemplated by Article 4 (Collateral Arrangements);

(i) issue or grant to any Person other than Frontline any shares of capital stock or other ownership interests in the Charterer or any warrants, options, convertible or exchangeable securities or indebtedness, or any other rights to purchase or acquire, or exercisable for or convertible into or exchangeable into, any such shares of capital stock or such other ownership interests;

(j) make any investment in, acquire or purchase any stock, partnership or joint venture interest or other security of, or loan, advance or contribute capital to, or grant a financial guaranty or other similar assurance for the benefit of, another Person, other than investments in short-term interest bearing marketable securities;

(k) fail at any time to comply with all laws to which it may be subject if failure to comply will materially impair its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the Charters;

(l) fail at any time to comply with all national, international and state laws, rules, regulations, treaties and conventions applicable to the Vessels, pertaining to the pollution or protection of human health or the environment including, without limitation, the carriage of oil and other pollutants and actual or threatened emissions, spills, releases or discharges of oil and other pollutants; or

(m) employ the Vessels in any operations which violate any Sanctions or fail in any way to comply in all respects with Sanctions.

2.2 Divided restriction

The Charterer shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company and the Owners:

(i) declare, make or pay any dividend or other distribution to Frontline (or any of its affiliates);

(ii) repurchase any of its issued shares;

(iii) redeem, reduce or repay to Frontline (or any of its affiliates) any portion of its share capital; or

(iv) repay any portion of any shareholder loan.

For the avoidance of doubt, payment of charter hire and/or Bonus Amount due to the Company and/or the Owners under the Charters and/or this Agreement shall not be subject to the restriction set out in Section 2.2 (i) to (iv).

The divided restriction set out in this Section 2.2 does not apply to any of the actions set out in Section 2.2 (i) to (iv), provided in each case that:

(A) Frontline, the Charterer and Frontline Management are in compliance with their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Charters, the Performance Guarantee, the Security Documents and the Management Agreements; and

(B) the Charterer can demonstrate that it has Free Cash of minimum USD 2,000,000 per Vessel both prior to and following (a) completion of any of the actions set out in Section 2.2 (i) to (iv) and (b) payment of the next hire due under the Charters and any Bonus Amount accrued under this Agreement.

2.3 Covenants of Frontline

Frontline hereby covenants and undertakes with the Company and each of the Owners that:

(a) the Charterer will at all times be a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontline;

(b) Frontline will not sell, transfer, assign or otherwise dispose of legal or beneficial ownership of any securities of the Charterer held by Frontline;

(c) Frontline shall remain listed on a well-known and reputable stock exchange acceptable to the Company; and

(d) Frontline shall comply with all laws to which it may be subject if failure so to comply will materially impair its or the Charterer's ability to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement, the Charters, the Performance Guarantee and/or the Security Documents, as applicable.

2.4 Financial Statements and Other Information

The Charterer hereby covenants and undertakes with the Company that it will deliver to the Company:

(a) as soon as practicable and in any event within (i) 10 days after the end of each month in each fiscal year or (ii) two Business Days after request by the Company, a certificate executed by its chief financial officer which provides that no Event of Default is then occurring or, if there is an Event of Default then occurring, describes in reasonable detail such Event of Default;

(b) as soon as practicable and in any event within 60 days after the end of each quarterly period (other than the last quarterly period) in each fiscal year, consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and changes in financial position of the Charterer for such quarterly period and for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such quarterly period, and a consolidated balance sheet of the Charterer as at the end of such quarterly period, all unaudited but prepared in accordance with GAAP on a basis consistent with past practice (collectively, the "Quarterly Financial Statements"); and

(c) as soon as practicable and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, consolidated statements of income, changes in stockholders' equity and changes in financial position of the Charterer for such year, and a consolidated balance sheet of the Charterer as at the end of such year, in each case audited for the Charterer by independent public accountants of recognized standing selected by the Charterer, whose report shall state that such consolidated financial statements present fairly the results of operations, cash flows and financial position of the Charterer in accordance with GAAP on a basis consistent with prior periods except as noted therein and that the examination by such accountants has been made in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (collectively, the "Annual Financial Statements").

Frontline hereby covenants and undertakes that it will deliver to the Company:

(a) as soon as the same becomes available, but in any event within 180 days after the end of each financial year, Frontline's audited financial statements for that financial year;

(b) as soon as the same becomes available, but in any event within 60 days after the end of each financial quarter, Frontline's unaudited quarterly financial statements;

(c) all public documents dispatched by Frontline to the New York Stock Exchange and/or the Oslo Stock Exchange as soon as possible after they are dispatched; and

(d) promptly, such further information regarding any of Frontline's or the Charterer's financial condition, business and operations as the Company and/or its lenders may reasonably request.

2.5 Earnings Account

The Charterer shall cause all of its revenues to be deposited into an earnings account to be held with Nordea Bank Norge ASA or such other bank as the Company, the Owners and their respective lenders may reasonably require (the "Earnings Account").

ARTICLE 3: BONUS PAYMENTS

3.1 Bonus Payments

The Charterer shall pay to the Company (on behalf of the Owners) a periodic profit sharing bonus payments (each, a "Bonus Payment") equal to the Bonus Amount for the applicable period, as determined in accordance with the terms of this Article 3.

3.2 Calculation, Preparation and Delivery of Bonus Payment Schedules

(e) The period upon which the relevant Bonus Amount shall be determined and booked shall be three calendar months and shall coincide with the calendar quarters of each calendar year.

(f) No later than on the last Business Day in the calendar month following the end of each calendar quarter, the Charterer shall prepare or cause to be prepared, and shall deliver to the Company, a schedule with respect to the preceding quarter (each, a "Bonus Payment Schedule"). Each Bonus Payment Schedule shall set forth, for the relevant quarter, (i) the TCE revenues of the Vessels (broken down per Vessel) and (ii) the Charterer's calculation of the Bonus Amount. The Charterer shall, at the same time, provide to the Company such supporting work papers or other supporting information as may be reasonably requested by the Company in order to verify the calculation of the Bonus Amount for the preceding quarter. Such Bonus Payment Schedule shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistent with the preparation of Frontline's accounts, and shall be certified by the Chief Financial Officer of the Charterer and, if requested by the Company, by the Charterer’s independent accountants.

(g) The Bonus Payment for each quarter shall, in no event, be less than $0.

(h) Each Bonus Payment shall be paid by the Charterer by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the wire transfer address of the Company. Such payment shall be made on a Business Day no later than two (2) months subsequent to the quarter end to which it pertains.

3.3 Marketing; Preferential Treatment

During the term of this Agreement, the Charterer shall use its commercial best efforts to charter the Vessels on market terms (including, without limitation, ensuring that preferential treatment is not given to any other vessels owned, managed by or under control of Frontline or any of its affiliates (including, without limitation, Greenwich Holdings Ltd and any affiliates thereof) when marketing any of the Vessels).

ARTICLE 4: COLLATERAL ARRANGEMENTS

4.1 Collateral

The Charterer, the Company and Frontline covenant and agree that the Charterer's obligations under this Agreement and the Charters shall be secured by first priority fixed and/or floating charges, as applicable, over all of the undertaking and all of the assets and rights (including the Earnings Account) of the Charterer whatsoever and wheresoever both present and future and all outstanding capital stock of the Charterer (collectively, the "Security Interests"). The Charterer and Frontline agree that they shall execute such documents and do such things as may reasonably be required by the Company's and/or the Subsidiaries' lenders in order to give full effect to their covenants in this Section 4.1.

ARTICLE 5: OFF-HIRE

5.1 Off-Hire

Irrespective of the actual number of days off-hire for any one Vessel under its respective Charter, the Charterer agrees to continue to pay the agreed charter hire payments under the Charter to the Owner of such Vessel, and will not deduct for any off-hire, as long as the aggregate Accumulated Off Hire Amount for all Vessels then in the fleet is less than or equal to the aggregate Accumulated Off Hire Allowance for all such Vessels.

5.2 Off-Hire Certifications

(a) In any month in which the Charterer makes any deductions for off-hire from any charter hire payments due under any Charter, the Charterer shall, concurrently with such monthly charter hire payment, provide the Company with a certificate executed by an officer of the Charterer, setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for such deduction.

(b) No later than 1 February of each calendar year, the Charterer shall promptly provide the Company with a certificate executed by the chief financial officer of the Charterer, setting forth in reasonable detail (i) the aggregate Accumulated Off Hire Allowance for all Vessels in the fleet and (ii) the aggregate Accumulated Off Hire Amount for all Vessels in the fleet, in each case as of the end of the preceding calendar year.

ARTICLE 6: DEFAULTS

6.1 Defaults

Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default that remains uncorrected for a period of 30 days following notice thereof by the Company to the Charterer, then the Company shall have the option to declare such Event of Default to be a breach by the Charterer of any or all of the Charters, in which case the Company or the Owners may (a) terminate any or all of the Charters by delivery of notice to the Charterer in accordance with Section 7.7, (b) foreclose upon any or all of the Security Interests or (c) exercise any or all other rights and remedies available to the Company or the Owners at law or in equity.

ARTICLE 7: MISCELLANEOUS

7.1 Term

Following effectiveness in accordance with Section 1.3, this Agreement shall terminate upon the termination of the last Charter then in effect; provided, however, that the termination of this Agreement shall not impair any rights or obligations of any Party arising hereunder prior to such termination.

7.2 Choice of Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England.

7.3 Arbitration

Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be resolved by arbitration in London in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.3 and the provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996, or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force save to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Section 7.3. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA) on terns current at the time when the arbitration proceedings are commenced. The reference shall be to three arbitrators: one to be appointed by the Company and the Owners (collectively, the "SFIL Parties"), one to be appointed by the Charterer and Frontline and the third to be appointed by the two

arbitrators so chosen, The decision of a majority of the arbitrators shall be final and binding on the Parties. Nothing herein shall prevent the parties from agreeing in writing to vary these provisions to provide for the appointment of a sole arbitrator. In cases where neither the claim nor any counterclaim exceeds the sum of US$50,000 (or such other sum as the parties may agree) the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the LMAA Small Claims Procedure current at the time when the arbitration proceedings are commenced.

7.4 Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the Parties relating to the matters contained herein, superseding all prior contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, relating to the matters contained herein.

7.5 Amendment or Modification

This Agreement may be amended or modified from time to time only by the written agreement of all of the Parties.

7.6 Assignment

(a) The SFIL Parties may assign all of their rights under this Agreement to any mortgagee of the Vessels, and the Parties hereby agree to execute such acknowledgements of assignment in such form as such mortgagee may reasonably require.

(b) Except as set out in Section 7.6 (a) above, no Party shall have the right to assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the other Parties hereto.

7.7 Notices

Unless otherwise provided herein, any notice, request, consent, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any Party to another Party shall be in writing and will be deemed given (a) when received if delivered personally or by courier; or (b) on the date receipt is acknowledged if delivered by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or (c) on the day of transmission if sent by facsimile transmission and receipt thereof is confirmed, as follows:

(a) if to the Company, addressed to:

Ship Finance International Limited

c/o Ship Finance Management AS

P.O. Box. 1327 Vika

N-0112 Oslo

Norway

E-mail: harald.gurvin@shipfinance.no

Telefax: +47 23 11 40 35

(b) if to any Owner, c/o the Company at the Company's address set forth above

(c) if to Frontline, addressed to:

Frontline Ltd

c/o Frontline Management AS

Bryggegt. 3

NO-0112 Oslo

Norway

Attn: Inger M. Klemp

Email: inger.klemp@frontmgt.no

Telefax: +47 23 11 40 40

(d) if to the Charterer, c/o Frontline at Frontline's address set forth above,

or to such other place and with such other copies as any Party may designate as to itself by written notice to the others in accordance with this Section 7.7.

7.8 Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if all signatory parties had signed the same document. All counterparts shall be construed together and shall constitute one and the same instrument.

7.9 Severability

If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance shall be held invalid or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

7.10 U.S. Currency

All sums and amounts payable to or to be payable pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement shall be payable in coin or currency of the United States of America that, at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts in the United States of America.

7.11 Conflict

In the case of conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of either of the Charters, the Security Documents or the Performance Guarantee, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the day and year first above written.

SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

By: ______________________________

Name:

Title: Attorney-in-Fact

FRONT SPLENDOUR SHIPPING INC. FRONT GLORY SHIPPING INC.

FRONT ARDENNE INC.

BOLZANO PTE LTD

FRONT BRABANT INC.

GOLDEN SEAWAY CORPORATION

GOLDEN TIDE CORPORATION

FRONT SCILLA INC.

ARIAKE TRANSPORT CORPORATION

FRONT STRATUS INC.

FRONT SAGA INC.

FRONT SERENADE INC.

FRONT FALCON CORP.

HITACHI HULL 4983 LTD.

SFL FORCE INC.

SFL ENERGY INC.

ULTIMATE SHIPPING LIMITED

By: ______________________________

Name:

Title: Attorney-in-Fact

FRONTLINE SHIPPING LIMITED

By: ______________________________

Name:

Title: Attorney-in-Fact

FRONTLINE LIMITED

By: ______________________________

Name:

Title: Attorney-in-Fact

SCHEDULE A

OWNERS, VESSELS AND CHARTERS

Owner	Vessel	Charter
Front Splendour Shipping Inc.	"Front Splendour"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Glory Shipping Inc.	"Front Glory"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Ardenne Inc.	"Front Ardenne"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Bolzano Pte Ltd	"Mindanao"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Brabant Inc.	"Front Brabant"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Golden Seaway Corporation	"Front Vanguard"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Golden Tide Corporation	"Front Circassia"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Scilla Inc.	"Front Scilla"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Ariake Transport Corporation	"Ariake"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Stratus Inc.	"Ondina"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Saga Inc.	"Front Page"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Serenade Inc.	"Front Serenade"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Front Falcon Corp.	"Front Falcon"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
Hitachi Hull 4983 Ltd.	"Front Hakata"	1 January 2004, as subsequently amended
SFL Force Inc.	"Front Force"	29 June 2005 (as amended from time to time) as novated from Hudson Bay Marine Company Limited to SFL Force Inc.

SFL Energy Inc.	"Front Energy"	13 June 2005 (as amended from time to time), as novated from Newbond Shipping Company Limited to SFL Energy Inc.
Ultimate Shipping Limited	"Front Century"	25 January 2005 (as amended from time to time)

SCHEDULE B

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS

Owner	Vessel	Management Agreement
Front Splendour Shipping Inc.	"Front Splendour"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Front Glory Shipping Inc.	"Front Glory"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Front Ardenne Inc.	"Front Ardenne"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Bolzano Pte Ltd	"Mindanao"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Front Brabant Inc.	"Front Brabant"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Golden Seaway Corporation	"Front Vanguard"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Golden Tide Corporation	"Front Circassia"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Front Scilla Inc.	"Front Scilla"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Ariake Transport Corporation	"Ariake"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Front Stratus Inc.	"Ondina"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Front Saga Inc.	"Front Page"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Front Serenade Inc.	"Front Serenade"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004

Front Falcon Corp.	"Front Falcon"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
Hitachi Hull 4983 Ltd.	"Front Hakata"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 1 January 2004
SFL Force Inc.	"Front Force"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 8 July 2005, as novated from Hudson Bay Marine Company Limited to SFL Force Inc.
SFL Energy Inc.	"Front Energy"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 8 July 2005, as novated from Newbond Shipping Company Limited to SFL Energy Inc.
Ultimate Shipping Limited	"Front Century"	Shipman 98 technical management agreement dated 29 January 2005

EX-8.1

Exhibit 8.1

Significant Subsidiaries

Name	Vessel / Activity	Incorporation	Ownership Percentage
Rig Finance Ltd.	Soehanah	Bermuda	100%
Benmore Shipping Company Limited	Dormant	Cyprus	100%
Newbond Shipping Company Limited	Dormant	Cyprus	100%
Hudson Bay Marine Company Limited	Dormant	Cyprus	100%
Jaymont Shipping Company Limited	Dormant	Cyprus	100%
Front Opalia Inc	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Ariake Transport Corporation	Front Ariake	Liberia	100%
Bonfield Shipping Ltd.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Front Ardenne Inc.	Front Ardenne	Liberia	100%
Front Baldur Inc.	Everbright	Liberia	100%
Front Brabant Inc.	Front Brabant	Liberia	100%
Front Falcon Corp.	Front Falcon	Liberia	100%
Front Glory Shipping Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Front Heimdall Inc	Glorycrown	Liberia	100%
Front Saga Inc.	Front Page	Liberia	100%
Front Scilla Inc.	Front Scilla	Liberia	100%
Front Serenade Inc.	Front Serenade	Liberia	100%
Front Splendour Shipping Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Front Stratus Inc.	Front Stratus	Liberia	100%
Golden Fjord Corporation	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Golden Seaway Corporation	Front Vanguard	Liberia	100%
Golden Sound Corporation	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Golden Tide Corporation	Front Circassia	Liberia	100%
Hitachi Hull # 4983 Corporation	Front Hakata	Liberia	100%
Katong Investments Ltd.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Millcroft Maritime SA	Dormant	Liberia	100%
Ultimate Shipping Ltd.	Front Century	Liberia	100%
Bolzano Pte Ltd.	Dormant	Singapore	100%
Ship Finance Management AS	Management company	Norway	100%
Ship Finance Management (UK) Limited	Management company	United Kingdom	100%
Ship Finance Management (Bermuda) Ltd.	Management company	Bermuda	100%
Madeira International Corp.	Intermediate holding company	Liberia	100%
SFL Bulk Holding Ltd.	Intermediate holding company	Bermuda	100%
SFL Container Holding Limited	Intermediate holding company	Bermuda	100%
SFL Tankers Holding Limited	Intermediate holding company	Bermuda	100%
SFL Capital I Ltd.	Financing	Bermuda	100%
SFL Capital II Ltd.	Financing	Bermuda	100%
SFL Capital V Ltd.	Dormant	Bermuda	100%
SFL Avon Inc	SFL Avon	Liberia	100%
SFL Hudson Inc	SFL Hudson	Liberia	100%
SFL Yukon Inc	SFL Yukon	Liberia	100%
SFL Sara Inc	SFL Sara	Liberia	100%
SFL Humber Inc	SFL Humber	Liberia	100%
SFL Kate Inc	SFL Kate	Liberia	100%
SFL Clyde Inc	Western Houston	Liberia	100%
SFL Dee Inc	Western Copenhagen	Liberia	100%

SFL Trent Inc	SFL Trent	Liberia	100%
SFL Medway Inc	SFL Medway	Liberia	100%
SFL Spey Inc	SFL Spey	Liberia	100%
SFL Kent Inc	SFL Kent	Liberia	100%
SFL Tyne Inc	SFL Tyne	Liberia	100%
SFL Eden Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Lea Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Lune Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Mersey Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Tamar Inc	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Europa Inc.	SFL Europa	Marshall Islands	100%
Phoenix Capital Inc.	Financing	Marshall Islands	100%
SFL Sea Bear Inc.	Sea Bear (sold February 2016)	Marshall Islands	100%
SFL Sea Cheetah Limited	Sea Cheetah	Cyprus	100%
SFL Sea Halibut Limited	Sea Halibut	Cyprus	100%
SFL Sea Pike Limited	Sea Pike	Cyprus	100%
SFL Sea Jaguar Limited	Sea Jaguar	Cyprus	100%
SFL Sea Bear Limited	Dormant	Cyprus	100%
SFL Sea Leopard Limited	Sea Leopard	Cyprus	100%
SFL Corte Real Limited	Dormant	Cyprus	100%
Bluelot Shipping Company Limited	Dormant	Cyprus	100%
SFL Chemical tanker Ltd.	Maria Victoria V	Marshall Islands	100%
SFL Chemical tanker II Ltd.	SC Guangzhou	Marshall Islands	100%
SFL Golden Straights Ltd.	Dormant	Bermuda	100%
SFL Golden Island Ltd.	Dormant	Bermuda	100%
SFL Ace I Ltd.	Heung-A Green	Malta	100%
SFL Ace II Ltd.	Green Ace	Malta	100%
SFL Hercules Ltd.	West Hercules	Bermuda	100%
SFL Deepwater Ltd	West Taurus	Bermuda	100%
SFL Linus Ltd	West Linus	Bermuda	100%
SFL Composer Inc.	Glovis Composer	Liberia	100%
SFL Conductor Inc.	Glovis Conductor	Liberia	100%
SFL Loire Inc.	San Felipe	Liberia	100%
SFL Seine Inc.	San Felix	Liberia	100%
SFL Somme Inc.	San Fernando	Liberia	100%
SFL Taurion Inc.	San Francisca	Liberia	100%
SFL Kenai Inc.	Sinochart Beijing	Liberia	100%
SFL Fraser Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Olden Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Crolly Inc.	Min Sheng 1	Liberia	100%
SFL Energy Inc.	Front Energy	Marshall Islands	100%
SFL Force Inc.	Front Force	Marshall Islands	100%
SFL Rufina Inc	MSC Arushi R.	Liberia	100%
SFL Rosanna Inc.	MSC Vaishnavi R.	Liberia	100%
SFL Romana Inc.	MSC Julia R.	Liberia	100%
SFL Roberta Inc.	Santa Roberta	Liberia	100%
SFL Ricarda Inc.	Santa Ricarda	Liberia	100%
SFL Rebecca Inc.	Santa Rebecca	Liberia	100%
SFL Rafaela Inc.	Santa Rafaela	Liberia	100%
SFL Victoria Inc.	MSC Vidhi	Liberia	100%
SFL Virginia Inc.	MSC Margarita	Liberia	100%
SFL Panaro Inc.	Intermediate holding company	Liberia	100%
SFL Tagus Inc.	Hull 2842 (newbuilding)	Liberia	100%

SFL Tiber Inc.	Hull 2843 (newbuilding)	Liberia	100%
SFL Otra Inc.	Intermediate holding company	Liberia	100%
SFL Battersea Inc	Battersea	Liberia	100%
SFL Beijing Inc.	Golden Beijing	Liberia	100%
SFL Belgravia Inc.	Belgravia	Liberia	100%
SFL China Inc	KSL China	Liberia	100%
SFL Future Inc	Golden Future	Liberia	100%
SFL Magnum Inc.	Golden Magnum	Liberia	100%
SFL Zheijang Inc.	Golden Zheijang	Liberia	100%
SFL Zhoushan Inc	Golden Zhoushan	Liberia	100%
SFL Samara Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Tino Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Dora Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Mulan Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Orco Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Pearl Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%
SFL Sarat Inc.	Maersk Sarat	Liberia	100%
SFL Shivling Inc.	Maersk Shivling	Liberia	100%
SFL Skarstind Inc.	Maersk Skarstind	Liberia	100%
SFL Sabine Inc.	Hull 5015 (newbuilding)	Liberia	100%
SFL Trinity Inc.	Hull 5016 (newbuilding)	Liberia	100%
SFL Countress Inc.	Dormant	Liberia	100%

EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER

I, Ole B. Hjertaker, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Ship Finance International Limited;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 1, 2016

 /s/  Ole B. Hjertaker

Ole B. Hjertaker

Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-12.2

Exhibit 12.2

CERTIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER

I, Harald Gurvin, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Ship Finance International Limited;

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4. The Company's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the Company and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by the annual report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The Company's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company's auditors and the audit committee of the Company's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: April 1, 2016

 /s/  Harald Gurvin

Harald Gurvin

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-13.1

Exhibit 13.1

PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with this Annual Report of Ship Finance International Limited (the "Company") on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on or about the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the SEC or its staff upon request.

Date: April 1, 2016

 /s/ Ole B. Hjertaker

Ole B. Hjertaker

Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)

EX-13.2

Exhibit 13.2

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION

PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350

In connection with this Annual Report of Ship Finance International Limited (the "Company") on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on or about the date hereof (the "Report"), I, Harald Gurvin, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

A signed original of this written statement has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the SEC or its staff upon request.

Date: April 1, 2016

 /s/ Harald Gurvin

Harald Gurvin

Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-15.1

Exhibit 15.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement on Form F-3, File No. 333-170598, as amended, of our report dated April 1, 2016, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Ship Finance International Limited and subsidiaries (the “Company”) and the effectiveness of the Company's internal controls over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015.

/s/ MSPC

Certified Public Accountants and Advisors,

A Professional Corporation

New York, New York

April 1, 2016

XML

DOCUMENT AND ENTITY INFORMATION - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	Ship Finance International LTD
Entity Central Index Key	0001289877
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 965,133,270
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	93,468,000
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Type	20-F
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2015

XML

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating revenues
Direct financing lease interest income - related parties	$ 34,193	$ 45,363	$ 55,385
Direct financing and sales-type lease interest income - other	0	0	4,231
Finance lease service revenues - related parties	46,460	46,488	52,390
Finance lease service revenues - other	0	0	1,846
Profit sharing revenues - related parties	59,607	33,756	770
Time charter revenues - related parties	30,319	10,039	5,647
Time charter revenues - other	130,459	83,013	77,778
Bareboat charter revenues - related parties	12,596	16,364	18,324
Bareboat charter revenues - other	55,419	53,407	42,705
Voyage charter revenues - other	35,783	34,608	9,724
Other operating income	1,904	4,449	2,060
Total operating revenues	406,740	327,487	270,860
Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters, net	7,364	23,931	18,025
Operating expenses
Vessel operating expenses - related parties	56,939	49,170	54,916
Vessel operating expenses - other	63,892	70,300	50,618
Depreciation	78,080	67,393	58,436
Vessel impairment charge	42,410	11,800	0
Administrative expenses - related parties	1,032	965	439
Administrative expenses - other	5,705	6,644	7,110
Total operating expenses	248,058	206,272	171,519
Net operating income	166,046	145,146	117,366
Non-operating income / (expense)
Interest income – related parties, associated companies	18,672	24,464	19,575
Interest income – related parties, other	13,395	4,029	482
Interest income - other	7,075	11,958	10,023
Interest expense - other	(70,583)	(86,081)	(87,225)
Gain/(loss) on purchase of bonds	1,007	(21)	(1,218)
Gain on sale of investment in associated company	0	6,055	0
Gain on redemption of loan notes - related parties	28,904	0	0
Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other	44,552	0	0
Available-for sale securities impairment charge	(20,552)	0	0
Other financial items, net	(21,289)	(16,232)	2,003
Net income before equity in earnings of associated companies	167,227	89,318	61,006
Equity in earnings of associated companies	33,605	33,497	28,200
Net income	$ 200,832	$ 122,815	$ 89,206
Per share information:
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 2.15	$ 1.32	$ 1.00
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, basic	93,450	93,331	89,508
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.88	$ 1.24	$ 0.99
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	119,008	116,747	95,424
Cash dividend per share declared and paid (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 1.63	$ 1.17

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 200,832	$ 122,815	$ 89,206
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	27,154	(351)	41,827
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments in associated companies	158	(5)	2,897
Reclassification into net income of previous fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	(1,348)	(4,504)	2,102
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	981	(8,355)	699
Reclassification into net income of previous fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	20,552	0	0
Other items of comprehensive (loss)/income	(136)	(179)	(58)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	47,361	(13,394)	47,467
Comprehensive income	$ 248,193	$ 109,421	$ 136,673

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 70,175	$ 50,818
Available for sale securities	199,594	73,656
Trade accounts receivable	2,057	3,253
Due from related parties	45,659	152,491
Other receivables	10,441	10,488
Inventories	5,056	6,927
Prepaid expenses and accrued income	5,790	5,075
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, current portion	37,145	37,517
Total current assets	375,917	340,225
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133
Newbuildings	40,149	87,567
Investment in direct financing and sales-type leases, long-term portion	474,298	709,014
Investment in associated companies	84,615	53,457
Loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term	387,712	346,031
Loans to related parties - others, long-term	0	79,294
Other long-term assets	27,746	8,581
Deferred charges	32,271	36,958
Financial instruments (long-term): at fair value	800	3,294
Total assets	3,064,825	3,041,554
Current liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt	208,031	182,415
Trade accounts payable	835	2,432
Due to related parties	416	1,109
Accrued expenses	12,646	18,190
Financial instruments (short-term): at fair value	0	517
Other current liabilities	17,037	9,092
Total current liabilities	238,965	213,755
Long-term liabilities
Long-term debt	1,458,445	1,550,044
Financial instruments (long-term): at fair value	113,642	106,679
Other long-term liabilities	11,963	17,584
Total liabilities	$ 1,823,015	$ 1,888,062
Commitments and contingent liabilities
Stockholders' equity
Share capital ($1 par value; 125,000,000 shares authorized at December 31, 2015 and 2014); (93,468,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2015; 93,404,000 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2014).	$ 93,468	$ 93,404
Additional paid-in capital	285,859	285,248
Contributed surplus	588,133	586,089
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,037)	(48,240)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss – associated companies	(2,126)	(2,284)
Retained earnings	277,513	239,275
Total stockholders' equity	1,241,810	1,153,492
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,064,825	$ 3,041,554

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders' equity
Share capital, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Share Capital, shares authorized	125,000,000	125,000,000
Share Capital, shares issued	93,468,000	93,404,000
Share Capital, shares outstanding	93,468,000	93,404,000

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating activities
Net income	$ 200,832	$ 122,815	$ 89,206
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	78,080	67,393	58,436
Vessel impairment charge	42,410	11,800	0
Available for sale securities impairment charge	20,552	0	0
Amortization of deferred charges	11,613	11,271	11,305
Amortization of seller's credit	(1,904)	(1,903)	(1,983)
Equity in earnings of associated companies	(33,605)	(33,497)	(28,200)
Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters	(7,364)	(23,931)	(18,025)
Gain on sale of investment in associated company	0	(6,055)	0
Gain on redemption of Horizon loan notes and warrants	(44,552)	0	0
Gain on redemption of Frontline loan notes	(28,904)	0	0
Adjustment of derivatives to fair value recognized in net income	13,278	7,699	(7,950)
(Gain)/loss on repurchase of bonds	(1,007)	21	1,218
Interest receivable in form of notes	(2,182)	(3,197)	(2,767)
Other, net	(1,134)	(458)	(1,396)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Trade accounts receivable	1,196	5,109	(4,313)
Due from related parties	14,105	(20,634)	49,189
Other receivables	(840)	(9,418)	(740)
Inventories	(2,529)	(320)	(3,656)
Prepaid expenses and accrued income	(715)	(1,104)	(3,236)
Trade accounts payable	(1,572)	(1,095)	2,047
Accrued expenses	(5,302)	4,358	271
Other current liabilities	7,945	3,547	718
Net cash provided by operating activities	258,401	132,401	140,124
Investing activities
Repayments from investments in direct financing and sales-type leases	35,946	43,120	51,220
Additions to newbuildings	(223,109)	(202,333)	(109,337)
Purchase of vessels	(273,552)	(192,864)	0
Proceeds from sale of vessels and termination of charters	42,275	199,429	83,583
Proceeds from sale of investment in associated company	111,095	0	0
Proceeds from redemption of Horizon loan notes and warrants	71,681	0	0
Proceeds from redemption of Frontline loan notes	112,687	0	0
Net amounts (paid to)/received from associated companies	(62,083)	88,585	(81,308)
Proceeds from repayment of investment loan (included in other receivables)	0	50,000	0
Other investments and long-term assets, net	(20,722)	(7,877)	(18,140)
Net cash used in investing activities	(205,782)	(21,940)	(73,982)
Financing activities
Proceeds from shares issued, net of issuance costs	675	927	128,880
Payments in lieu of issuing shares for exercised share options	0	(1,196)	(448)
Repurchase of bonds	(23,787)	(75,262)	(254,132)
Proceeds from issuance of short-term and long-term debt	595,305	733,632	705,347
Repayments of short-term and long-term debt	(435,706)	(616,783)	(530,186)
Debt fees paid	(7,155)	(7,460)	(8,390)
Cash dividends paid	(162,594)	(152,142)	(109,114)
Net cash used in financing activities	(33,262)	(118,284)	(68,043)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	19,357	(7,823)	(1,901)
Cash and cash equivalents at start of the year	50,818	58,641	60,542
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	70,175	50,818	58,641
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$ 68,215	$ 82,524	$ 77,630

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Share capital	Additional paid-in capital	Contributed surplus	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Accumulated other comprehensive loss – associated companies	Retained earnings
Balance, at beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 994,768	$ 85,225	$ 144,258	$ 561,372	$ (79,421)	$ (5,176)	$ 288,510
Balance, at beginning of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	85,225,000	85,225,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Payments in lieu of issuing shares	$ (448)		(448)
Amortization of stock based compensation	220		220
Shares issued	$ 128,915	$ 8,035	120,880
Shares issued (in shares)	8,035,000	8,035,000
Equity component of convertible bond issuance, net	$ 20,722		20,722
Amortization of deferred equity contributions	20,197			20,197
(Gain)/loss on hedging financial instruments reclassified into earnings	2,102				2,102
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	41,827				41,827
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Net of Tax	0				0
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	699				699
Other items of comprehensive (loss)/income	(58)				(58)
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments in associated companies	2,897					2,897
Net income	89,206						89,206
Dividends declared	(109,114)						(109,114)
Balance, at end of year at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 1,191,933	$ 93,260	285,632	581,569	(34,851)	(2,279)	268,602
Balance, at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	93,260,000	93,260,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	$ (36,110)
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	1,268
Other items	(9)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(34,851)
Payments in lieu of issuing shares	(1,196)		(1,196)
Amortization of stock based compensation	29		29
Shares issued	$ 927	$ 144	783
Shares issued (in shares)	144,000	144,000
Equity component of convertible bond issuance, net	$ 0		0
Amortization of deferred equity contributions	4,520			4,520
(Gain)/loss on hedging financial instruments reclassified into earnings	(4,504)				(4,504)
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	(351)				(351)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Net of Tax	0				0
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	(8,355)				(8,355)
Other items of comprehensive (loss)/income	(179)				(179)
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments in associated companies	(5)					(5)
Net income	122,815						122,815
Dividends declared	(152,142)						(152,142)
Balance, at end of year at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 1,153,492	$ 93,404	285,248	586,089	(48,240)	(2,284)	239,275
Balance, at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014	93,404,000	93,404,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	$ (40,965)
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	(7,087)
Other items	(188)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(48,240)
Payments in lieu of issuing shares	0		0
Amortization of stock based compensation	0		0
Shares issued	$ 675	$ 64	611
Shares issued (in shares)	64,000	64,000
Equity component of convertible bond issuance, net	$ 0		0
Amortization of deferred equity contributions	2,044			2,044
(Gain)/loss on hedging financial instruments reclassified into earnings	(1,348)				(1,348)
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	27,154				27,154
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Write-down of Securities, Net of Tax	20,552				20,552
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	981				981
Other items of comprehensive (loss)/income	(136)				(136)
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments in associated companies	158					158
Net income	200,832						200,832
Dividends declared	(162,594)						(162,594)
Balance, at end of year at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 1,241,810	$ 93,468	$ 285,859	$ 588,133	$ (1,037)	$ (2,126)	$ 277,513
Balance, at end of year (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015	93,468,000	93,468,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Fair value adjustments to hedging financial instruments	$ (15,159)
Fair value adjustments to available for sale securities	14,446
Other items	(324)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (1,037)

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GENERAL

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

GENERAL

GENERAL

Ship Finance International Limited ("Ship Finance" or the "Company") is an international ship and offshore asset owning and chartering company, incorporated in October 2003 in Bermuda as a Bermuda exempted company. The Company's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "SFL". The Company is primarily engaged in the ownership, operation and chartering out of vessels and offshore related assets on medium and long-term charters.

As of December 31, 2015, the Company owned 12 very large crude oil carriers ("VLCCs"), four Suezmax crude oil carriers, eight Capesize dry bulk carriers, five Supramax dry bulk carriers, seven Handysize dry bulk carriers, two Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers, 18 container vessels, two car carriers, two jack-up drilling rigs, two ultra-deepwater drilling units, six offshore supply vessels and two chemical tankers. The two ultra-deepwater drilling units and one of the jack-up drilling rigs referred to above are owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that are accounted for using the equity method (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). At December 31, 2015, the Company had also contracted to acquire two newbuilding container vessels scheduled for delivery in 2016 and two product tankers scheduled for delivery in 2017. In addition, the Company has entered into agreements to charter-in two 18,000-20,000 TEU newbuilding container vessels on a long-term bareboat basis when they are delivered from the shipyard in 2016 and 2017.

Since its incorporation in 2003 and public listing in 2004, Ship Finance has established itself as a leading international ship and offshore asset owning and chartering company, expanding both its asset and customer base.

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP"). The consolidated financial statements include the assets and liabilities and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation. Where necessary, comparative figures for previous years have been reclassified to conform to changes in presentation in the current year.

Consolidation of variable interest entities

A variable interest entity is defined in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810 "Consolidation" ("ASC 810") as a legal entity where either (a) the total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated support; (b) equity interest holders as a group lack either i) the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact on its economic success, ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the voting rights of some investors in the entity are not proportional to their economic interests and the activities of the entity involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with a disproportionately small voting interest.

ASC 810 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, being the interest holder, if any, which has both (1) the power to direct the activities of the entity which most significantly impact on the entity's economic performance, and (2) the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses from the entity which could potentially be significant to the entity.

We evaluate our subsidiaries, and any other entities in which we hold a variable interest, in order to determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of the entity, and where it is determined that we are the primary beneficiary we fully consolidate the entity.

Investments in associated companies

Investments in companies over which the Company exercises significant influence but which it does not consolidate are accounted for using the equity method. The Company records its investments in equity-method investees on the consolidated balance sheets as "Investment in associated companies" and its share of the investees' earnings or losses in the consolidated statements of operations as "Equity in earnings of associated companies." At December 31, 2015, two ultra-deepwater drilling units and one jack-up drilling rig are owned by three wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of accounting estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign currencies

The Company's functional currency is the U.S. dollar as the majority of revenues are received in U.S. dollars and the majority of the Company's expenditures are made in U.S. dollars. The Company's reporting currency is also the U.S. dollar. Most of the Company's subsidiaries report in U.S. dollars. Transactions in foreign currencies during the year are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at the date of the transaction. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated using rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Foreign currency non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated using historical rates of exchange. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are included under "Other financial items" in the consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue and expense recognition

Revenues and expenses are recognized on the accrual basis.

The Company generates its revenues from the charter hire of its vessels and offshore related assets, and freight billings. Revenues are generated from time charter hire, bareboat charter hire, direct financing lease interest income, sales-type lease interest income, finance lease service revenues, profit sharing arrangements and freight billings, where contracts exist, the charter and voyage rates are predetermined, service is provided and the collection of the revenue is reasonably assured.

Each charter agreement is evaluated and classified as an operating or a capital lease. Rental receipts from operating leases are recognized in income as it is earned ratably on a straight line basis over the duration of the period of each charter as adjusted for off-hire days.

Rental payments from capital leases, which are either direct financing leases or sales-type leases, are allocated between lease service revenue, if applicable, lease interest income and repayment of net investment in leases. The amount allocated to lease service revenue is based on the estimated fair value, at the time of entering the lease agreement, of the services provided which consist of ship management and operating services.

Voyage revenues are recognized ratably over the estimated length of each voyage, and accordingly are allocated between reporting periods based on the relative transit time in each period. Voyage expenses are recognized as incurred. Probable losses on voyages are provided for in full at the time such losses can be estimated.

Vessel operating expenses are expensed as incurred. Under a time charter, specified voyage costs such as fuel and port charges are paid by the charterer and other non-specified voyage expenses, such as commissions, are paid by the Company. Vessel operating costs include crews, voyage costs not applicable to the charterer, maintenance and insurance and are paid by the Company. Under a bareboat charter, the charterer assumes responsibility for all voyage and vessel operating costs and risks of operation. If payment is received in advance from charterers, it is recorded as deferred charter revenue and recognized as revenue over the period to which it relates.

Amounts receivable from profit sharing arrangements with Frontline Shipping Limited ("Frontline Shipping") and Frontline Shipping II Limited ("Frontline Shipping II"), which are related parties, are accrued based on amounts earned at the reporting date. Such profit share income has two elements:

- 50% profit sharing: From January 1, 2012, up to and including June 30, 2015, the charter agreements with Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II included provisions whereby they were to pay the Company profit sharing of 25% of their earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis from their use of the Company's fleet above average threshold charter rates each fiscal year. In December 2011, the Company received a $106 million compensation payment from Frontline Ltd. ("Frontline"), of which $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to this 25% profit sharing agreement. The amendments to the charter agreements made on June 5, 2015, increased the profit sharing percentage to 50% for earnings above new threshold levels from July 1, 2015, onwards. The Company did not recognize any income under the 25% profit sharing agreement, as the cumulative share of earnings did not attain the starting level of $50 million over the three and a half years of the agreement's duration. The new 50% profit sharing agreement is not subject to any such constraints.

- Cash sweep: The charter agreements effective from January 1, 2012, were essentially the continuation of previous agreements amended to temporarily reduce the time-charter rates by $6,500 per day for the four year period commencing January 1, 2012. The agreements additionally provided that during the four year period Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II would pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day per vessel.

As detailed in Note 23: "Related party transactions"; the Company also has profit sharing arrangements with related parties Golden Ocean Group Limited ("Golden Ocean") and United Freight Carriers ("UFC"). Amounts receivable under these arrangements are accrued on the basis of amounts earned at the reporting date.

All contingent elements of rental income, such as profit share, cash sweep and interest rate adjustments, are recognized when the contingent conditions have materialized.

Cash and cash equivalents

For the purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, all demand and time deposits and highly liquid, low risk investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered equivalent to cash.

Available for sale securities

Available for sale securities held by the Company consist of share investments and interest-earning listed and unlisted corporate bonds. It is expected that corporate bonds will be held to maturity or redemption, and any premium paid on their acquisition is amortized over the life of the bond. Available for sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income. If circumstances arise which lead the Company to believe that the issuer of a corporate bond may be unable meet its payment obligations in full, or that the fair value at acquisition of the share investment or corporate bond may otherwise not be fully recoverable, then to the extent that a loss is expected to arise that unrealized loss is recorded as an impairment in the statement of operations, with an adjustment if necessary to any unrealized gains or losses previously recorded in other comprehensive income.

The fair value of unlisted corporate bonds is determined from an analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the bonds, credit ratings and default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market.

Trade accounts receivable

The amount shown as trade accounts receivable at each balance sheet date includes receivables due from customers for hire of vessels and offshore related assets, net of allowance for doubtful balances. At each balance sheet date, all potentially uncollectable accounts are assessed individually to determine any allowance for doubtful receivables. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, no provision was made for doubtful receivables.

Inventories

Inventories are comprised principally of fuel and lubricating oils and are stated at the lower of cost and market value. Cost is determined on a first-in first-out basis.

Vessels and equipment (including operating lease assets)

Vessels and equipment are recorded at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and, if appropriate, impairment charges. The cost of these assets less estimated residual value is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated remaining economic useful life of the asset. The estimated economic useful life of our offshore assets, including drilling rigs and drillships, is 30 years and for all other vessels it is 25 years. 

Where an asset is subject to an operating lease that includes fixed price purchase options, the projected net book value of the asset is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net book value at an option date, the initial depreciation schedule is amended so that the carrying value of the asset is written down on a straight line basis to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to amortize the remaining carrying value, on a straight line basis, to the estimated scrap value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

This accounting policy for fixed assets has the effect that if an option is exercised there will be either a) no gain or loss on the sale of the asset or b) in the event that the option is exercised at a price in excess of the net book value at the option date, a gain will be reported in the statement of operations at the date of delivery to the new owners, under the heading "gain on sale of assets and termination of charters".

Office equipment is depreciated at 20% per annum on a reducing balance basis.

Newbuildings

The carrying value of vessels under construction ("newbuildings") represents the accumulated costs to the balance sheet date which the Company has paid by way of purchase installments and other capital expenditures together with capitalized loan interest and associated finance costs. No charge for depreciation is made until a newbuilding is put into operation.

Capitalized interest

Interest expense is capitalized during the period of construction of newbuilding vessels based on accumulated expenditures for the applicable vessel at the Company's capitalization rate of interest. The amount of interest capitalized in an accounting period is determined by applying an interest rate ("the capitalization rate") to the average amount of accumulated expenditures for the vessel during the period. The capitalization rate used in an accounting period is based on the rates applicable to borrowings outstanding during the period. The Company does not capitalize amounts in excess of actual interest expense incurred in the period.

Investment in Capital Leases

Leases (charters) of our vessels where we are the lessor are classified as either capital leases or operating leases, based on an assessment of the terms of the lease. For charters classified as capital leases, the minimum lease payments (reduced in the case of time-chartered vessels by projected vessel operating costs) plus the estimated residual value of the vessel are recorded as the gross investment in the capital lease.

For capital leases that are direct financing leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the carrying value of the vessel is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The net investment in the lease consists of the gross investment less the unearned income. Over the period of the lease each charter payment received, net of vessel operating costs if applicable, is allocated between "lease interest income" and "repayment of investment in lease" in such a way as to produce a constant percentage rate of return on the balance of the net investment in the direct financing lease. Thus, as the balance of the net investment in each direct financing lease decreases, a lower proportion of each lease payment received is allocated to lease interest income and a greater proportion is allocated to lease repayment. For direct financing leases relating to time chartered vessels, the portion of each time charter payment received that relates to vessel operating costs is classified as "lease service revenue".

For capital leases that are sales-type leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the present value of its components, i.e. the minimum lease payments and the estimated residual value, is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The discount rate used in determining the present values is the interest rate implicit in the lease. The present value of the minimum lease payments, computed using the interest rate implicit in the lease, is recorded as the sales price, from which the carrying value of the vessel at the commencement of the lease is deducted in order to determine the profit or loss on sale. As is the case for direct financing leases, the unearned lease interest income is amortized to income over the period of the lease so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the lease.

Where a capital lease relates to a charter arrangement containing fixed price purchase options, the projected carrying value of the net investment in the lease is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net investment in the lease at an option date, the rate of amortization of unearned lease interest income is adjusted to reduce the net investment to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to reduce the net investment in the lease to the un-guaranteed residual value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

This accounting policy for investments in capital leases has the effect that if an option is exercised there will either be a) no gain or loss on the exercise of the option or b) in the event that an option is exercised at a price in excess of the net investment in the lease at the option date, a gain will be reported in the statement of operations at the date of delivery to the new owners.

If the terms of an existing lease are agreed to be amended, other than by renewing the lease or extending its term, in a manner that would have resulted in a different classification of the lease had such amended terms been in effect at the lease inception, the amended lease agreement shall be considered to be a new lease agreement over the remainder of its term. If the terms of a capital lease are amended in a way that does not result in it being treated as a new operating lease agreement, the remaining minimum lease payments and, if appropriate, the estimated residual value will be amended to reflect the revised terms, with a corresponding increase or decrease in unearned income.

Other Long-Term Investments

Other long-term investments are measured at fair value using the best available value indicators, and are included in "Other long-term assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company currently has one long-term investment, consisting of shares in a container vessel owner/operator which are not publicly traded, and the best estimate available for the valuation of this investment is the cost basis. When using this basis of valuation, the Company carries out regular reviews for possible impairment adjustments. Following such a review, an impairment adjustment of $2.9 million was made to the carrying value of this asset in 2012, reducing its carrying value to $nil (December 31, 2015: $nil; December 31, 2014: $nil).

At December 31, 2014, the Company had another long-term investment consisting of warrants to purchase shares in a U.S. company, which were received in 2012, together with other assets, as part of the consideration for the Company agreeing to terminate certain long-term charter agreements. Although shares in the U.S. company were traded on the over-the-counter market, the warrants were not listed. The Company considered that the best method of establishing the fair value of these warrants was to calculate their value in relation to the current market price of the underlying shares, taking into account the terms, restrictions and other features of the warrants, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of the issuing company, trading characteristics of the issuing company's shares, and actual sale transactions of comparable securities completed in secondary markets. The Company carried out regular reviews of the value of this investment, and adjusted the carrying value accordingly. In 2012, the Company concluded that the initial value of the warrants may not be recoverable and recorded an impairment charge of $0.5 million, reducing the carrying value to $1.2 million (December 31, 2014: $1.2 million). The Company sold this long-term investment in May 2015 (see Note 9: Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other).

Deemed Equity Contributions

The Company has accounted for the acquisition of vessels from Frontline at Frontline's historical carrying value. The difference between the historical carrying value and the net investment in each lease was recorded as a deferred deemed equity contribution. These deferred deemed equity contributions were presented as a reduction in the net investment in direct financing leases in the balance sheet, due to the related party nature of both the transfer of the vessels and the subsequent direct financing leases. The deferred deemed equity contributions were amortized as credits to contributed surplus over the life of the lease arrangements, as lease payments were applied to the principal balance of each lease receivable. Amendments were made to the charter agreements on June 5, 2015, reducing daily lease payments from July 1, 2015, onwards. In the course of re-stating the amended leases, it was concluded that amortization of the deferred deemed equity contributions is no longer appropriate and these items are now incorporated into the revised lease schedules.

Impairment of long-lived assets, including other long-term investments

The carrying value of long-lived assets, including other long-term investments, that are held by the Company are reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For vessels, such indicators may include historically low spot charter rates and second hand vessel values. The Company assesses recoverability of the carrying value of the asset by estimating the future net cash flows expected to result from the asset, including eventual disposition, taking into account the possibility of any existing medium and long-term charter arrangements being terminated early. If the future expected net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the carrying value of the asset and its fair value. In addition, long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less estimated costs to sell. The Company carried out a review of the carrying value of its vessels, drilling rigs and long-term investments in the year ended December 31, 2015, and concluded that the carrying values of two container vessels and two off-shore supply vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against those assets. In the year ended December 31, 2014, reviews of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that the carrying value of five container vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against those assets, which were sold in 2015. No impairment loss was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2013.

Deferred charges

Loan costs, including debt arrangement fees, are capitalized and amortized on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant loan. The straight line basis of amortization approximates the effective interest method in the Company's statement of operations. Amortization of loan costs is included in interest expense. If a loan is repaid early, any unamortized portion of the related deferred charges is charged against income in the period in which the loan is repaid. Similarly, if a portion of a loan is repaid early, the corresponding portion of the unamortized related deferred charges is charged against income in the period in which the early repayment is made.

Convertible bonds

The Company accounts for debt instruments with convertible features in accordance with the details and substance of the instruments at the time of their issuance. For convertible debt instruments issued at a substantial premium to equivalent instruments without conversion features, or those that may be settled in cash upon conversion, it is presumed that the premium or cash conversion option represents an equity component. Accordingly, the Company determines the carrying amounts of the liability and equity components of such convertible debt instruments by first determining the carrying amount of the liability component by measuring the fair value of a similar liability that does not have an equity component. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the embedded conversion option is then determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the total proceeds from the issue. The resulting equity component is recorded, with a corresponding offset to debt discount which is subsequently amortized to interest cost using the effective interest method over the period the debt is expected to be outstanding as an additional non-cash interest expense. Transaction costs associated with the instrument are allocated pro-rata between the debt and equity components.

For conventional convertible bonds which do not have a cash conversion option or where no substantial premium is received on issuance, it may not be appropriate to split the bond into the liability and equity components.

Derivatives

Interest rate and currency swaps

The Company enters into interest rate swap transactions from time to time to hedge a portion of its exposure to floating interest rates. These transactions involve the conversion of floating interest rates into fixed rates over the life of the transactions without an exchange of underlying principal. The Company also enters into currency swap transactions from time to time to hedge against the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on loan liabilities. Currency swap transactions involve the exchange of fixed amounts of other currencies for fixed US dollar amounts over the life of the transactions, including an exchange of underlying principal. The Company may also enter into a combination of interest and currency swaps "cross currency interest rate swaps". The fair values of the interest rate and currency swap contracts, including cross currency interest rate swaps, are recognized as assets or liabilities, and for certain of the Company's swaps the changes in fair values are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. When the interest rate and/or currency swap or combination, qualifies for hedge accounting under ASC Topic 815 "Derivatives and Hedging" ("ASC 815"), and the Company has formally designated the swap as a hedge to the underlying loan, and when the hedge is effective, the changes in the fair value of the swap are recognized in other comprehensive income. If it becomes probable that the hedged forecasted transaction to which these swaps relate will not occur, the amounts in other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings immediately.

Financial Instruments

In determining the fair value of its financial instruments, the Company uses a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments, including most derivatives and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as options pricing models are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

Drydocking provisions

Normal vessel repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense when incurred. The Company recognizes the cost of a drydocking at the time the drydocking takes place, that is, it applies the "expense as incurred" method.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed based on the income available to common stockholders and the weighted average number of shares outstanding for basic EPS. Diluted EPS includes the effect of the assumed conversion of potentially dilutive instruments.

Share-based compensation

The Company accounts for share-based payments in accordance with ASC Topic 718 "Compensation – Stock Compensation" ("ASC 718"), under which the fair value of stock options issued to employees is expensed over the period in which the options vest. The Company uses the simplified method for making estimates of the expected term of stock options.

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RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" in order to ensure that revenue recognition requirements are the same under both US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). ASU 2014-09 removes inconsistencies and provides a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues. ASU 2014-09 was effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 "Deferral of the Effective Date" to delay the implementation of ASU 2014-09 by one year, in response to feedback from preparers, practitioners and users of financial statements. Accordingly, ASU 2014-09 is now effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for reporting and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16 "Derivatives and Hedging" in order to standardize the determination of whether the host contract in a hybrid financial instrument issued in the form of a share is more akin to debt or to equity. ASU 2014-16 requires that all terms and features of the hybrid instrument, including the embedded derivative feature itself, must be taken into account when establishing separate accounting for the embedded derivative. ASU 2014-16 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December15, 2015. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-16 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" in order to clarify the basis for consolidation of certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. Specifically, ASU 2015-02 (i) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities, (ii) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (iii) affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships, and (iv) provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” to simplify presentation of debt issuance costs. The amendments in this update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this update. ASU 2015-03 is effective for public entities with reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 "Interest - Imputation of Interest" to address the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, which were not specifically addressed in ASU 2015-03. The Company believes that the implementation of this update will only affect the presentation of debt issuance costs which will be shown as a direct deduction of the related debt instead of under non-current assets in the accompanying balance sheets.

In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-10 "Technical Corrections and Improvements" to clarify and make minor improvements to the Codification and correct unintended application of guidance. The FASB does not expect the numerous amendments to have a significant effect on accounting practice. ASU 2015-10 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 31, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" to reduce the complexity and cost of the subsequent measurement of inventory, in particular when using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost methods. The provisions of ASU 2015-11 specifically exclude inventory that is measured using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. Entities should measure inventory within the scope of ASU 2015-11 at the lower of cost and net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. ASU 2016-01 particularly relates to the fair value and impairment of equity investments, financial instruments measured at amortized cost, and the use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is only permitted for certain particular amendments within ASU 2016-01, where financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-01 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 "Leases" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 creates a new Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 "Leases" to replace the previous Topic 840 "Leases." ASU 2016-02 affects both lessees and lessors, although for the latter the provisions are similar to the previous model, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and also the new revenue recognition provisions contained in ASU 2014-09 (see above). ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07 "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures" to simplify the transition to the equity method of accounting. ASU 2016-07 eliminates the requirement that when an investment qualifies for the use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership, the investor must adjust the investment, results of operations and retained earnings retrospectively as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods in which the investment had been held. ASU 2016-07 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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SEGMENT INFORMATION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Segment Reporting [Abstract]

SEGMENT INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company has only one reportable segment. The Company's assets operate on a world-wide basis and the Company's management does not evaluate performance by geographical region or by asset type, as they believe that any such information would not be meaningful.

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TAXATION

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

TAXATION

TAXATION

Bermuda

Under current Bermudan law, the Company is not required to pay taxes in Bermuda on either income or capital gains. The Company has received written assurance from the Minister of Finance in Bermuda that, in the event of any such taxes being imposed, the Company will be exempted from taxation until the year 2035.

United States

The Company does not accrue U.S. income taxes as, in the opinion of U.S. counsel, the Company is not engaged in a U.S. trade or business and is exempted from a gross basis tax under Section 883 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

A reconciliation between the income tax expense resulting from applying statutory income tax rates and the reported income tax expense has not been presented herein, as it would not provide additional useful information to users of the financial statements as the Company's net income is subject to neither Bermuda nor U.S. tax.

Other Jurisdictions

Certain of the Company's subsidiaries and branches in Norway and the United Kingdom are subject to income tax in their respective jurisdictions. The tax paid by subsidiaries of the Company that are subject to income tax is not material.

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EARNINGS PER SHARE

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The computation of basic EPS is based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year and the consolidated net income of the Company. Diluted EPS includes the effect of the assumed conversion of potentially dilutive instruments.

The components of the numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands of $)	2015	2014	2013
Basic:
Net income available to stockholders	200,832	122,815	89,206
Diluted:
Net income available to stockholders	200,832	122,815	89,206
Interest paid on 3.75% convertible bonds	5,078	5,060	5,092
Interest paid on 3.25% convertible bonds	17,371	17,371	—
	223,281	145,246	94,298

The components of the denominator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands)	2015	2014	2013
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Effect of dilutive share options	23	84	163
Effect of dilutive convertible debt	25,535	23,332	5,753
	119,008	116,747	95,424

The 3.25% convertible bonds issued in January 2013 were not dilutive at December 31, 2013.

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OPERATING LEASES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Leases, Operating [Abstract]

OPERATING LEASES

OPERATING LEASES

Rental income

The minimum future revenues to be received under the Company's non-cancelable operating leases on its vessels as of December 31, 2015, are as follows: 

(in thousands of $)
Year ending December 31,
2016	263,340
2017	252,799
2018	211,819
2019	175,756
2020	147,902
Thereafter	293,855
Total minimum lease revenues	1,345,471

The cost and accumulated depreciation of vessels leased to third parties on operating leases at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Cost	1,964,852	1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133

An impairment charge of $29.2 million was recorded against the carrying value of two container vessels in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $11.8 million).

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GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets [Abstract]

GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS

GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS

The Company has recorded gains on sale of assets and termination of charters as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands)	2015	2014		2013
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	7,364	(1,384	)	18,025
Gain on termination of charters	—	25,315		—
Total gain on sale of assets and termination of charters	7,364	23,931		18,025

The Company distinguishes between gains on termination of charters, where ownership of the underlying vessel is retained, and gains on sale of assets, where the vessel is disposed of and there may be an associated charter termination fee paid or received for early termination of the underlying charter.

Gain on sale of vessels

The container vessels SFL Eagle, SFL Tiger, SFL Hunter, SFL Hawk and SFL Falcon were operating lease assets, secured against a $210 million loan facility for which Ship Finance International Limited provided an indirect limited performance guarantee. In January 2015, the guarantee became exhausted and in February 2015 the Company signed an agreement with the lenders under the loan facility whereby ownership of the vessels together with associated working capital was transferred to unrelated third parties, and Ship Finance International Limited and its subsidiaries ceased to have any further interest in the vessels or obligations under the loan facility (see Note 19: Long-term debt). An impairment charge of $11.8 million had been recorded against the carrying value of these vessels in the fourth quarter of 2014, and an aggregate loss of $114,000 was recorded on their disposal in February 2015.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Suezmax tankers Front Glory, Front Splendour and Mindanao, which were accounted for as direct financing lease assets, were sold to unrelated third parties in September 2015, October 2015 and December 2015, respectively. Gains of $3.4 million, $2.4 million and $1.7 million, respectively, were recorded on their disposal, after deducting compensation paid for early termination of the charters (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

The aggregate net gain on sale of vessels in the year ended December 31, 2015, was $7.4 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2014, the Company sold three VLCCs to unrelated parties and realized losses of $1.4 million on their disposal.

During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company sold one oil/bulk/ore carrier ("OBO"), one single-hull VLCC, two double-hull VLCCs and one Suezmax tanker to unrelated parties and realized gains of $18.0 million on their disposal.

Gain on termination of charters

In September 2010, the Company agreed five year time-charters at a net rate of approximately $14,000 per day per vessel for four 34,000 dwt Handysize dry bulk carriers, which were under construction at the time. The vessels were delivered from the shipyard in the second half of 2011 and the first half of 2012, and duly commenced the agreed time-charters. In July 2012, however, the charterer stopped paying the agreed charter hire and the vessels were returned to the Company. Proceedings were initiated against the charterer to recover unpaid charter hire and the matter was settled in the year ended December 31, 2014. A gain on termination of charters amounting to $25.3 million was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2014, net of legal and other costs.

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GAIN ON SALE OF LOAN NOTES AND SHARE WARRANTS - OTHER

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Investments, All Other Investments [Abstract]

GAIN ON SALE OF LOAN NOTES AND SHARE WARRANTS - OTHER

GAIN ON SALE OF LOAN NOTES AND SHARE WARRANTS - OTHER

In May 2015, the Company sold its holding of loan notes in Horizon Lines, LLC and share warrants in Horizon Lines, Inc. for total net cash proceeds of approximately $71.7 million. These unlisted second lien interest-bearing loan notes and share warrants had been received as compensation on termination of charters to Horizon Lines, LLC in April 2012. At the time of disposal, the notes had a carrying value of approximately $25.9 million (December 31, 2014: $23.7 million) and the warrants had a carrying value of approximately $1.2 million (December 31, 2014: $1.2 million), resulting in a total gain of $44.6 million on disposal.

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OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS

OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS

Other financial items comprise the following items: 

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands of $)	2015		2014		2013
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of non-designated derivatives	(13,051	)	(7,636	)	7,726
Net cash payments on non-designated derivatives	(6,453	)	(7,196	)	(2,653	)
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of designated derivatives (ineffective portion)	(227	)	(63	)	224
Other items	(1,558	)	(1,337	)	(3,294	)
Total other financial items	(21,289	)	(16,232	)	2,003

The net movement in the fair values of non-designated derivatives and net cash payments thereon relate to non-designated, terminated or de-designated interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps. The net movement in the fair values of designated derivatives relates to the ineffective portion of interest rate swaps and cross currency interest rate swaps that have been designated as cash flow hedges. Changes in the fair values of the effective portion of interest rate swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges are reported under "Other comprehensive income". The above net increase/ (decrease) in valuation of non-designated derivatives in the year ended December 31, 2015, includes $(1.3) million (2014: $(4.5) million; 2013: $2.1 million) reclassified from "Other comprehensive income", as a result of certain interest rate swaps relating to loan facilities no longer being designated as cash flow hedges.

Other items in the year ended December 31, 2015, include a net gain of $53,000 arising from foreign currency translation (2014: $109,000; 2013: $507,000). Other items also include bank charges and fees relating to loan facilities.

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AVAILABLE FOR SALE SECURITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

AVAILABLE FOR SALE SECURITIES

AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE SECURITIES

Marketable securities held by the Company are debt securities and share investments considered to be available-for-sale securities.  

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Amortized cost	185,148	80,743
Accumulated net unrealized (loss)/gain	14,446	(7,087	)
Carrying value	199,594	73,656

The Company's investment in marketable securities consists of investments in listed shares and secured notes which mature in 2019. Available-for-sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income. The net unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities included in other comprehensive income as at December 31, 2015, was $14.4 million (2014: net unrealized loss $7.1 million).

The investment in listed shares at December 31, 2015, consists of shares in Frontline with a carrying value of $164.5 million (2014: $nil) (see Note 23: Related party transactions, and Note 16: Investment in associated companies).

The investment in secured notes at December 31, 2015, consists of listed and unlisted corporate bonds with a total carrying value of $35.1 million (2014: $49.9 million). In December 2015, the Company determined that the bonds were other than temporarily impaired and recorded an impairment charge of $20.6 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil), reducing their amortized cost to fair value at December 31, 2015.

The above available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2014, also included unlisted second lien interest-bearing loan notes with carrying value $23.7 million. These loan notes included accumulated interest receivable, had a total face value of $59.4 million, and were issued by Horizon Lines, LLC as part of compensation received on termination of charters. The Company sold these loan notes in May, 2015 (see Note 9: Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other).

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TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Receivables [Abstract]

TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade accounts receivable

Trade accounts receivable are presented net of allowances for doubtful debts. The allowance for doubtful trade accounts receivable was $nil at both December 31, 2015 and 2014. As at December 31, 2015, the Company has no reason to believe that any amount included in trade accounts receivable will not be recovered through due process or negotiation.

Other receivables

Other receivables are presented with no allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2015 and 2014.

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VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET

VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Cost	1,964,852	1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133

During 2015, the Company took delivery of eight second-hand dry bulk carriers at an aggregate cost of $272.0 million and three newbuilding container vessels at an aggregate cost of $270.7 million. During 2014, the Company took delivery of two second-hand dry bulk carriers at an aggregate cost of $61.8 million, nine second-hand container vessels at an aggregate cost of $127.9 million and two newbuilding container vessels at an aggregate cost of $173.8 million.

An impairment charge of $29.2 million was recorded against the carrying value of two container vessels in the year ended December 31, 2015. In the year ended December 31, 2014, an impairment charge of $11.8 million was recorded against the carrying value of five container vessels, which were all disposed of in February 2015 (see Note 8: Gain on sale of assets and termination of charters).

Depreciation expense was $78.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $67.4 million; 2013: $58.4 million).

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NEWBUILDINGS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

NEWBUILDINGS [Abstract]

NEWBUILDINGS

NEWBUILDINGS

The carrying value of newbuildings represents the accumulated costs which the Company has paid in purchase installments and other capital expenditures relating to the acquisition of newbuilding vessels, together with capitalized loan interest. Interest capitalized in the cost of newbuildings amounted to $404,000 in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $290,000; 2013: $257,000).

As at December 31, 2015, the Company had agreements for the delivery of four newbuilding vessels (2014: two newbuilding vessels); two for container vessels and two for oil product carriers (2014: two container vessels), with accumulated costs of $40.1 million (2014: $87.6 million). During the year ended December 31, 2015, agreements were entered into for the acquisition of three newbuilding container vessels and two newbuilding oil product tankers, while three newbuilding container vessels were delivered.

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INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases [Abstract]

INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES

INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES

As at December 31, 2015, 14 of the Company's VLCCs and Suezmaxes were chartered to Frontline Shipping on long-term, fixed rate time charters which extend for various periods depending on the age of the vessels, ranging from approximately four to eleven years. Frontline Shipping is a subsidiary of Frontline, a related party, and the terms of the charters do not provide them with an option to terminate the charter before the end of its term.

Additionally, one of the Company's offshore supply vessels is chartered on a long-term bareboat charter to DESS Cyprus Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply Plc. ("Deep Sea"), a related party. Another of the Company's offshore supply vessels is chartered on a long-term bareboat charter to Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG AS ("Deep Sea Supply BTG"), which is a joint venture owned 50% by Deep Sea and 50% by BTG Pactual Oil & Gas Empreendimentos e Particapacoes S.A. ("BTG Pactual"). The terms of the charters provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessels at certain dates throughout the charters, which expire in 2020.

The above 16 of the Company's assets were accounted for as direct financing leases at December 31, 2015 (2014: 19), all of which are leased to related parties.

The following lists the components of the investments in direct financing leases as at December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014: 

(in thousands of $)	2015		2014
Total minimum lease payments to be received	825,460		1,174,327
Less: amounts representing estimated executory costs including profit thereon, included in total minimum lease payments	(362,959	)	(330,056	)
Net minimum lease payments receivable	462,501		844,271
Estimated residual values of leased property (un-guaranteed)	195,238		239,002
Less: unearned income	(146,296	)	(243,419	)
	511,443		839,854
Less: deferred deemed equity contribution	—		(86,585	)
Less: unamortized gains	—		(6,738	)
Total investment in direct financing and sales-type  leases	511,443		746,531
Current portion	37,145		37,517
Long-term portion	474,298		709,014
	511,443		746,531

On June 5, 2015, amendments were made to the charter agreements with Frontline Shipping, which related to 12 VLCCs and five Suezmax tankers accounted for as direct financing leases. Three of the Suezmax tankers have since been sold. The amendments, which are presented in more detail in Note 23: Related party transactions, resulted in a reduction in minimum lease payments to be received and an increase in executory costs from July 1, 2015, onwards. These amendments, together with the $150.2 million fair value of Frontline shares received as compensation, are reflected in the above position as at December 31, 2015. Under the provisions of ASC Topic 840 “Leases”, the modifications to the lease agreements do not constitute new leases. In the course of re-stating the amended leases, it was concluded that the amortization of the deferred deemed equity contribution and other gains is no longer appropriate, and these items are now incorporated into the revised lease schedules.

An impairment charge of $13.2 million was recorded against the carrying value of the two offshore supply vessels accounted for as direct financing lease assets in the year ended December 31, 2015. One of these vessels was sold in February 2016 (see Note 27: Subsequent events).

The minimum future gross revenues to be received under the Company's non-cancellable direct financing leases as of December 31, 2015, are as follows:

(in thousands of $) Year ending December 31,
2016	109,340
2017	109,042
2018	109,042
2019	109,042
2020	96,410
Thereafter	292,584
Total minimum lease revenues	825,460

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INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Disclosures [Abstract]

INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES

The Company has certain wholly-owned subsidiaries which are accounted for using the equity method, as it has been determined under ASC 810 that they are variable interest entities in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

In addition, on June 5, 2015, the Company received 55 million shares in Frontline, equivalent to approximately 27.73% of Frontline's issued share capital at the time (see Note 23: Related party transactions). Frontline, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Oslo Stock Exchange and reports its operating results on a quarterly basis, was determined to be an associated company following receipt of these shares. On November 30, 2015, Frontline merged with Frontline 2012 Ltd ("Frontline 2012"). and increased its issued share capital, thereby reducing the Company's shareholding in Frontline to approximately 7.03%. Accordingly, Frontline was assessed as no longer being an associated company and the Frontline shares are now held as available for sale securities (see Note 11: Available for sale securities). The Company's share of the net income of Frontline, in the period of the year ended December 31, 2015, during which it was an associated company accounted for using the equity method, was $2.6 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil). The Company also received a dividend of $2.8 million from Frontline in December 2015, which was recorded against the carrying value of this investment.

At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company had the following participation in investments that are recorded using the equity method:

	2015		2014		2013
SFL West Polaris Limited	—		—		100.00	%
SFL Deepwater Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
SFL Hercules Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
SFL Linus Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
Bluelot Shipping Company Limited	—		—		100.00	%
SFL Corte Real Limited	—		—		100.00	%

The determination that Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary of SFL Deepwater Ltd. ("SFL Deepwater"), SFL Hercules Ltd. ("SFL Hercules"), and SFL Linus Ltd. ("SFL Linus") is due to these subsidiaries each owning assets on which the underlying leases include both fixed price call options and fixed price put options or purchase obligations.

The determination that Ship Finance was not the primary beneficiary of SFL West Polaris Limited ("SFL West Polaris") was similarly due to this subsidiary owning an asset on which the underlying lease included both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option. Following the exercise of a purchase option, SFL West Polaris was sold in December 2014 (see below).

The determination that Ship Finance was not the primary beneficiary of Bluelot Shipping Company Limited ("Bluelot") and SFL Corte Real Limited ("Corte Real") was due to these subsidiaries, which did not own vessels, each having been incorporated specifically to participate in a three-party lease agreement, which could be effectively terminated by one of the other parties (see below). The three-party lease agreements were terminated in the first quarter of 2014.

SFL West Polaris was a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2008 for the purpose of holding an ultra deepwater drillship and leasing that vessel to Seadrill Polaris Ltd. ("Seadrill Polaris"), fully guaranteed by its parent company Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill"), a related party. The vessel was chartered on a bareboat basis and the terms of the charter provided the charterer with various call options to acquire the vessel at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, SFL West Polaris had a put option to sell the vessel to Seadrill Polaris at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expired in 2023. Because the main asset of SFL West Polaris was the subject of a lease which included both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option, it was determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance was a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance was not the primary beneficiary. In December 2014, the parent company of the charterer advised the Company of its intention to exercise a purchase option, and the transaction was effected on December 30, 2014 as a sale of SFL West Polaris. The Company recorded a gain of $6.1 million on the sale, which was recorded as "Gain on sale of investment in associated company". In December 2012, SFL West Polaris entered into a $420 millionfive year term loan and revolving credit facility, which was used in January 2013 to refinance the previous facility established in 2008. Although SFL West Polaris ceased to be a subsidiary in December 2014, the Company guaranteed $88.0 million of this debt until June 19, 2015, when the guarantee obligation was released.

SFL Deepwater is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2008 for the purpose of holding two ultra deepwater drilling rigs and leasing those rigs to Seadrill Deepwater Charterer Ltd. and Seadrill Offshore AS, fully guaranteed by their parent company Seadrill. In June 2013, SFL Deepwater transferred one of the rigs and the corresponding lease to SFL Hercules (see below). Accordingly, SFL Deepwater now holds one ultra deepwater drilling rig which is leased to Seadrill Deepwater Charterer Ltd. In October 2013, SFL Deepwater entered into a $390 millionfive year term loan and revolving credit facility, which was used in November 2013 to refinance the previous loan facility. At December 31, 2015, the balance outstanding under the new facility was $221.1 million (2014: $303.3 million), and the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50.0 million (2014: $nil). The Company guaranteed $80.0 million of this debt at December 31, 2015 (2014: $85.0 million). The rig is chartered on a bareboat basis and the terms of the charter provide the charterer with various call options to acquire the rig at certain dates throughout the charter. In addition, there is an obligation for the charterer to purchase the rig at a fixed price at the end of the charter, which expires in 2023. Because the main asset of SFL Deepwater is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price purchase obligation, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

SFL Hercules is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, incorporated in 2012 for the purpose of holding an ultra deepwater drilling rig and leasing that rig to Seadrill Offshore AS, fully guaranteed by its parent company Seadrill. The rig was transferred, together with the corresponding lease, to SFL Hercules from SFL Deepwater in June 2013. In May 2013, SFL Hercules entered into a $375 millionsix year term loan and revolving credit facility to partly finance its acquisition of the rig from SFL Deepwater. The facility was drawn in June 2013, and at December 31, 2015, the balance outstanding under this facility was $256.3 million (2014: $283.7 million). At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50.0 million (2014: $50.0 million). The Company guaranteed $80.0 million of this debt at December 31, 2015 (2014: $85.0 million). Because the main asset of SFL Hercules is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price purchase obligation at the end of the charter, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

SFL Linus is a 100% owned subsidiary of Ship Finance, acquired in 2013 from North Atlantic Drilling Ltd ("NADL"), a related party. SFL Linus holds a harsh environment jack-up drilling rig which was delivered from the ship yard in February 2014 and immediately leased to North Atlantic Linus Charterer Ltd., fully guaranteed by its parent company NADL. In October 2013, SFL Linus entered into a $475 millionfive year term loan and revolving credit facility to partly finance the acquisition of the rig. The facility was drawn in February 2014, and at December 31, 2015, the balance outstanding under this facility was $353.8 million (2014: $451.3 million). At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $50.0 million (2014: $nil). The Company guaranteed $90.0 million of this debt at December 31, 2015 (2014: $90.0 million). In February 2015, amendments were made to the lease, whereby Seadrill replaced NADL as lease guarantor. Because the main asset of SFL Linus is the subject of a lease which includes both fixed price call options and a fixed price put option, it has been determined that this subsidiary of Ship Finance is a variable interest entity in which Ship Finance is not the primary beneficiary.

Bluelot and Corte Real are 100% owned subsidiaries of Ship Finance, each incorporated in 2010 for the purpose of leasing in a 13,800 twenty-foot equivalent units ("TEU") container vessel on a bareboat charter basis, respectively the CMA CGM Magellan and the CMA CGM Corte Real, and leasing the vessel out on a time-charter basis to CMA CGM. In November and December 2013, CMA CGM exercised its options to acquire the two vessel-owning entities, and the charter agreements were terminated in January and March 2014, respectively. The business activities of Bluelot and Corte Real were discontinued upon the re-delivery of their vessels, since when they have been fully consolidated.

Summarized balance sheet information of the Company's equity method investees is as follows:

	As of December 31, 2015
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Current assets	120,251	33,735	—	38,936	47,580	—	—
Non-current assets	1,212,302	366,893	—	362,419	482,990	—	—
Total assets	1,332,553	400,628	—	401,355	530,570	—	—
Current liabilities	128,455	25,221	—	28,624	74,610	—	—
Non-current liabilities (1)	1,119,483	335,881	—	354,025	429,577	—	—
Total liabilities	1,247,938	361,102	—	382,649	504,187	—	—
Total shareholders' equity	84,615	39,526	—	18,706	26,383	—	—

	As of December 31, 2014
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Current assets (1)	127,268	44,297	—	38,619	44,352	—	—
Non-current assets	1,324,765	397,191	—	397,226	530,348	—	—
Total assets	1,452,033	441,488	—	435,845	574,700	—	—
Current liabilities	122,861	38,376	—	32,945	51,540	—	—
Non-current liabilities (1)	1,275,715	371,147	—	391,500	513,068	—	—
Total liabilities	1,398,576	409,523	—	424,445	564,608	—	—
Total shareholders' equity	53,457	31,965	—	11,400	10,092	—	—

(1) SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus non-current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include $137.4 million (2014: $100.0 million), $125.3 million (2014: $135.3 million) and $125.0 million (2014: $110.7 million) due to Ship Finance, respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions). In addition, SFL Linus current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include a further $23.2 million (2014: $nil) due to Ship Finance (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

Summarized statement of operations information of the Company's wholly-owned equity method investees is shown below. 

	Year ended December 31, 2015
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	82,731	22,424	—	23,315	36,992	—	—
Net operating revenues	82,725	22,422	—	23,313	36,990	—	—
Net income (2)	31,001	7,561	—	7,306	16,134	—	—

	Year ended December 31, 2014
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	108,632	24,917	22,251	24,565	33,236	1,171	2,492
Net operating revenues	105,567	24,905	22,234	24,544	33,221	232	431
Net income (2)	33,497	8,023	4,643	7,755	12,413	232	431

	Year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus		Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	122,792	46,145	23,701	13,832	—		19,490	19,624
Net operating revenues	88,121	46,109	23,681	13,808	—		2,261	2,262
Net income (3)	28,200	17,747	2,324	3,645	(38	)	2,261	2,261

(2) The net income of SFL Deepwater, SFL West Polaris, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus in the year ended December 31, 2015, includes interest payable to Ship Finance amounting to $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $9.6 million), $nil (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $6.5 million), $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $3.5 million) and $5.6 million (2014: $4.9 million; 2013: $nil), respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus have loan facilities for which Ship Finance provides limited guarantees, as indicated above. These loan facilities contain financial covenants, with which Ship Finance and Seadrill must comply. As at December 31, 2015, Ship Finance and Seadrill were in compliance with all of the covenants under these long-term debt facilities.

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ACCRUED EXPENSES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]

ACCRUED EXPENSES

ACCRUED EXPENSES

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Vessel operating expenses	3,676	6,305
Administrative expenses	1,206	1,330
Interest expense	7,764	10,555
	12,646	18,190

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OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Deferred and prepaid charter revenue	5,549	7,982
Employee taxes	152	899
Other items	11,336	211
	17,037	9,092

Other items at December 31, 2015, include $10.9 million installments payable on newbuildings (2014: $nil).

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LONG-TERM DEBT

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Long-term Debt, by Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]

LONG-TERM DEBT

LONG-TERM DEBT

(in thousands of $)	2015		2014
Long-term debt:
3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	117,500		125,000
Norwegian kroner 600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017	63,681		76,487
3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	350,000		350,000
Norwegian kroner 900 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2019	85,434		119,277
U.S. dollar denominated floating rate debt (LIBOR plus margin) due through 2023	1,049,861		1,061,695
	1,666,476		1,732,459
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(208,031	)	(182,415	)
	1,458,445		1,550,044

 The outstanding debt as of December 31, 2015, is repayable as follows:

(in thousands of $) Year ending December 31,
2016	208,031
2017	185,246
2018	532,553
2019	255,744
2020	117,590
Thereafter	367,312
Total debt	1,666,476

The weighted average interest rate for floating rate debt denominated in U.S. dollars and Norwegian kroner ("NOK") as at December 31, 2015, was 4.22% per annum (2014: 4.98%). These rates take into consideration the effect of related interest rate swaps. At December 31, 2015, the three month dollar LIBOR was 0.613% (2014: 0.256%) and the three month Norwegian Interbank Offered Rate ("NIBOR") was 1.13% (2014: 1.48%).

3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016

On February 10, 2011, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $125.0 million. Interest on the bonds is fixed at 3.75% per annum and is payable in cash semi-annually in arrears on February 10 and August 10. The bonds were convertible into Ship Finance International Limited common shares at any time up to 10 banking days prior to February 10, 2016. The conversion price at the time of issue was $27.05 per share, representing a 35% premium to the share price at the time, and since then dividend distributions reduced the conversion price to $16.61 at December 31, 2015. The Company had the right to call the bonds after March 3, 2014, if the value of the shares underlying each bond exceeds, for a specified period of time, 130% of the principal amount of the bond. In December 2015, the Company purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling $7.5 million (2014; $nil) and the net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $117.5 million (2014: $125.0 million). In February 2016, the amount outstanding was fully redeemed in cash without any conversion into shares having taken place (see Note 27: Subsequent events).

NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017

On October 19, 2012, the Company issued a senior unsecured bond loan totaling NOK600 million in the Norwegian credit market. The bonds bear quarterly interest at NIBOR plus a margin and are redeemable in full on October 19, 2017. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at the Company's option from April 19, 2017, upon giving bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.50% of par value plus accrued interest. Since their issue, at December 31, 2015, the Company has purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK43.0 million (2014: NOK36.0 million), of which NOK8.0 million (2014: NOK8.0 million) were subsequently re-sold. The Company holds bonds purchased as treasury bonds. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was NOK565 million, equivalent to $63.7 million (2014: NOK572 million, equivalent to $76.5 million).

3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018

On January 30, 2013, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $350.0 million. Interest on the bonds is fixed at 3.25% per annum and is payable in cash quarterly in arrears on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. The bonds are convertible into Ship Finance International Limited common shares at any time up to ten banking days prior to February 1, 2018. The conversion price at the time of issue was $21.945 per share, representing a 33% premium to the share price at the time. Since then, dividend distributions have reduced the conversion price to $16.2456 per share. In conjunction with the bond issue, the Company loaned up to 6,060,606 of its common shares to an affiliate of one of the underwriters of the issue, in order to assist investors in the bonds to hedge their position. The shares that were lent by the Company were borrowed from Hemen Holding Ltd., the largest shareholder of the Company, for a one-time loan fee of $1.0 million.

As required by ASC 470-20 "Debt with conversion and other options", the Company calculated the equity component of the convertible bond, taking into account both the fair value of the conversion option and the fair value of the share lending arrangement. The equity component was valued at $20.7 million and this amount was recorded as "Additional paid-in capital", with a corresponding adjustment to "Deferred charges" which are amortized to "Interest expense" over the appropriate period. The amortization of this item amounted to $4.1 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014. $4.1 million).

NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019

On March 19, 2014, the Company issued a senior unsecured bond loan totaling NOK900 million in the Norwegian credit market. The bonds bear quarterly interest at NIBOR plus a margin and are redeemable in full on March 19, 2019. The bonds may, in their entirety, be redeemed at the Company's option from September 19, 2018, upon giving the bondholders at least 30 business days notice and paying 100.50% of par value plus accrued interest. Subsequent to their issue, at December 31, 2015, the Company has purchased bonds with principal amounts totaling NOK 142.0 million (2014: NOK8.0 million), which are being held as treasury bonds. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was NOK758.0 million, equivalent to $85.4 million (2014: NOK892.0, equivalent to $119.3).

$210 million secured term loan facility

In April 2006, five wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $210.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks to partly fund the acquisition of five new container vessels. The facility bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and had a term of twelve years from the date of drawdown for each vessel. The terms of the loan were initially linked to long-term charters of the vessels, and the Company did not provide a corporate guarantee for the facility. In April 2012, the long-term charters were terminated and the terms of the loan agreement were amended. Although the facility continued without recourse to the Company, as part of the amended agreement the Company guaranteed that revenues received by the vessel-owning subsidiaries would achieve certain minimum levels for each vessel. In January 2015, this indirect limited performance guarantee became exhausted and in February 2015 the Company signed an agreement with the lenders under the facility whereby ownership of the five vessels together with associated working capital was transferred to unrelated third parties and Ship Finance International Limited and its subsidiaries have no future interest in the vessels or obligations under the loan facility. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $nil (2014: $171.4 million).

$30 million secured revolving credit facility

In February 2008, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $30.0 million secured revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of a 1,700 TEU container vessel, which also served as security for the facility. The facility, which was fully prepaid and canceled in January 2015, bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and had a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $nil (2014: $3.0 million).

$49 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In March 2008, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $49.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank. The proceeds of the facility were used to partly fund the acquisition of two newbuilding chemical tankers, which also serve as security for the facility. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of ten years. At December 31, 2015, the amount available under the revolving part of the facility was $12.0 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $8.0 million (2014: $28.0 million).

$43 million secured term loan facility

In February 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $42.6 million secured term loan facility with a bank, bearing interest at LIBOR plus a margin and with a term of approximately five years. The facility is secured against a Suezmax tanker. In November 2014, the terms of the loan were amended and restated, and the facility now matures in November 2019. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $26.3 million (2014: $29.1 million).

$725 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In March 2010, the Company entered into a $725 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against 26 vessels chartered to Frontline at the time. The facility, which was fully prepaid and canceled in February 2015, bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and was repayable over a term of five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $nil (2014: $71.5 million).

$43 million secured term loan facility

In March 2010, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $42.6 million secured term loan facility with a bank, bearing interest at LIBOR plus a margin and with a term of approximately five years. The facility is secured against a Suezmax tanker. In March 2015, the terms of the loan were amended and restated, and the facility now matures in March 2020. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $26.3 million (2014: $29.1 million).

$54 million secured term loan facility

In November 2010, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $53.7 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two Supramax dry bulk carriers. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of eight years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $34.1 million (2014: $38.0 million).

$95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In February 2011, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into a $95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank, secured against a jack-up drilling rig. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $2.5 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $22.5 million (2014: $57.5 million).

$75 million secured term loan facility

In March 2011, three wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $75.4 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against three Supramax dry bulk carriers. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately eight years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $50.8 million (2014: $56.6 million).

$171 million secured term loan facility

In May 2011, eight wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $171.0 million secured loan facility with a syndicate of banks. The facility is supported by China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation, or SINOSURE, which provides an insurance policy in favor of the banks for part of the outstanding loan. The facility is secured against a 1,700 TEU container vessel and seven Handysize dry bulk carriers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately ten years from delivery of each vessel. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $122.2 million (2014: $134.2 million).

$167 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In July 2011, five wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $166.8 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility agreement with a syndicate of banks, secured against five VLCCs chartered to Frontline at the time. The facility, which was fully prepaid and canceled in June 2015, bore interest at LIBOR plus a margin and was repayable over a term of six years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $nil (2014: 72.2 million).

$53 million secured term loan facility

In November 2012, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $53.2 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two car carriers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $39.9 million (2014: $44.3 million).

$45 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility

In June 2014, seven wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $45.0 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility with a bank, secured against seven 4,100 TEU container vessels. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the revolving part of the facility was $9.0 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $36.0 million (2014: $45.0 million).

$101 million secured term loan facility

In August 2014, six wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $101.4 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against six offshore supply vessels. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $87.8 million (2014: $98.7 million). One of the vessels was sold in February 2016 (see Note 27: Subsequent events) and the facility now relates to the remaining five vessels.

$20 million secured term loan facility

In September 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $20.0 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two 5,800 TEU container vessels. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $20.0 million (2014: $20.0 million).

$128 million secured term loan facility

In September 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $127.5 million secured term loan facility with a bank, for the post-delivery financing of two newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels, which were delivered in 2014. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $117.9 million (2014: $126.4 million).

$128 million secured term loan facility

In November 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $127.5 million secured term loan facility with a bank, for the post-delivery financing of two newbuilding 8,700 TEU container vessels, which were delivered in January 2015. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $121.1 million (2014: $nil).

$39 million secured term loan facility

In December 2014, two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company entered into a $39.0 million secured term loan facility with a bank, secured against two Kamsarmax dry bulk carriers. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of approximately eight years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $34.0 million (2014: $36.4 million).

$250 million secured revolving credit facility

In June 2015, 17 wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a $250.0 million secured revolving credit facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against 17 tankers chartered to Frontline Shipping. Three of the tankers have since been sold, and the facility now relates to the remaining 14 tankers. The facility bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of three years. At December 31, 2015, the available amount under the facility was $154.6 million (2014: $nil). The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015, was $73.5 million (2014: $nil).

$166 million secured term loan facility

In July 2015, eight wholly-owned subsidiaries entered into a $166.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks, secured against eight Capesize dry bulk carriers acquired in 2015. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of seven years. The net amount outstanding at December 31, 2015 was $159.5 million (2014: $nil).

$210 million secured term loan facility

In November 2015, three subsidiaries entered into a $210.0 million secured term loan facility with a syndicate of banks, to partly fund the acquisition of three newbuilding container vessels, against which the facility is secured. One of the vessels was delivered in November 2015, a second was delivered in February 2016, and the remaining vessel is scheduled for delivery later in 2016. The Company has provided a limited corporate guarantee for this facility, which bears interest at LIBOR plus a margin and has a term of five years from the delivery of each vessel. At December 31, 2015, the net amount outstanding was $70.0 million (2014: $nil).

The aggregate book value of assets pledged as security against borrowings at December 31, 2015, was $2,087 million (2014: $2,062 million). 

Agreements related to long-term debt provide limitations on the amount of total borrowings and secured debt, and acceleration of payment under certain circumstances, including failure to satisfy certain financial covenants. As of December 31, 2015, the Company is in compliance with all of the covenants under its long-term debt facilities. The $101 million secured term loan facility entered into in August 2014 contains certain financial covenants on Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG. As at December 31, 2015, Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG were in compliance with all covenants under the respective loan agreements.

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OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES

OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Unamortized sellers' credit	11,960	15,042
Other items	3	2,542
	11,963	17,584

The Company's six offshore supply vessels were acquired from Deep Sea and were originally chartered back to subsidiaries of Deep Sea under bareboat charter agreements. As part of the purchase consideration, the Company received seller's credits totaling $37.0 million which are being recognized as additional bareboat revenues over the period of the charters. In connection with the transfer in May 2013 of the charters for five of the vessels from subsidiaries of Deep Sea to a subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG, the seller's credits for these five vessels were also transferred to the new counterparty.

Other items at December 31, 2014, included the $2.5 million fair value of the guarantee provided by the Company to the providers of the loan facility to SFL West Polaris, following the sale of that company (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). Ship Finance International Limited was released from the guarantee in June 2015.

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SHARE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

SHARE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

SHARE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS

Authorized share capital is as follows: 

(in thousands of $, except share data)	2015	2014
125,000,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each	125,000	125,000

Issued and fully paid share capital is as follows:

(in thousands of $, except share data)	2015	2014
93,468,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each (2014: 93,404,000 shares)	93,468	93,404

The Company's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company issued a total of 64,000 new shares in order to satisfy options exercised by two officers and three employees (2014: 144,000 new shares issued to satisfy options exercised by three directors, one officer and two employees). The weighted average exercise price of the options was $10.55 per share (2014: $6.44 per share), resulting in a premium on issue of $0.6 million (2014: $0.8 million). No other shares were issued and sold in the years ended December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014.

In November 2006, the Board of Directors approved the Ship Finance International Limited Share Option Scheme (the "Option Scheme"). The Option Scheme permits the Board of Directors, at its discretion, to grant options to employees, officers and directors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The fair value cost of options granted is recognized in the statement of operations, and the corresponding amount is credited to additional paid in capital (see also Note 22: Share option plan). During 2014, one officer exercised options and in lieu of issuing 80,000 new shares the Company made a payment totaling $1.2 million, equal to the intrinsic value of the options on the date of exercise. These amounts are accounted for as repurchases of the Company's shares and the payments are recorded as reductions in additional paid-in capital.

In January 2013, the Company issued a senior unsecured convertible bond loan totaling $350 million. The bonds are convertible into common shares at any time up to ten banking days prior to February 1, 2018. The conversion price at the time of issue was $21.945 per share, representing a 33% premium to the share price at the time. Since then, dividend distributions have reduced the conversion price to $16.2456 per share. As required by ASC 470-20 "Debt with conversion and other options", the Company calculated the equity component of the convertible bond, which was valued at $20.7 million and recorded as "Additional paid-in capital" (see Note 19: Long-term Debt).

The Company has accounted for the acquisition of vessels from Frontline at Frontline's historical carrying value. The difference between the historical carrying values and the net investment in the leases was recorded as a deferred deemed equity contribution, which was presented as a reduction in net investment in direct financing leases in the balance sheet. This accounting treatment arose from the related party nature of both the initial transfer of the vessels and the subsequent leases.  The deferred deemed equity contributions were amortized to contributed surplus over the life of the lease arrangements, as lease payments were applied to the principal balance of the lease receivable. In the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company credited contributed surplus with $2.0 million of such deemed equity contributions (year ended December 31, 2014: $4.5 million). On June 5, 2015, the charter agreements with Frontline were amended with effect from July 1, 2015 (see Note 23: Related party transactions), following which the unamortized deferred deemed equity contributions were incorporated into the lease schedules and no further amounts have been credited to contributed surplus.

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SHARE OPTION PLAN

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

SHARE OPTION PLAN

SHARE OPTION PLAN

The Option Scheme adopted in November 2006 will expire in November 2016. The subscription price for all options granted under the scheme will be reduced by the amount of all dividends declared by the Company per share in the period from the date of grant until the date the option is exercised, provided the subscription price shall never be reduced below the par value of the share. Options granted under the scheme will vest at a date determined by the board at the date of the grant. The options granted under the plan to date vest over a period of one to three years and have a five year term. There is no maximum number of shares authorized for awards of equity share options, and either authorized unissued shares of Ship Finance or treasury shares held by the Company may be used to satisfy exercised options.

The following summarizes share option transactions related to the Option Scheme in 2015, 2014 and 2013: 

	2015			2014			2013
	Options		Weighted average exercise price $	Options		Weighted average exercise price $	Options		Weighted average exercise price $
Options outstanding at beginning of year	189,000		13.17	423,000		9.99	498,000		10.27
Granted	—		—	—		—	—		—
Exercised	(64,000	)	10.55	(224,000	)	5.41	(75,000	)	5.29
Forfeited	—		—	(10,000	)	5.56	—		—
Options outstanding at end of year	125,000		12.56	189,000		13.17	423,000		9.99
Exercisable at end of year	125,000		12.56	189,000		13.17	374,333		9.22

The exercise price of each option is progressively reduced by the amount of any dividends declared. The above figures show the average of the reduced exercise prices at the beginning and end of the year for options then outstanding. For options granted, exercised or forfeited during the year, the above figures show the average of the exercise prices at the time the options were granted, exercised or forfeited, as appropriate.

The fair values of options granted are estimated on the date of the grant, using the Black-Scholes-Merton option valuation model. The fair values are then expensed over the periods in which the options vest. No new options were granted in 2015, 2014 and 2013, and all options outstanding at December 31, 2015, were fully vested. (see Note 27: Subsequent events).

The total intrinsic value of options exercised in 2015 was $0.3 million on the day of exercise (2014: $2.9 million; 2013: $0.9 million). The intrinsic value of options fully vested but not exercised at December 31, 2015, is $0.5 million and their average remaining term is 0.22 years.

As of December 31, 2015, the unrecognized compensation costs relating to non-vested options granted under the Option Scheme was $nil (2014: $nil).

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company, which was formed in 2003 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline, was partially spun-off in 2004 and its shares commenced trading on the New York Stock Exchange in June 2004. A significant proportion of the Company's business continues to be transacted with related parties.

The Company has had transactions with the following related parties, being companies in which our principal shareholders Hemen Holding Ltd. and Farahead Investment Inc. (hereafter jointly referred to as "Hemen") and companies associated with Hemen have, or had, a significant direct or indirect interest:

–    Frontline (3)

–    Frontline 2012 (3)

–    Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II (collectively the Frontline Charterers)

–    Seadrill

–    NADL

–    Golden Ocean Group Limited ("Golden Ocean") (2)

–    United Freight Carriers ("UFC" - which is a joint venture approximately 50% owned by Golden Ocean)

–    Deep Sea

–    Deep Sea Supply BTG (which is a joint venture 50% owned by Deep Sea)

–    Golar Management UK Limited ("Golar") (1)

–    Arcadia Petroleum Limited ("Arcadia")

(1) From September 2014, Golar ceased to be a related party to the Company, following disassociation through the sale of shares held by a company associated with Hemen.

(2) In March 2015, Golden Ocean Group Limited merged with Knightsbridge Tankers Limited, leaving Knightsbridge Tankers Limited as the surviving legal entity and changing its name to Golden Ocean Group Limited.

(3) On November 30, 2015, Frontline and Frontline 2012 merged, leaving Frontline as the surviving legal entity and Frontline 2012 becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Frontline.

The Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following amounts due from and to related parties, excluding direct financing lease balances (see Note 15: Investments in direct financing leases): 

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Amounts due from:
Frontline Charterers	18,052	30,714
Frontline Ltd	2,816	9,012
UFC	1,639	232
Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG	—	1,338
SFL Linus	23,152	—
Seadrill	—	111,195
Total amount due from related parties	45,659	152,491
Loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term
SFL Deepwater	137,437	100,036
SFL Hercules	125,275	135,250
SFL Linus	125,000	110,745
Total loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term	387,712	346,031
Loans to related parties - others, long-term
Frontline Ltd	—	79,294
Total loans to related parties - others, long-term	—	79,294
Amounts due to:
Frontline Charterers	229	196
Frontline Management	143	848
Other related parties	44	65
Total amount due to related parties	416	1,109

SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus are wholly-owned subsidiaries which are not fully consolidated but are accounted for under the equity method as at December 31, 2015. As described below in "Related party loans", at December 31, 2015 and 2014, the long-term loans from Ship Finance to SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules, and SFL Linus are presented net of amounts due to them by Ship Finance on their respective current accounts.

Related party leasing and service contracts

As at December 31, 2015, 14 of the Company's vessels leased to Frontline Shipping and two of its offshore supply vessels leased to subsidiaries of Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG, respectively, are recorded as direct financing leases. In addition, at December 31, 2015, four offshore supply vessels were leased to a subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG, eight dry bulk carriers were leased to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean and a further six dry bulk carriers were leased to UFC under operating leases.

At December 31, 2015, the combined balance of net investments in direct financing leases with Frontline Shipping, Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG was $511.4 million (2014: $839.9 million) of which $37.1 million (2014: $37.5 million) represents short-term maturities.

At December 31, 2015, the net book value of assets leased under operating leases to Deep Sea Supply BTG, Golden Ocean and UFC was $499.6 million (2014: $198.9 million).

A summary of leasing revenues earned from the Frontline Charterers, Seadrill, Deep Sea, Deep Sea Supply BTG, Golden Ocean and UFC is as follows:

(in millions of $)	2015	2014	2013
Operating lease income	42.9	26.4	24.0
Direct financing lease interest income	34.2	45.4	55.4
Finance lease service revenue	46.5	46.5	52.4
Direct financing lease repayments	35.9	43.1	47.4
Profit sharing revenues	59.6	33.8	0.8

In May 2013, the Company agreed to change the legal entity under the charters for five of the six vessels on charter to subsidiaries of Deep Sea. The new charterer is Deep Sea Supply Shipowning II AS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deep Sea Supply BTG, which is a joint venture owned 50% by Deep Sea and 50% by BTG Pactual. The new charters became effective on May 31, 2013, and the main terms of the charters remain unchanged.

On December 30, 2011, amendments were made to the charter agreements with Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II, which related to 28 vessels accounted for as direct financing leases. In terms of the amending agreements, the Company received a compensation payment of $106 million and agreed to a $6,500 per day reduction in the time charter rate of each vessel for the period January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2015. Thereafter, the charter rates were to revert to the previously agreed daily amounts. The leases were amended to reflect the compensation payment received and the reduction in future minimum lease payments to be received. During 2012, 2013 and 2014, 11 of the vessels were sold.

On June 5, 2015, further amendments were made to the charter agreements relating to the remaining 17 vessels. The amendments, which are effective from July 1, 2015, and do not affect the duration of the leases, include reductions in the daily time-charter rates to $20,000 per day for VLCCs and $15,000 per day for Suezmax tankers. As consideration for the agreed amendments, the Company received 55 million ordinary shares in Frontline, the fair value of which amounted to $150.2 million, and also an increase in the profit sharing percentage (see below). The charters for three of the vessels were transferred from Frontline Shipping II to Frontline Shipping, which is now the charter counterparty for all of the vessels. As part of the amended agreement, Frontline was released from its guarantee obligations under the charters, and in exchange a cash reserve of $2 million per vessel has been built up in Frontline Shipping as security for its obligations under the charters.

The Company's holding of Frontline ordinary shares represented approximately 27.73% of the issued share capital of Frontline at the time of receipt in June 2015. On November 30, 2015, Frontline merged with Frontline 2012 and increased its issued share capital, reducing the Company's holding to approximately 7.03%. Accordingly, from June 5, 2015, to November 30, 2015, the Company's shareholding was accounted for as an investment in associated companies (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). Since December 1, 2015, the Company's holding of Frontline shares has been held under available for sale securities (see Note 11: Available for sale securities).

Prior to December 31, 2011, Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II paid the Company profit sharing of 20% of their earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis from their use of the Company's fleet above average threshold charter rates each fiscal year. The amendments to the charter agreements made on December 30, 2011, increased the profit sharing percentage to 25% for future earnings above those threshold levels. Of the $106 million compensation payment received, $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to the 25% profit sharing agreement. The Company earned and recognized profit sharing revenue under the 25% arrangement in the year ended December 31, 2015, of $nil (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil). The amendments to the charter agreements effective from July 1, 2015, increased the profit sharing percentage from 25% to 50% for earnings above the new reduced time-charter rates. The Company earned and recognized profit sharing revenue under the 50% arrangement of $37.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil).

The amendments to the charter agreements effective from January 1, 2012, additionally provided that for the four year period of the temporary reduction in charter rates, Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II would pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day per vessel. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company earned and recognized $19.9 million revenue under this arrangement (2014: $32.7 million; 2013: $0.0 million), which is also reported under "Profit sharing revenues". This arrangement was discontinued from July 1, 2015, when the amendments agreed in June 2015 became effective.

In the event that vessels on charter to the Frontline Charterers are agreed to be sold, the Company may either pay or receive compensation for the termination of the lease. In September 2015, October 2015 and December 2015, the Suezmax tankers Front Glory, Front Splendour and Mindanao on charter to Frontline Shipping were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees payable of $2.2 million, $1.3 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

In November 2014, three VLCCs, namely Front Comanche, Front Commerce and Front Opalia, on charter to the Frontline Charterers were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees receivable of $49.2 million. Of the termination fees receivable, $10.5 million was received in cash and $38.7 million was received in the form of amortizing loan notes from Frontline receivable over the approximately eight remaining years of the canceled leases. The initial face value of the notes received, on which interest at 7.25% was receivable, was $48.4 million and their initial fair value of $38.7 million was determined from analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the notes, default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market.

In January 2013 the non-double VLCC Edinburgh was sold and its lease cancelled, with an agreed termination fee payable of $7.8 million. In February 2013 and March 2013, the Suezmax tanker Front Pride and theOBO Front Guider were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees receivable of $2.1 million and $11.7 million, respectively. In November 2013, the VLCCs Golden Victory and Front Champion were sold and their leases cancelled, with agreed termination fees receivable of $37.3 million and $30.4 million, respectively. Of the $67.7 million combined fees receivable for the two VLCCs sold in November 2013, $10.9 million was received in cash and $56.8 million was received in the form of amortizing loan notes from Frontline receivable over the approximately eight remaining years of the cancelled leases. The initial face value of the notes received, on which interest at 7.25% was receivable, was $79.0 million and their initial fair value of $56.8 million was determined on the same basis as that used for the notes received in 2014.

In December 2015, Frontline redeemed in full the loan notes received by the Company on the sale of the two VLCCs in November 2013 and three VLCCs in November 2014. The aggregate amount received on redemption was $113.2 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil), including accrued interest of $0.5 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil). At the time of the redemption, the loan notes had a carrying value of $83.8 million (December 31, 2014: $87.5 million), resulting in a gain of $28.9 million on disposal.

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had eight dry bulk carriers operating on time-charters to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean, which include profit sharing arrangements whereby the Company earns a 33% share of profits earned by the vessels above threshold levels. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company earned no income under this arrangement (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil).

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had six dry bulk carriers operating on time-charters to UFC, which include profit sharing arrangements whereby the Company earns a 50% share of profits earned by the vessels above threshold levels. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company earned and recognized $2.5 million under this arrangement (2014: $1.1 million; 2013: $0.8 million).

As at December 31, 2015, the Company was owed a total of $18.1 million (2014: $30.7 million) by Frontline Shipping in respect of leasing contracts and profit share.

At December 31, 2015, the Company was owed $2.8 million (2014: $9.0 million) by Frontline in respect of various short-term items. At December 31, 2014, these items included the $7.8 million carrying value of the short-term portion of loan notes receivable (2015: $nil) and $0.4 million accrued interest on the loan notes (2015: $nil). At December 31, 2014, the Company also had a long-term loan of $79.3 million due from Frontline, being the carrying value of the long-term portion of loan notes receivable (2015: $nil).

At December 31, 2015, the Company was owed $1.6 million (2014: $0.2 million) by UFC in respect of leasing contracts and profit share.

At December 31, 2014, the Company was owed $1.3 million by Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG in respect of leasing contracts (2015: $nil).

At December 31, 2015, the Company was owed $23.2 million by SFL Linus in addition to the loan due to the Company (2014: $nil) - see below.

On December 30, 2014, the Company sold SFL West Polaris to Seadrill (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies) and at December 31, 2014, the Company was owed $111.2 million by Seadrill in relation to this transaction (2015:$nil).

The vessels leased to Frontline Shipping are on time charter terms and for each such vessel the Company pays a fixed management/operating fee of $9,000 per day to Frontline Management (Bermuda) Ltd. ("Frontline Management"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Frontline. This daily fee has been payable since July 1, 2015, when amendments to the charter agreements became effective, before which the fixed daily fee was $6,500 per day. An exception to this arrangement is for any vessel leased to Frontline Shipping which is sub-chartered on a bareboat basis, for which there is no management fee payable for the duration of the bareboat sub-charter. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company also had 12 container vessels, 14 dry bulk carriers, two Suezmax tankers and two car carriers operating on time charter or in the spot market, for which the supervision of the technical management was sub-contracted to Frontline Management. In the year ended December 31, 2015, management fees paid to Frontline Management amounted to $48.0 million (2014: $48.4 million; 2013: $54.2 million).

The vessels leased to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean are on time charter terms and for each vessel the Company pays a fixed management/operating fee of $7,000 per day to Golden Ocean Group Management (Bermuda) Ltd. ("Golden Ocean Management"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Golden Ocean. Additionally, in the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company had 12 container vessels and 14 dry bulk carriers operating on time-charters, for which part of the operating management was sub-contracted to Golden Ocean Management. In the year ended December 31, 2015, management fees paid to Golden Ocean Management amounted to approximately $9.0 million (2014: $0.8 million; 2013: $0.7 million). Management fees are classified as vessel operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.

The Company paid a commission of 1% to Frontline Management in respect of all payments received in respect of the five-year sales-type leases on the Suezmax tankers Glorycrown and Everbright. This arrangement ended in September 2013, when the leases were terminated, following which we agreed to pay Frontline a management fee of 1.25% of chartering revenues. In 2015, $0.4 million was paid to Frontline Management pursuant to the new arrangement (2014: $0.3 million). Under the old arrangement $0.1 million was paid in 2013.

The Company also paid $0.5 million in 2015 (2014: $0.5 million, 2013: $0.4 million) to Frontline Management for the provision of management and administrative services.

The Company pays fees to Frontline Management for the management supervision of some of its newbuildings, which in 2015 amounted to $0.1 million (2014: $2.9 million; 2013: $2.4 million).

In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company paid $0.4 million (2014: $0.4 million; 2013: $0.3 million) to Frontline Management AS for the provision of office facilities in Oslo, and $0.1 million (2014: $nil; 2013: $nil) to Arcadia for the provision of office facilities in London. The Company paid $nil in 2015 (2014: $0.1 million; 2013: $0.2 million) to Golar Management UK Limited for the provision of office facilities in London. Golar Management UK Limited ceased to be a related party in October 2014.

As at December 31, 2015, the Company owes Frontline Management and Frontline Management AS a combined total of $0.1 million (2014: $0.8 million) for various items, including newbuilding supervision fees, technical supervision fees and office costs.

Related party loans – associated companies

Ship Finance has entered into agreements with SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus granting them loans of $145.0 million, $145.0 million and $125.0 million, respectively. The loans to SFL Deepwater and SFL Hercules are fixed interest rate loans, and the loan to SFL Linus was interest free until the newbuilding jack-up drilling rig was delivered to that company, since when it has been a fixed interest rate loan. These loans are repayable in full on October 1, 2023, October 1, 2023 and June 30, 2029, respectively, or earlier if the companies sell their drilling units. Ship Finance is entitled to take excess cash from these companies, and such amounts are recorded within their current accounts with Ship Finance. The loan agreements specify that the balance on the current accounts will have no interest applied and will be settled by offset against the eventual repayments of the fixed interest loans. In the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company received interest income on these loans of $6.5 million from SFL Deepwater (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $9.6 million), $6.5 million from SFL Hercules (2014: $6.5 million; 2013$3.5 million) and $5.6 million from SFL Linus (2014: $4.9 million, 2013: $nil) totaling $18.7 million.

Ship Finance also granted a $145.0 million fixed interest rate loan to SFL West Polaris, which was repaid when that company was sold on December 30, 2014. The terms of the loan were similar to those in the above continuing loans, and in the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company received interest income on this loan of $nil (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $6.5 million).

Related party purchases and sales of vessels – 2015

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company acquired eight Capesize dry bulk carriers from subsidiaries of Golden Ocean for a total acquisition cost of $272.0 million. The vessels were immediately chartered back to a subsidiary of Golden Ocean on ten year time charters, at rates of $17,600 per day for the first seven years and $14,900 per day thereafter. In addition, the Company will receive a 33% profit share of revenues above these rates. Golden Ocean was granted an option to purchase all eight of the vessels at the expiry of the charters. If the purchase option is not exercised, Ship Finance has the option to extend the charters for an additional three years at the rate of $14,900 per day per vessel.

Related party purchases and sales of vessels – 2014

The ultra deepwater drilling unit West Polaris is owned by SFL West Polaris, which was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ship Finance accounted for using the equity method (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies). In December 2014, Seadrill advised the Company of its intention to exercise a purchase option, and the transaction was effected on December 30, 2014 as the sale of SFL West Polaris. The Company recorded a gain of $6.1 million on the sale, which was recorded as "Gain on sale of investment in associated company".

Related party purchases and sales of vessels – 2013

In July 2013, the Company announced the acquisition of the newbuilding harsh-environment jack-up drilling rig West Linus from a subsidiary of NADL, for a total acquisition cost of $600 million. The rig, which was delivered in February 2014, was leased back to a subsidiary of NADL for a period in excess of 15 years, and the subsidiary was granted four purchase options at dates during and at the end of the charter period. Additionally, Ship Finance has an option to sell the rig back to the subsidiary at the end of the charter period. The rig is owned by SFL Linus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ship Finance accounted for using the equity method (see Note 16: Investment in associated companies).

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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

In certain situations, the Company may enter into financial instruments to reduce the risk associated with fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates. The Company has a portfolio of swaps which swap floating rate interest to fixed rate, and which also fix the Norwegian kroner to US dollar exchange rate applicable to the interest payable and principal repayment on the NOK bonds due 2017 and 2019. From a financial perspective these swaps hedge interest rate and exchange rate exposure. The counterparties to such contracts are DNB Bank, Nordea Bank Finland Plc., ABN AMRO Bank N.V., NIBC Bank N.V., Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB (publ), ING Bank N.V., Danske Bank A/S and Swedbank AB (publ). Credit risk exists to the extent that the counterparties are unable to perform under the contracts, but this risk is considered remote as the counterparties are all banks which have provided the Company with loans.

The following tables present the fair values of the Company's derivative instruments that were designated as cash flow hedges and qualified as part of a hedging relationship, and those that were not designated: 

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	—	292
Non-designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	—	225
Total derivative instruments - short-term liabilities	—	517
Designated derivative instruments -long-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	11,458	40,058
Cross currency interest rate swaps	87,642	63,083
Non-designated derivative instruments -long-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	2,897	1,565
Cross currency interest rate swaps	11,645	1,973
Total derivative instruments - long-term liabilities	113,642	106,679

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Designated derivative instruments -long-term assets:
Interest rate swaps	487	710
Non-designated derivative instruments -long-term assets:
Interest rate swaps	313	2,584
Total derivative instruments - long-term assets	800	3,294

Interest rate risk management

The Company manages its debt portfolio with interest rate swap agreements denominated in U.S. dollars and Norwegian kroner to achieve an overall desired position of fixed and floating interest rates. At December 31, 2015, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries had entered into interest rate swap transactions, involving the payment of fixed rates in exchange for LIBOR or NIBOR, as summarized below. The summary includes all swap transactions, most of which are hedges against specific loans.

Notional Principal (in thousands of $)	Inception date	Maturity date	Fixed interest rate
$31,604 (reducing to $24,794)	March 2008	August 2018	4.05% - 4.15%
$34,140 (reducing to $23,394)	April 2011	December 2018	2.13% - 2.80%
$50,760 (reducing to $34,044)	May 2011	January 2019	0.80% - 2.58%
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)	August 2011	August 2021	2.50% - 2.93%
$157,933 (terminating at $79,733)	May 2012	August 2022	1.76% - 1.85%
$105,436 (equivalent to NOK600 million)	October 2012	October 2017	5.92% - 6.23%		*
$39,900 (reducing to $32,142)	February 2013	December 2017	0.81% - 0.82%
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)	March 2013	April 2023	1.85% - 1.97%
$151,008 (equivalent to NOK900 million)	March 2014	March 2019	6.03	%	*
$108,375 (reducing to $70,125)	December 2016	December 2021	1.86% - 3.33%
$110,500 (reducing to $70,125)	January 2017	January 2022	1.56% - 3.09%
$33,973 (reducing to $19,413)	September 2015	March 2022	1.67	%

* These swaps relate to the NOK600 million and the NOK900 million unsecured bonds, and the fixed interest rates paid are exchanged for NIBOR plus the margin on the bonds. For the remaining swaps the fixed interest rate paid is exchanged for LIBOR, excluding margin on the underlying loans.

The interest rate swap with a notional principal of $108.4 million has an inception date of December 2016, and the interest rate swap with a notional principal of $110.5 million has an inception date of January, 2017. The total notional principal amount subject to swap agreements as at December 31, 2015, excluding those with inception dates in the future, was $804.8 million (2014: $1,094.1 million).

Foreign currency risk management

The Company has entered into currency swap transactions, involving the payment of U.S. dollars in exchange for Norwegian kroner, which are designated as hedges against the NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017 and the NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019. 

Principal Receivable	Principal Payable	Inception date	Maturity date
NOK600 million	US$105.4 million	October 2012	October 2017
NOK900 million	US$151.0 million	March 2014	March 2019

Apart from the NOK600 million and NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017 and 2019, respectively, the majority of the Company's transactions, assets and liabilities are denominated in U.S. dollars, the functional currency of the Company. Other than the corresponding currency swap transactions summarized above, the Company has not entered into forward contracts for either transaction or translation risk. Accordingly, there is a risk that currency fluctuations could have an adverse effect on the Company's cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

Fair Values

The carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's financial assets and liabilities at December 31, 2015, and 2014, are as follows: 

	2015	2015	2014	2014
(in thousands of $)	Carrying value	Fair value	Carrying value	Fair  value
Non-derivatives:
Available for sale securities	199,594	199,594	73,656	73,656
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,681	63,719	76,487	75,210
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	85,434	79,549	119,277	108,542
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	117,500	118,021	125,000	124,375
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	350,000	378,315	350,000	335,563
Derivatives:
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	800	800	3,294	3,294
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	—	—	517	517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642	113,642	106,679	106,679

The above long-term receivables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, include $0.3 million which relates to non-designated swap contracts (2014: $2.6 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges. The above short-term payables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, include $nil which relates to non-designated swap contracts (2014: $0.2 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges. The above long-term payables relating to interest rate/ currency swap contracts at December 31, 2015, include $14.5 million which relates to non-designated swap contracts (2014: $3.5 million), with the balance relating to designated hedges.

In accordance with the accounting policy relating to interest rate and currency swaps (see Note 2 "Accounting policies: Derivatives – Interest rate and currency swaps"), where the Company has designated the swap as a hedge, and to the extent that the hedge is effective, changes in the fair values of interest rate swaps are recognized in other comprehensive income. Changes in the fair value of other swaps and the ineffective portion of swaps designated as hedges are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations.

The above fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2015, are measured as follows: 

		Fair value measurements using
	Total fair value as at December 31, 2015	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets	Significant Other Observable Inputs	Significant Unobservable Inputs
(in thousands of $)		(Level 1)	(Level 2)	(Level 3)
Assets:
Available for sale securities	199,594	199,594
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts - long-term receivables	800		800
Total assets	200,394	199,594	800	—
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719	63,719
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	79,549	79,549
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	118,021	118,021
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	378,315	378,315
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642		113,642
Total liabilities	753,246	639,604	113,642	—

The above fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2014, were measured as follows:

		Fair value measurements using
	Total fair value as at December 31, 2014	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets	Significant Other Observable Inputs	Significant Unobservable Inputs
(in thousands of $)		(Level 1)	(Level 2)	(Level 3)
Assets:
Available for sale securities	73,656	49,913		23,743
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	3,294		3,294
Total assets	76,950	49,913	3,294	23,743
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	75,210	75,210
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	108,542	108,542
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	124,375	124,375
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	335,563	335,563
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	517		517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	106,679		106,679
Total liabilities	750,886	643,690	107,196	—

ASC Topic 820 "Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures" ("ASC 820") emphasizes that fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, and should be determined based on the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. As a basis for considering market participant assumptions in fair value measurements, ASC 820 establishes a fair value hierarchy that distinguishes between market participant assumptions based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity (observable inputs that are classified within levels one and two of the hierarchy) and the reporting entity's own assumptions about market participant assumptions (unobservable inputs classified within level three of the hierarchy).

Level 1 inputs utilize unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in level one that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly. Level 2 inputs may include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, as well as inputs that are observable for the asset or liability, other than quoted prices, such as interest rates, foreign exchange rates and yield curves that are observable at commonly quoted intervals. Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the assets or liabilities, which typically are based on an entity's own assumptions, as there is little, if any, related market activity. In instances where the determination of the fair value measurement is based on inputs from different levels of the fair value hierarchy, the level in the fair value hierarchy within which the entire fair value measurement falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement in its entirety requires judgment, and considers factors specific to the asset or liability.

Available for sale securities consist of (i) listed Frontline shares (December 31, 2015, only), (ii) secured listed and unlisted corporate bonds and (iii) Horizon Lines, LLC second lien loan notes (December 31, 2014, only). The fair value of the listed Frontline shares and the listed and unlisted corporate bonds consists of their aggregate market value as at the balance sheet date. The fair value of the Horizon Lines, LLC loan notes at December 31, 2014, was a Level 3 input, determined from analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the notes, credit ratings and default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market. The Horizon Lines, LLC loan notes were sold in May 2015 (see note 9: Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other).

The following table shows the changes in the fair value of the asset with Level 3 valuation during the year ended December 31, 2015:

(in thousands of $)	Horizon Lines, LLC loan notes
Fair values - Level 3 inputs:
Balance as at December 31, 2014	23,743
Interest income, receivable in form of unlisted second lien loan notes - see (a) below	2,182
Balance on sale of notes at May 29, 2015	25,925

(a) The interest income of $2.2 million is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations under "Interest income - other".

There were no changes to the above valuation during the year ended December 31, 2015, no related gains or losses recognized in "Other Comprehensive Income" and no transfers of items between Level 3 and other valuation levels.

The estimated fair values for the floating rate NOK bonds due 2017 and 2019, and the 3.75% and 3.25% unsecured convertible bonds are based on the quoted market prices as at the balance sheet date.

The fair value of interest rate and currency swap contracts is calculated using a well-established independent valuation technique applied to contracted cash flows and LIBOR/NIBOR interest rates as at the balance sheet date.

Concentrations of risk

There is a concentration of credit risk with respect to cash and cash equivalents to the extent that most of the amounts are carried with Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken, ABN AMRO, Nordea, DNB and Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank. However, the Company believes this risk is remote.

Since the Company was spun-off from Frontline in 2004, Frontline has accounted for a significant proportion of our operating revenues. In the year ended December 31, 2015, Frontline accounted for 33% of our operating revenues (2014: 37%, 2013: 38%). There is thus a concentration of revenue risk with Frontline.

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Assets Pledged

	2015
Book value of assets pledged under ship mortgages (see Note 19)	$2,087 million

Other Contractual Commitments

The Company has arranged insurance for the legal liability risks for its shipping activities with Gard P.& I. (Bermuda) Ltd, Assuranceforeningen Skuld (Gjensidig), The Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Limited, The Korea Shipowner’s Mutual Protection & Indemnity Association, The West of England Ship Owners Mutual Insurance Association (Luxembourg), North of England P&I Association Limited, The Standard Club Europe Ltd and The United Kingdom Mutual Steam Ship Assurance Association (Europe) Limited, all of which are mutual protection and indemnity associations. The Company is subject to calls payable to the associations based on the Company’s claims record in addition to the claims records of all other members of the associations. A contingent liability exists to the extent that the claims records of the members of the associations in the aggregate show significant deterioration, which may result in additional calls on the members.

SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus are wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company, which are accounted for using the equity method. Accordingly, their assets and liabilities are not consolidated in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, but are presented on a net basis under "Investment in associated companies" - see Note 16. As at December 31, 2015, their combined borrowings amounted to $831.2 million and the Company guaranteed $250.0 million of this debt.

At December 31, 2015, the Company had commitments under contracts to acquire newbuilding vessels totaling $261.9 million (2014: $85.0 million). In addition, two subsidiaries had contractual commitments relating to the chartering-in of two 18,000-20,000 TEU container vessels on 15 year bareboat charters amounting to $406.1 million at December 31, 2015 (2014: $nil), of which $30.0 million represents initial payments due on delivery of the vessels. There are no other contractual commitments at December 31, 2015.

The Company is routinely party both as plaintiff and defendant to laws suits in various jurisdictions under charter hire obligations arising from the operation of its vessels in the ordinary course of business. The Company believes that the resolution of such claims will not have a material adverse effect on its results of operations or financial position. The Company has not recognized any contingent gains or losses arising from the pending results of any such law suits.

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CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES [Abstract]

CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

The Company's consolidated financial statements include 26 variable interest entities, all of which are wholly-owned subsidiaries. These subsidiaries own vessels with existing charters during which related and third parties have fixed price options to purchase the respective vessels, at dates varying from September 2017 to July 2025. It has been determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these entities, as none of the purchase options are deemed to be at bargain prices and none of the charters include sales options.

At December 31, 2015, the vessels of two of these entities are accounted for as direct financing leases with a combined carrying value of $44.3 million, unearned lease income of $9.0 million and estimated residual values of $5.9 million. The outstanding loan balances in these two entities total $23.9 million, of which the short-term portion is $4.8 million.

The other 24 fully consolidated variable interest entities own vessels which are accounted for as operating lease assets, with a total net book value at December 31, 2015, of $609.6 million. The outstanding loan balances in these entities total $309.9 million, of which the short-term portion is $30.0 million.

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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

In February 2016, the Company took delivery of the newbuilding container vessel Maersk Skarstind, which immediately commenced a five year time charter to Maersk Line A/S. The vessel-owning subsidiary drew down $70.0 million against the $210 million facility secured against this and two other newbuilding vessels, one of which is yet to be delivered.

In February 2016, the Company redeemed in cash the full outstanding amount under the 3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016.

In February 2016, Frontline enacted a 1-for-5 reverse stock split of its ordinary shares. Accordingly, the Company's holding in Frontline changed from 55 million shares to 11 million shares, remaining at approximately 7.0% of Frontline's issued share capital.

In February 2016, the Company entered into interest rate swap contracts with initial principal amounts totaling $68.9 million, swapping variable LIBOR interest rates for a fixed interest rate of 1.2625% per annum.

On February 29, 2016, the Board of Ship Finance declared a dividend of $0.45 per share which was paid in cash on March 30, 2016.

In February 2016, the Company sold the offshore supply vessel Sea Bear to an unrelated party third party, and simultaneously agreed to terminate the corresponding charter with a subsidiary of Deep Sea. Total gross proceeds amounted to approximately $19.6 million, consisting of cash sales proceeds and amortizing senior unsecured loan notes received from Deep Sea as compensation for the early termination of the charter. The loan notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% and are redeemable over a period of six years.

In March 2016, the Company issued 36,575 new shares to satisfy the share options exercised by two officers and three employees. The exercise price was $12.11 per share, resulting in a total premium on issue of $0.4 million.

In March 2016, the Company awarded a total of 279,000 options to six Board members, two officers and five employees, pursuant to the Company's Share Option Scheme. The options have a five year term and a three year vesting period and the first options will be exercisable from March 2017 onwards. The initial strike price is $14.38 per share.

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Basis of Accounting

Basis of Accounting

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("US GAAP"). The consolidated financial statements include the assets and liabilities and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation. Where necessary, comparative figures for previous years have been reclassified to conform to changes in presentation in the current year.

Consolidation of variable interest entities

Consolidation of variable interest entities

A variable interest entity is defined in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 810 "Consolidation" ("ASC 810") as a legal entity where either (a) the total equity at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated support; (b) equity interest holders as a group lack either i) the power to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact on its economic success, ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity, or iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; or (c) the voting rights of some investors in the entity are not proportional to their economic interests and the activities of the entity involve or are conducted on behalf of an investor with a disproportionately small voting interest.

ASC 810 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by its primary beneficiary, being the interest holder, if any, which has both (1) the power to direct the activities of the entity which most significantly impact on the entity's economic performance, and (2) the right to receive benefits or the obligation to absorb losses from the entity which could potentially be significant to the entity.

We evaluate our subsidiaries, and any other entities in which we hold a variable interest, in order to determine whether we are the primary beneficiary of the entity, and where it is determined that we are the primary beneficiary we fully consolidate the entity.

Investments in associated companies

Investments in associated companies

Investments in companies over which the Company exercises significant influence but which it does not consolidate are accounted for using the equity method. The Company records its investments in equity-method investees on the consolidated balance sheets as "Investment in associated companies" and its share of the investees' earnings or losses in the consolidated statements of operations as "Equity in earnings of associated companies." At December 31, 2015, two ultra-deepwater drilling units and one jack-up drilling rig are owned by three wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that are accounted for using the equity method.

Use of accounting estimates

Use of accounting estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign currencies

Foreign currencies

The Company's functional currency is the U.S. dollar as the majority of revenues are received in U.S. dollars and the majority of the Company's expenditures are made in U.S. dollars. The Company's reporting currency is also the U.S. dollar. Most of the Company's subsidiaries report in U.S. dollars. Transactions in foreign currencies during the year are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at the date of the transaction. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated using rates of exchange at the balance sheet date. Foreign currency non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated using historical rates of exchange. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are included under "Other financial items" in the consolidated statements of operations.

Revenue and expense recognition

Revenue and expense recognition

Revenues and expenses are recognized on the accrual basis.

The Company generates its revenues from the charter hire of its vessels and offshore related assets, and freight billings. Revenues are generated from time charter hire, bareboat charter hire, direct financing lease interest income, sales-type lease interest income, finance lease service revenues, profit sharing arrangements and freight billings, where contracts exist, the charter and voyage rates are predetermined, service is provided and the collection of the revenue is reasonably assured.

Each charter agreement is evaluated and classified as an operating or a capital lease. Rental receipts from operating leases are recognized in income as it is earned ratably on a straight line basis over the duration of the period of each charter as adjusted for off-hire days.

Rental payments from capital leases, which are either direct financing leases or sales-type leases, are allocated between lease service revenue, if applicable, lease interest income and repayment of net investment in leases. The amount allocated to lease service revenue is based on the estimated fair value, at the time of entering the lease agreement, of the services provided which consist of ship management and operating services.

Voyage revenues are recognized ratably over the estimated length of each voyage, and accordingly are allocated between reporting periods based on the relative transit time in each period. Voyage expenses are recognized as incurred. Probable losses on voyages are provided for in full at the time such losses can be estimated.

Vessel operating expenses are expensed as incurred. Under a time charter, specified voyage costs such as fuel and port charges are paid by the charterer and other non-specified voyage expenses, such as commissions, are paid by the Company. Vessel operating costs include crews, voyage costs not applicable to the charterer, maintenance and insurance and are paid by the Company. Under a bareboat charter, the charterer assumes responsibility for all voyage and vessel operating costs and risks of operation. If payment is received in advance from charterers, it is recorded as deferred charter revenue and recognized as revenue over the period to which it relates.

Amounts receivable from profit sharing arrangements with Frontline Shipping Limited ("Frontline Shipping") and Frontline Shipping II Limited ("Frontline Shipping II"), which are related parties, are accrued based on amounts earned at the reporting date. Such profit share income has two elements:

- 50% profit sharing: From January 1, 2012, up to and including June 30, 2015, the charter agreements with Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II included provisions whereby they were to pay the Company profit sharing of 25% of their earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis from their use of the Company's fleet above average threshold charter rates each fiscal year. In December 2011, the Company received a $106 million compensation payment from Frontline Ltd. ("Frontline"), of which $50 million represented a non-refundable advance relating to this 25% profit sharing agreement. The amendments to the charter agreements made on June 5, 2015, increased the profit sharing percentage to 50% for earnings above new threshold levels from July 1, 2015, onwards. The Company did not recognize any income under the 25% profit sharing agreement, as the cumulative share of earnings did not attain the starting level of $50 million over the three and a half years of the agreement's duration. The new 50% profit sharing agreement is not subject to any such constraints.

- Cash sweep: The charter agreements effective from January 1, 2012, were essentially the continuation of previous agreements amended to temporarily reduce the time-charter rates by $6,500 per day for the four year period commencing January 1, 2012. The agreements additionally provided that during the four year period Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II would pay the Company 100% of any earnings on a time-charter equivalent basis above the temporarily reduced time charter rates, subject to a maximum of $6,500 per day per vessel.

As detailed in Note 23: "Related party transactions"; the Company also has profit sharing arrangements with related parties Golden Ocean Group Limited ("Golden Ocean") and United Freight Carriers ("UFC"). Amounts receivable under these arrangements are accrued on the basis of amounts earned at the reporting date.

All contingent elements of rental income, such as profit share, cash sweep and interest rate adjustments, are recognized when the contingent conditions have materialized.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

For the purposes of the consolidated statements of cash flows, all demand and time deposits and highly liquid, low risk investments with original maturities of three months or less are considered equivalent to cash.

Available for sale securities

Available for sale securities

Available for sale securities held by the Company consist of share investments and interest-earning listed and unlisted corporate bonds. It is expected that corporate bonds will be held to maturity or redemption, and any premium paid on their acquisition is amortized over the life of the bond. Available for sale securities are recorded at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses generally recorded as a separate component of other comprehensive income. If circumstances arise which lead the Company to believe that the issuer of a corporate bond may be unable meet its payment obligations in full, or that the fair value at acquisition of the share investment or corporate bond may otherwise not be fully recoverable, then to the extent that a loss is expected to arise that unrealized loss is recorded as an impairment in the statement of operations, with an adjustment if necessary to any unrealized gains or losses previously recorded in other comprehensive income.

The fair value of unlisted corporate bonds is determined from an analysis of projected cash flows, based on factors including the terms, provisions and other characteristics of the bonds, credit ratings and default risk of the issuing entity, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of that entity, and the current economic environment and trading activity in the debt market.

Trade accounts receivable

Trade accounts receivable

The amount shown as trade accounts receivable at each balance sheet date includes receivables due from customers for hire of vessels and offshore related assets, net of allowance for doubtful balances. At each balance sheet date, all potentially uncollectable accounts are assessed individually to determine any allowance for doubtful receivables. At December 31, 2015 and 2014, no provision was made for doubtful receivables.

Inventories

Inventories

Inventories are comprised principally of fuel and lubricating oils and are stated at the lower of cost and market value. Cost is determined on a first-in first-out basis.

Vessels and equipment (including operating lease assets)

Vessels and equipment (including operating lease assets)

Vessels and equipment are recorded at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and, if appropriate, impairment charges. The cost of these assets less estimated residual value is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated remaining economic useful life of the asset. The estimated economic useful life of our offshore assets, including drilling rigs and drillships, is 30 years and for all other vessels it is 25 years. 

Where an asset is subject to an operating lease that includes fixed price purchase options, the projected net book value of the asset is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net book value at an option date, the initial depreciation schedule is amended so that the carrying value of the asset is written down on a straight line basis to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to amortize the remaining carrying value, on a straight line basis, to the estimated scrap value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

This accounting policy for fixed assets has the effect that if an option is exercised there will be either a) no gain or loss on the sale of the asset or b) in the event that the option is exercised at a price in excess of the net book value at the option date, a gain will be reported in the statement of operations at the date of delivery to the new owners, under the heading "gain on sale of assets and termination of charters".

Office equipment is depreciated at 20% per annum on a reducing balance basis.

Newbuildings

Newbuildings

The carrying value of vessels under construction ("newbuildings") represents the accumulated costs to the balance sheet date which the Company has paid by way of purchase installments and other capital expenditures together with capitalized loan interest and associated finance costs. No charge for depreciation is made until a newbuilding is put into operation.

Capitalized interest

Capitalized interest

Interest expense is capitalized during the period of construction of newbuilding vessels based on accumulated expenditures for the applicable vessel at the Company's capitalization rate of interest. The amount of interest capitalized in an accounting period is determined by applying an interest rate ("the capitalization rate") to the average amount of accumulated expenditures for the vessel during the period. The capitalization rate used in an accounting period is based on the rates applicable to borrowings outstanding during the period. The Company does not capitalize amounts in excess of actual interest expense incurred in the period.

Investment in Capital Leases

Investment in Capital Leases

Leases (charters) of our vessels where we are the lessor are classified as either capital leases or operating leases, based on an assessment of the terms of the lease. For charters classified as capital leases, the minimum lease payments (reduced in the case of time-chartered vessels by projected vessel operating costs) plus the estimated residual value of the vessel are recorded as the gross investment in the capital lease.

For capital leases that are direct financing leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the carrying value of the vessel is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The net investment in the lease consists of the gross investment less the unearned income. Over the period of the lease each charter payment received, net of vessel operating costs if applicable, is allocated between "lease interest income" and "repayment of investment in lease" in such a way as to produce a constant percentage rate of return on the balance of the net investment in the direct financing lease. Thus, as the balance of the net investment in each direct financing lease decreases, a lower proportion of each lease payment received is allocated to lease interest income and a greater proportion is allocated to lease repayment. For direct financing leases relating to time chartered vessels, the portion of each time charter payment received that relates to vessel operating costs is classified as "lease service revenue".

For capital leases that are sales-type leases, the difference between the gross investment in the lease and the present value of its components, i.e. the minimum lease payments and the estimated residual value, is recorded as unearned lease interest income. The discount rate used in determining the present values is the interest rate implicit in the lease. The present value of the minimum lease payments, computed using the interest rate implicit in the lease, is recorded as the sales price, from which the carrying value of the vessel at the commencement of the lease is deducted in order to determine the profit or loss on sale. As is the case for direct financing leases, the unearned lease interest income is amortized to income over the period of the lease so as to produce a constant periodic rate of return on the net investment in the lease.

Where a capital lease relates to a charter arrangement containing fixed price purchase options, the projected carrying value of the net investment in the lease is compared to the option price at the various option dates. If any option price is less than the projected net investment in the lease at an option date, the rate of amortization of unearned lease interest income is adjusted to reduce the net investment to the option price at the option date. If the option is not exercised, this process is repeated so as to reduce the net investment in the lease to the un-guaranteed residual value or the option price at the next option date, as appropriate.

This accounting policy for investments in capital leases has the effect that if an option is exercised there will either be a) no gain or loss on the exercise of the option or b) in the event that an option is exercised at a price in excess of the net investment in the lease at the option date, a gain will be reported in the statement of operations at the date of delivery to the new owners.

If the terms of an existing lease are agreed to be amended, other than by renewing the lease or extending its term, in a manner that would have resulted in a different classification of the lease had such amended terms been in effect at the lease inception, the amended lease agreement shall be considered to be a new lease agreement over the remainder of its term. If the terms of a capital lease are amended in a way that does not result in it being treated as a new operating lease agreement, the remaining minimum lease payments and, if appropriate, the estimated residual value will be amended to reflect the revised terms, with a corresponding increase or decrease in unearned income.

Other Investments

Other Long-Term Investments

Other long-term investments are measured at fair value using the best available value indicators, and are included in "Other long-term assets" in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company currently has one long-term investment, consisting of shares in a container vessel owner/operator which are not publicly traded, and the best estimate available for the valuation of this investment is the cost basis. When using this basis of valuation, the Company carries out regular reviews for possible impairment adjustments. Following such a review, an impairment adjustment of $2.9 million was made to the carrying value of this asset in 2012, reducing its carrying value to $nil (December 31, 2015: $nil; December 31, 2014: $nil).

At December 31, 2014, the Company had another long-term investment consisting of warrants to purchase shares in a U.S. company, which were received in 2012, together with other assets, as part of the consideration for the Company agreeing to terminate certain long-term charter agreements. Although shares in the U.S. company were traded on the over-the-counter market, the warrants were not listed. The Company considered that the best method of establishing the fair value of these warrants was to calculate their value in relation to the current market price of the underlying shares, taking into account the terms, restrictions and other features of the warrants, the fundamental financial and other characteristics of the issuing company, trading characteristics of the issuing company's shares, and actual sale transactions of comparable securities completed in secondary markets. The Company carried out regular reviews of the value of this investment, and adjusted the carrying value accordingly. In 2012, the Company concluded that the initial value of the warrants may not be recoverable and recorded an impairment charge of $0.5 million, reducing the carrying value to $1.2 million (December 31, 2014: $1.2 million). The Company sold this long-term investment in May 2015 (see Note 9: Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other).

Deemed Equity Contributions

Deemed Equity Contributions

The Company has accounted for the acquisition of vessels from Frontline at Frontline's historical carrying value. The difference between the historical carrying value and the net investment in each lease was recorded as a deferred deemed equity contribution. These deferred deemed equity contributions were presented as a reduction in the net investment in direct financing leases in the balance sheet, due to the related party nature of both the transfer of the vessels and the subsequent direct financing leases. The deferred deemed equity contributions were amortized as credits to contributed surplus over the life of the lease arrangements, as lease payments were applied to the principal balance of each lease receivable. Amendments were made to the charter agreements on June 5, 2015, reducing daily lease payments from July 1, 2015, onwards. In the course of re-stating the amended leases, it was concluded that amortization of the deferred deemed equity contributions is no longer appropriate and these items are now incorporated into the revised lease schedules.

Impairment of long-lived assets, including other long-term investments

Impairment of long-lived assets, including other long-term investments

The carrying value of long-lived assets, including other long-term investments, that are held by the Company are reviewed whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. For vessels, such indicators may include historically low spot charter rates and second hand vessel values. The Company assesses recoverability of the carrying value of the asset by estimating the future net cash flows expected to result from the asset, including eventual disposition, taking into account the possibility of any existing medium and long-term charter arrangements being terminated early. If the future expected net cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset, an impairment loss is recorded equal to the difference between the carrying value of the asset and its fair value. In addition, long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less estimated costs to sell. The Company carried out a review of the carrying value of its vessels, drilling rigs and long-term investments in the year ended December 31, 2015, and concluded that the carrying values of two container vessels and two off-shore supply vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against those assets. In the year ended December 31, 2014, reviews of the carrying value of long-lived assets indicated that the carrying value of five container vessels were impaired, and charges were taken against those assets, which were sold in 2015. No impairment loss was recorded in the year ended December 31, 2013.

Deferred charges

Deferred charges

Loan costs, including debt arrangement fees, are capitalized and amortized on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant loan. The straight line basis of amortization approximates the effective interest method in the Company's statement of operations. Amortization of loan costs is included in interest expense. If a loan is repaid early, any unamortized portion of the related deferred charges is charged against income in the period in which the loan is repaid. Similarly, if a portion of a loan is repaid early, the corresponding portion of the unamortized related deferred charges is charged against income in the period in which the early repayment is made.

Convertible bonds

Convertible bonds

The Company accounts for debt instruments with convertible features in accordance with the details and substance of the instruments at the time of their issuance. For convertible debt instruments issued at a substantial premium to equivalent instruments without conversion features, or those that may be settled in cash upon conversion, it is presumed that the premium or cash conversion option represents an equity component. Accordingly, the Company determines the carrying amounts of the liability and equity components of such convertible debt instruments by first determining the carrying amount of the liability component by measuring the fair value of a similar liability that does not have an equity component. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the embedded conversion option is then determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the total proceeds from the issue. The resulting equity component is recorded, with a corresponding offset to debt discount which is subsequently amortized to interest cost using the effective interest method over the period the debt is expected to be outstanding as an additional non-cash interest expense. Transaction costs associated with the instrument are allocated pro-rata between the debt and equity components.

For conventional convertible bonds which do not have a cash conversion option or where no substantial premium is received on issuance, it may not be appropriate to split the bond into the liability and equity components.

Derivatives

Derivatives

Interest rate and currency swaps

The Company enters into interest rate swap transactions from time to time to hedge a portion of its exposure to floating interest rates. These transactions involve the conversion of floating interest rates into fixed rates over the life of the transactions without an exchange of underlying principal. The Company also enters into currency swap transactions from time to time to hedge against the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on loan liabilities. Currency swap transactions involve the exchange of fixed amounts of other currencies for fixed US dollar amounts over the life of the transactions, including an exchange of underlying principal. The Company may also enter into a combination of interest and currency swaps "cross currency interest rate swaps". The fair values of the interest rate and currency swap contracts, including cross currency interest rate swaps, are recognized as assets or liabilities, and for certain of the Company's swaps the changes in fair values are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations. When the interest rate and/or currency swap or combination, qualifies for hedge accounting under ASC Topic 815 "Derivatives and Hedging" ("ASC 815"), and the Company has formally designated the swap as a hedge to the underlying loan, and when the hedge is effective, the changes in the fair value of the swap are recognized in other comprehensive income. If it becomes probable that the hedged forecasted transaction to which these swaps relate will not occur, the amounts in other comprehensive income will be reclassified into earnings immediately.

Financial Instruments

Financial Instruments

In determining the fair value of its financial instruments, the Company uses a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at each balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments, including most derivatives and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as options pricing models are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

Drydocking provisions

Drydocking provisions

Normal vessel repair and maintenance costs are charged to expense when incurred. The Company recognizes the cost of a drydocking at the time the drydocking takes place, that is, it applies the "expense as incurred" method.

Earnings per share

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed based on the income available to common stockholders and the weighted average number of shares outstanding for basic EPS. Diluted EPS includes the effect of the assumed conversion of potentially dilutive instruments.

Stock-based compensation

Share-based compensation

The Company accounts for share-based payments in accordance with ASC Topic 718 "Compensation – Stock Compensation" ("ASC 718"), under which the fair value of stock options issued to employees is expensed over the period in which the options vest. The Company uses the simplified method for making estimates of the expected term of stock options.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09 "Revenue from Contracts with Customers" in order to ensure that revenue recognition requirements are the same under both US GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"). ASU 2014-09 removes inconsistencies and provides a more robust framework for addressing revenue issues. ASU 2014-09 was effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 "Deferral of the Effective Date" to delay the implementation of ASU 2014-09 by one year, in response to feedback from preparers, practitioners and users of financial statements. Accordingly, ASU 2014-09 is now effective for reporting periods and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted for reporting and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-09 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In November 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-16 "Derivatives and Hedging" in order to standardize the determination of whether the host contract in a hybrid financial instrument issued in the form of a share is more akin to debt or to equity. ASU 2014-16 requires that all terms and features of the hybrid instrument, including the embedded derivative feature itself, must be taken into account when establishing separate accounting for the embedded derivative. ASU 2014-16 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December15, 2015. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2014-16 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-02 "Consolidation: Amendments to the Consolidation Analysis" in order to clarify the basis for consolidation of certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 changes the analysis that a reporting entity must perform to determine whether it should consolidate certain types of legal entities. Specifically, ASU 2015-02 (i) modifies the evaluation of whether limited partnerships and similar legal entities are variable interest entities (VIEs) or voting interest entities, (ii) eliminates the presumption that a general partner should consolidate a limited partnership, (iii) affects the consolidation analysis of reporting entities that are involved with VIEs, particularly those that have fee arrangements and related party relationships, and (iv) provides a scope exception from consolidation guidance for reporting entities with interests in certain legal entities. ASU 2015-02 is effective for public business entities for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” to simplify presentation of debt issuance costs. The amendments in this update require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this update. ASU 2015-03 is effective for public entities with reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2015. Early adoption is permitted for financial statements that have not been previously issued. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 "Interest - Imputation of Interest" to address the presentation and subsequent measurement of debt issuance costs associated with line-of-credit arrangements, which were not specifically addressed in ASU 2015-03. The Company believes that the implementation of this update will only affect the presentation of debt issuance costs which will be shown as a direct deduction of the related debt instead of under non-current assets in the accompanying balance sheets.

In June 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-10 "Technical Corrections and Improvements" to clarify and make minor improvements to the Codification and correct unintended application of guidance. The FASB does not expect the numerous amendments to have a significant effect on accounting practice. ASU 2015-10 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 31, 2015. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11 "Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" to reduce the complexity and cost of the subsequent measurement of inventory, in particular when using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost methods. The provisions of ASU 2015-11 specifically exclude inventory that is measured using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. Entities should measure inventory within the scope of ASU 2015-11 at the lower of cost and net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2015-10 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-01 "Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities" to enhance the reporting model for financial instruments to provide users of financial statements with more decision-useful information. ASU 2016-01 particularly relates to the fair value and impairment of equity investments, financial instruments measured at amortized cost, and the use of the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes. ASU 2016-01 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is only permitted for certain particular amendments within ASU 2016-01, where financial statements have not yet been issued. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-01 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 "Leases" to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. ASU 2016-02 creates a new Accounting Standards Codification Topic 842 "Leases" to replace the previous Topic 840 "Leases." ASU 2016-02 affects both lessees and lessors, although for the latter the provisions are similar to the previous model, but updated to align with certain changes to the lessee model and also the new revenue recognition provisions contained in ASU 2014-09 (see above). ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-07 "Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures" to simplify the transition to the equity method of accounting. ASU 2016-07 eliminates the requirement that when an investment qualifies for the use of the equity method as a result of an increase in the level of ownership, the investor must adjust the investment, results of operations and retained earnings retrospectively as if the equity method had been in effect during all previous periods in which the investment had been held. ASU 2016-07 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of ASU 2016-02 on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Earnings Per Share [Abstract]

Components of calculation of earnings per share

The components of the numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands of $)	2015	2014	2013
Basic:
Net income available to stockholders	200,832	122,815	89,206
Diluted:
Net income available to stockholders	200,832	122,815	89,206
Interest paid on 3.75% convertible bonds	5,078	5,060	5,092
Interest paid on 3.25% convertible bonds	17,371	17,371	—
	223,281	145,246	94,298

The components of the denominator for the calculation of basic and diluted EPS are as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands)	2015	2014	2013
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Effect of dilutive share options	23	84	163
Effect of dilutive convertible debt	25,535	23,332	5,753
	119,008	116,747	95,424

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OPERATING LEASES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Leases, Operating [Abstract]

Minimum future revenue to be received under non-cancelable operating leases

The minimum future revenues to be received under the Company's non-cancelable operating leases on its vessels as of December 31, 2015, are as follows: 

(in thousands of $)
Year ending December 31,
2016	263,340
2017	252,799
2018	211,819
2019	175,756
2020	147,902
Thereafter	293,855
Total minimum lease revenues	1,345,471

Cost and accumulated depreciation of vessels leased to third parties on operating leases

The cost and accumulated depreciation of vessels leased to third parties on operating leases at December 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Cost	1,964,852	1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133

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GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets [Abstract]

Gains on sale of assets and termination of charters

The Company has recorded gains on sale of assets and termination of charters as follows:

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands)	2015	2014		2013
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	7,364	(1,384	)	18,025
Gain on termination of charters	—	25,315		—
Total gain on sale of assets and termination of charters	7,364	23,931		18,025

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OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]

Other financial items

Other financial items comprise the following items: 

	Year ended December 31
(in thousands of $)	2015		2014		2013
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of non-designated derivatives	(13,051	)	(7,636	)	7,726
Net cash payments on non-designated derivatives	(6,453	)	(7,196	)	(2,653	)
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of designated derivatives (ineffective portion)	(227	)	(63	)	224
Other items	(1,558	)	(1,337	)	(3,294	)
Total other financial items	(21,289	)	(16,232	)	2,003

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AVAILABLE FOR SALE SECURITIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Investments, Debt and Equity Securities [Abstract]

Available-for-sale debt securities

Marketable securities held by the Company are debt securities and share investments considered to be available-for-sale securities.  

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Amortized cost	185,148	80,743
Accumulated net unrealized (loss)/gain	14,446	(7,087	)
Carrying value	199,594	73,656

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VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]

Vessels and equipment

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Cost	1,964,852	1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133

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INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Net Investment in Direct Financing and Sales Type Leases [Abstract]

Components of the investments in direct financing and sales-type leases

The following lists the components of the investments in direct financing leases as at December 31, 2015, and December 31, 2014: 

(in thousands of $)	2015		2014
Total minimum lease payments to be received	825,460		1,174,327
Less: amounts representing estimated executory costs including profit thereon, included in total minimum lease payments	(362,959	)	(330,056	)
Net minimum lease payments receivable	462,501		844,271
Estimated residual values of leased property (un-guaranteed)	195,238		239,002
Less: unearned income	(146,296	)	(243,419	)
	511,443		839,854
Less: deferred deemed equity contribution	—		(86,585	)
Less: unamortized gains	—		(6,738	)
Total investment in direct financing and sales-type  leases	511,443		746,531
Current portion	37,145		37,517
Long-term portion	474,298		709,014
	511,443		746,531

Minimum future gross revenues to be received under non-cancellable direct financing and sales-type leases

The minimum future gross revenues to be received under the Company's non-cancellable direct financing leases as of December 31, 2015, are as follows:

(in thousands of $) Year ending December 31,
2016	109,340
2017	109,042
2018	109,042
2019	109,042
2020	96,410
Thereafter	292,584
Total minimum lease revenues	825,460

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INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary, Disclosures [Abstract]

Percentage participation using the equity method of accounting

At December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company had the following participation in investments that are recorded using the equity method:

	2015		2014		2013
SFL West Polaris Limited	—		—		100.00	%
SFL Deepwater Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
SFL Hercules Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
SFL Linus Ltd	100.00	%	100.00	%	100.00	%
Bluelot Shipping Company Limited	—		—		100.00	%
SFL Corte Real Limited	—		—		100.00	%

Summarized financial statement information of equity method investees

Summarized balance sheet information of the Company's equity method investees is as follows:

	As of December 31, 2015
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Current assets	120,251	33,735	—	38,936	47,580	—	—
Non-current assets	1,212,302	366,893	—	362,419	482,990	—	—
Total assets	1,332,553	400,628	—	401,355	530,570	—	—
Current liabilities	128,455	25,221	—	28,624	74,610	—	—
Non-current liabilities (1)	1,119,483	335,881	—	354,025	429,577	—	—
Total liabilities	1,247,938	361,102	—	382,649	504,187	—	—
Total shareholders' equity	84,615	39,526	—	18,706	26,383	—	—

	As of December 31, 2014
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Current assets (1)	127,268	44,297	—	38,619	44,352	—	—
Non-current assets	1,324,765	397,191	—	397,226	530,348	—	—
Total assets	1,452,033	441,488	—	435,845	574,700	—	—
Current liabilities	122,861	38,376	—	32,945	51,540	—	—
Non-current liabilities (1)	1,275,715	371,147	—	391,500	513,068	—	—
Total liabilities	1,398,576	409,523	—	424,445	564,608	—	—
Total shareholders' equity	53,457	31,965	—	11,400	10,092	—	—

(1) SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus non-current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include $137.4 million (2014: $100.0 million), $125.3 million (2014: $135.3 million) and $125.0 million (2014: $110.7 million) due to Ship Finance, respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions). In addition, SFL Linus current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include a further $23.2 million (2014: $nil) due to Ship Finance (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

Summarized statement of operations information of the Company's wholly-owned equity method investees is shown below. 

	Year ended December 31, 2015
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	82,731	22,424	—	23,315	36,992	—	—
Net operating revenues	82,725	22,422	—	23,313	36,990	—	—
Net income (2)	31,001	7,561	—	7,306	16,134	—	—

	Year ended December 31, 2014
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus	Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	108,632	24,917	22,251	24,565	33,236	1,171	2,492
Net operating revenues	105,567	24,905	22,234	24,544	33,221	232	431
Net income (2)	33,497	8,023	4,643	7,755	12,413	232	431

	Year ended December 31, 2013
(in thousands of $)	TOTAL	SFL Deepwater	SFL West Polaris	SFL Hercules	SFL Linus		Bluelot	Corte Real
Operating revenues	122,792	46,145	23,701	13,832	—		19,490	19,624
Net operating revenues	88,121	46,109	23,681	13,808	—		2,261	2,262
Net income (3)	28,200	17,747	2,324	3,645	(38	)	2,261	2,261

(2) The net income of SFL Deepwater, SFL West Polaris, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus in the year ended December 31, 2015, includes interest payable to Ship Finance amounting to $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $9.6 million), $nil (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $6.5 million), $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $3.5 million) and $5.6 million (2014: $4.9 million; 2013: $nil), respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

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ACCRUED EXPENSES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]

Schedule of Accrued Liabilities

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Vessel operating expenses	3,676	6,305
Administrative expenses	1,206	1,330
Interest expense	7,764	10,555
	12,646	18,190

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OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Current Liabilities

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Deferred and prepaid charter revenue	5,549	7,982
Employee taxes	152	899
Other items	11,336	211
	17,037	9,092

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LONG-TERM DEBT (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Long-term Debt, by Current and Noncurrent [Abstract]

Schedule of long-term debt

(in thousands of $)	2015		2014
Long-term debt:
3.75% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	117,500		125,000
Norwegian kroner 600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017	63,681		76,487
3.25% senior unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	350,000		350,000
Norwegian kroner 900 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2019	85,434		119,277
U.S. dollar denominated floating rate debt (LIBOR plus margin) due through 2023	1,049,861		1,061,695
	1,666,476		1,732,459
Less: current portion of long-term debt	(208,031	)	(182,415	)
	1,458,445		1,550,044

Schedule of maturities of debt

The outstanding debt as of December 31, 2015, is repayable as follows:

(in thousands of $) Year ending December 31,
2016	208,031
2017	185,246
2018	532,553
2019	255,744
2020	117,590
Thereafter	367,312
Total debt	1,666,476

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OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Other Long Term Liabilities

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Unamortized sellers' credit	11,960	15,042
Other items	3	2,542
	11,963	17,584

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SHARE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of Share Capital

Authorized share capital is as follows: 

(in thousands of $, except share data)	2015	2014
125,000,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each	125,000	125,000

Issued and fully paid share capital is as follows:

(in thousands of $, except share data)	2015	2014
93,468,000 common shares of $1.00 par value each (2014: 93,404,000 shares)	93,468	93,404

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SHARE OPTION PLAN (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]

Summary of share option transactions

The following summarizes share option transactions related to the Option Scheme in 2015, 2014 and 2013: 

	2015			2014			2013
	Options		Weighted average exercise price $	Options		Weighted average exercise price $	Options		Weighted average exercise price $
Options outstanding at beginning of year	189,000		13.17	423,000		9.99	498,000		10.27
Granted	—		—	—		—	—		—
Exercised	(64,000	)	10.55	(224,000	)	5.41	(75,000	)	5.29
Forfeited	—		—	(10,000	)	5.56	—		—
Options outstanding at end of year	125,000		12.56	189,000		13.17	423,000		9.99
Exercisable at end of year	125,000		12.56	189,000		13.17	374,333		9.22

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Related Party Transactions [Abstract]

Amounts due from and to related parties, excluding direct financing lease balances

The Consolidated Balance Sheets include the following amounts due from and to related parties, excluding direct financing lease balances (see Note 15: Investments in direct financing leases): 

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Amounts due from:
Frontline Charterers	18,052	30,714
Frontline Ltd	2,816	9,012
UFC	1,639	232
Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG	—	1,338
SFL Linus	23,152	—
Seadrill	—	111,195
Total amount due from related parties	45,659	152,491
Loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term
SFL Deepwater	137,437	100,036
SFL Hercules	125,275	135,250
SFL Linus	125,000	110,745
Total loans to related parties - associated companies, long-term	387,712	346,031
Loans to related parties - others, long-term
Frontline Ltd	—	79,294
Total loans to related parties - others, long-term	—	79,294
Amounts due to:
Frontline Charterers	229	196
Frontline Management	143	848
Other related parties	44	65
Total amount due to related parties	416	1,109

Summary of leasing revenues earned from related parties

A summary of leasing revenues earned from the Frontline Charterers, Seadrill, Deep Sea, Deep Sea Supply BTG, Golden Ocean and UFC is as follows:

(in millions of $)	2015	2014	2013
Operating lease income	42.9	26.4	24.0
Direct financing lease interest income	34.2	45.4	55.4
Finance lease service revenue	46.5	46.5	52.4
Direct financing lease repayments	35.9	43.1	47.4
Profit sharing revenues	59.6	33.8	0.8

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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]

Fair values of derivative instruments designated and not designated as cash flow hedges

The following tables present the fair values of the Company's derivative instruments that were designated as cash flow hedges and qualified as part of a hedging relationship, and those that were not designated: 

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	—	292
Non-designated derivative instruments -short-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	—	225
Total derivative instruments - short-term liabilities	—	517
Designated derivative instruments -long-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	11,458	40,058
Cross currency interest rate swaps	87,642	63,083
Non-designated derivative instruments -long-term liabilities:
Interest rate swaps	2,897	1,565
Cross currency interest rate swaps	11,645	1,973
Total derivative instruments - long-term liabilities	113,642	106,679

(in thousands of $)	2015	2014
Designated derivative instruments -long-term assets:
Interest rate swaps	487	710
Non-designated derivative instruments -long-term assets:
Interest rate swaps	313	2,584
Total derivative instruments - long-term assets	800	3,294

Schedule of interest rate swap transactions designated as hedges against specific loans

The summary includes all swap transactions, most of which are hedges against specific loans.

Notional Principal (in thousands of $)	Inception date	Maturity date	Fixed interest rate
$31,604 (reducing to $24,794)	March 2008	August 2018	4.05% - 4.15%
$34,140 (reducing to $23,394)	April 2011	December 2018	2.13% - 2.80%
$50,760 (reducing to $34,044)	May 2011	January 2019	0.80% - 2.58%
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)	August 2011	August 2021	2.50% - 2.93%
$157,933 (terminating at $79,733)	May 2012	August 2022	1.76% - 1.85%
$105,436 (equivalent to NOK600 million)	October 2012	October 2017	5.92% - 6.23%		*
$39,900 (reducing to $32,142)	February 2013	December 2017	0.81% - 0.82%
$100,000 (remaining at $100,000)	March 2013	April 2023	1.85% - 1.97%
$151,008 (equivalent to NOK900 million)	March 2014	March 2019	6.03	%	*
$108,375 (reducing to $70,125)	December 2016	December 2021	1.86% - 3.33%
$110,500 (reducing to $70,125)	January 2017	January 2022	1.56% - 3.09%
$33,973 (reducing to $19,413)	September 2015	March 2022	1.67	%

* These swaps relate to the NOK600 million and the NOK900 million unsecured bonds, and the fixed interest rates paid are exchanged for NIBOR plus the margin on the bonds. For the remaining swaps the fixed interest rate paid is exchanged for LIBOR, excluding margin on the underlying loans.

Schedule of currency swap transactions

The Company has entered into currency swap transactions, involving the payment of U.S. dollars in exchange for Norwegian kroner, which are designated as hedges against the NOK600 million senior unsecured bonds due 2017 and the NOK900 million senior unsecured bonds due 2019. 

Principal Receivable	Principal Payable	Inception date	Maturity date
NOK600 million	US$105.4 million	October 2012	October 2017
NOK900 million	US$151.0 million	March 2014	March 2019

Schedule of carrying value and estimated fair value of financial assets and liabilities

The carrying value and estimated fair value of the Company's financial assets and liabilities at December 31, 2015, and 2014, are as follows: 

	2015	2015	2014	2014
(in thousands of $)	Carrying value	Fair value	Carrying value	Fair  value
Non-derivatives:
Available for sale securities	199,594	199,594	73,656	73,656
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,681	63,719	76,487	75,210
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	85,434	79,549	119,277	108,542
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	117,500	118,021	125,000	124,375
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	350,000	378,315	350,000	335,563
Derivatives:
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	800	800	3,294	3,294
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	—	—	517	517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642	113,642	106,679	106,679

Schedule of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis

The above fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2015, are measured as follows: 

		Fair value measurements using
	Total fair value as at December 31, 2015	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets	Significant Other Observable Inputs	Significant Unobservable Inputs
(in thousands of $)		(Level 1)	(Level 2)	(Level 3)
Assets:
Available for sale securities	199,594	199,594
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts - long-term receivables	800		800
Total assets	200,394	199,594	800	—
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719	63,719
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	79,549	79,549
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	118,021	118,021
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	378,315	378,315
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642		113,642
Total liabilities	753,246	639,604	113,642	—

The above fair values of financial assets and liabilities as at December 31, 2014, were measured as follows:

		Fair value measurements using
	Total fair value as at December 31, 2014	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets	Significant Other Observable Inputs	Significant Unobservable Inputs
(in thousands of $)		(Level 1)	(Level 2)	(Level 3)
Assets:
Available for sale securities	73,656	49,913		23,743
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	3,294		3,294
Total assets	76,950	49,913	3,294	23,743
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	75,210	75,210
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2019	108,542	108,542
3.75% unsecured convertible bonds due 2016	124,375	124,375
3.25% unsecured convertible bonds due 2018	335,563	335,563
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	517		517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	106,679		106,679
Total liabilities	750,886	643,690	107,196	—

Schedule of changes in the fair values of the asset with Level 3 valuation

he following table shows the changes in the fair value of the asset with Level 3 valuation during the year ended December 31, 2015:

(in thousands of $)	Horizon Lines, LLC loan notes
Fair values - Level 3 inputs:
Balance as at December 31, 2014	23,743
Interest income, receivable in form of unlisted second lien loan notes - see (a) below	2,182
Balance on sale of notes at May 29, 2015	25,925

(a) The interest income of $2.2 million is recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations under "Interest income - other".

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of assets pledged

Assets Pledged

	2015
Book value of assets pledged under ship mortgages (see Note 19)	$2,087 million

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GENERAL (Details)	Dec. 31, 2015 carriers	Dec. 31, 2015 tankers	Dec. 31, 2015 drilling_rigs	Dec. 31, 2015 vessel	Dec. 31, 2015 contract	Jun. 05, 2015 carriers	Dec. 31, 2014 contract
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Number of very large crude oil carriers owned	12					12
Number of Suezmax crude oil carriers owned	4					5
Number of Capesize drybulk carriers owned	8
Number of Supramax drybulk carriers owned	5
Number of Handysize drybulk carriers owned	7
Number of Kamsarmax drybulk carriers owned	2
Number of container vessels owned | vessel				18
Number of car carriers	2
Number of jack-up drilling rigs owned | drilling_rigs			2
Number of ultra-deepwater drilling units owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries accounted for using the equity method | drilling_rigs			2
Number of jack-up drilling rigs owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries account for using the equity method | drilling_rigs			1
Number of offshore supply vessels owned | vessel				6
Number of oil product tankers contracted to be acquired		2		2
Number of chemical tankers owned | tankers		2
Number of container vessels contracted to be acquired				2	2		2
Number of container vessels contracted to be chartered in | vessel				2

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Related Party) (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Profit sharing percent of earnings from Frontline from July 1 2015 onwards		50.00%
Frontline Charterers [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet					20.00%
Increase profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet (in hundredths)					25.00%
Compensation payment received				$ 150,200,000	$ 106,000,000
Non-refundable advance relating to the profit sharing agreement					$ 50,000,000
Period of temporary reduction in daily time charter rates	4 years
Agreed Temporary Reduction in Daily Time Charter Rates			$ 6,500
Maximum daily amount to which temporary earnings-related 100% payment applies			$ 6,500

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ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) containership drilling_rigs vessel Investment	May. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) containership	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Number of ultra deepwater drilling units owned | drilling_rigs			2
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries that own drilling rigs | vessel			3
Number of jack-up drilling rigs owned by wholly-owned subsidiaries account for using the equity method | drilling_rigs			1
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable			$ 0		$ 0
Number of container vessels impaired | containership			2		5
Number of off-shore supply vessels impaired | containership			2
Long-term investment impairment charge	$ 500,000	$ 2,900,000
Number of long-term investments in shares which are not publicly traded | Investment			1
Offshore vessels and rigs [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated economic useful life (in years)			30 years
Other Capitalized Property Plant and Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Estimated economic useful life (in years)			25 years
Office Equipment [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Depreciation, rate			20.00%
Impaired Investment 2 [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Investments			$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000	$ 1,200,000
Impaired Investment 1 [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Investments			$ 0		$ 0	$ 0

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SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	1

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Basic:
Net income available to stockholders	$ 200,832	$ 122,815	$ 89,206
Diluted:
Interest paid on 3.75% convertible bonds	5,078	5,060	5,092
Interest paid on 3.25% convertible bonds	17,371	17,371	0
Net income available to stockholders, diluted	$ 223,281	$ 145,246	$ 94,298
Basic earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Diluted earnings per share:
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding	93,450	93,331	89,508
Effect of dilutive share options	23	84	163
Effect of dilutive convertible debt	25,535	23,332	5,753
Weighted average number of diluted common shares outstanding	119,008	116,747	95,424

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EARNINGS PER SHARE (Narrative) (Details) - Convertible Debt [Member]	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
3.75% Convertible Bond [Member]
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.75%	3.75%	3.75%
3.25% Convertible Bond
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]
Interest rate	3.25%	3.25%	3.25%

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OPERATING LEASES (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) containership	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) containership	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Minimum future revenues to be received under non-cancelable operating leases [Abstract]
2016	$ 263,340
2017	252,799
2018	211,819
2019	175,756
2020	147,902
Thereafter	293,855
Total minimum lease revenues	1,345,471
Cost and accumulated depreciation of vessels leased on operating leases [Abstract]
Cost	1,964,852	$ 1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	1,641,317	1,377,133
Vessel impairment charge	$ 42,410	$ 11,800	$ 0
Number of container vessels impaired | containership	2	5

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GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS (Summary) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	$ 7,364	$ (1,384)	$ 18,025
Gain on termination of charters	0	25,315	0
Total gain on sale of assets and termination of charters	7,364	$ 23,931	$ 18,025
Sale of Suezmax tanker Front Glory [Member]
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	3,400
Sale of Suezmax tanker Front Splendour [Member]
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	2,400
Sale of Suezmax tanker Mindanao [Member]
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	1,700
Sale of 5 Horizon container vessels [Member]
Gain/ (loss) on sale of assets	$ (114)

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GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS (Gain on Sale of Vessels) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) vessel	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) vessel
Vessel impairment charge | $	$ 42,410	$ 11,800	$ 0
Gain/(Loss) | $	7,364	(1,384)	$ 18,025
Sale of 5 Horizon container vessels [Member]
Vessel impairment charge | $		$ 11,800
Gain/(Loss) | $	$ (114)
VLCCs [Member]
Number of vessels sold		3
Ore-Bulk-Oil (OBO) Carriers [Member]
Number of vessels sold			1
Single hull Very Large Crude Carrier VLCC [Member]
Number of vessels sold			1
Double-hull Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCC) [Member]
Number of vessels sold			2
Suezmax Tankers [Member]
Number of vessels sold			1

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GAIN ON SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMINATION OF CHARTERS (Gain on Termination of Charters) (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010 vessels	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($) vessels	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets [Abstract]
Term of time charter	5 years
Daily charter rate of drybulk carriers with terminated charters		$ 14
Number of drybulk carriers with charter agreement terminated | vessels	4	4
Total compensation received on termination of charters			$ 0	$ 25,315	$ 0

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GAIN ON SALE OF LOAN NOTES AND SHARE WARRANTS - OTHER (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	May. 31, 2015
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from redemption of Horizon loan notes and warrants	$ 71,681	$ 0	$ 0
Available for sale securities	199,594	73,656
Gain on sale of loan notes and share warrants - other	44,552	0	$ 0
Impaired Investment 2 [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Investments	$ 1,200	1,200		$ 1,200
Unlisted Securities [Member]
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]
Available for sale securities		$ 23,700		$ 25,900

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OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract]
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of non-designated derivatives	$ (13,051)	$ (7,636)	$ 7,726
Net cash payments on non-designated derivatives	(6,453)	(7,196)	(2,653)
Net increase/(decrease) in fair value of designated derivatives (ineffective portion)	(227)	(63)	224
Other items	(1,558)	(1,337)	(3,294)
Total other financial items	(21,289)	(16,232)	2,003
Loss on derivative instrument reclassified from other comprehensive income	(1,300)	(4,500)	2,100
Gain on foreign currency translation	$ (53)	$ (109)	$ (507)

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AVAILABLE FOR SALE SECURITIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	May. 31, 2015
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Amortized cost	$ 185,148	$ 80,743
Accumulated net unrealized (loss)/gain	14,446	(7,087)	$ 1,268
Carrying value	199,594	73,656
Available-for sale securities impairment charge	(20,552)	0	$ 0
Share capital
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Carrying value	164,500	0
Listed Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 35,100	49,900
Unlisted Securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Carrying value		23,700		$ 25,900
Unlisted Securities [Member] | Second Lien Interest-Bearing Loan Notes [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Carrying value		$ 59,400

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TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Receivables [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts, trade receivables	$ 0	$ 0
Allowance for doubtful other receivables	$ 0	$ 0

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VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Schedule of Vessels and Equipment) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]
Cost	$ 1,964,852	$ 1,715,510
Accumulated depreciation	323,535	338,377
Vessels and equipment, net	$ 1,641,317	$ 1,377,133

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VESSELS AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) carriers containership	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) carriers containership	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Number of drybulk carriers delivered | carriers	8	2
Cost of drybulk carriers	$ 272,000	$ 61,800
Number of newbuilding container vessels delivered | containership	3	2
Cost of newbuilding container vessels delivered	$ 270,700	$ 173,800
Number of second hand container vessels delivered | carriers		9
Cost of second hand container vessels delivered		$ 127,900
Vessel impairment charge	$ 42,410	$ 11,800	$ 0
Number of container vessels impaired | containership	2	5
Depreciation	$ 78,080	$ 67,393	$ 58,436
Sale of 5 Horizon container vessels [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Vessel impairment charge		$ 11,800
Property Subject to Operating Lease [Member]
Property Subject to or Available for Operating Lease [Line Items]
Vessel impairment charge	$ 29,200

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NEWBUILDINGS (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) tankers containership	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) contract	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 vessel	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 contract
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Interest capitalized in the cost of newbuildings	$ 404	$ 290	$ 257
Number of newbuilding contracts | contract		2				4
Number of container vessels contracted to be acquired		2		2		2
Number of oil product tankers contracted to be acquired	2			2
Accumulated costs of newbuildings		$ 87,600			$ 40,100
Number of container vessels delivered | containership	3
9,300 - 9,500 TEU Container vessel [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]
Number of container vessels contracted to be acquired | vessel				3

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INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) carriers vessel assets	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) assets	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) vessel	Feb. 29, 2016 vessel	Jun. 05, 2015 carriers vessel
Number of Suezmax tankers sold [Line Items]
Number of VLCCs and Suezmaxes Chartered | vessel	14
Term of charters, minimum (in years)	4 years
Term of charters, maximum (in years)	11 years
Number of offshore supply vessels chartered on long-term bareboat charters | vessel	2
Joint venture, ownership percentage	50.00%
Assets accounted for as direct financing leases and leased to related parties | assets	16	19
Number of very large crude oil carriers owned | carriers	12					12
Number of Suezmax crude oil carriers owned | carriers	4					5
Number of Suezmax tankers sold | carriers	3
Vessel impairment charge	$ 42,410	$ 11,800	$ 0
Minimum future lease revenues to be received [Abstract]
2016	109,340
2017	109,042
2018	109,042
2019	109,042
2020	96,410
Thereafter	292,584
Total minimum lease revenues	825,460
Property subject to direct financing leases [Member]
Number of Suezmax tankers sold [Line Items]
Vessel impairment charge	$ 13,200
Frontline Charterers [Member]
Number of Suezmax tankers sold [Line Items]
Assets accounted for as direct financing leases and leased to related parties | vessel	14			28		17
Compensation Payment Received for Lease Amendments	$ 150,200			$ 106,000
DESS Cyprus Limited [Member]
Number of Suezmax tankers sold [Line Items]
Number of offshore supply vessels chartered on long-term bareboat charters | vessel	1
Subsequent Event [Member]
Number of Suezmax tankers sold [Line Items]
Number of offshore supply vessels subsequently sold | vessel					1

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INVESTMENTS IN DIRECT FINANCING LEASES (Components of Investments in Direct Financing and Sales-type Leases) (Details) $ in Thousands	Feb. 29, 2016 vessel	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Total minimum lease payments to be received		$ 825,460	$ 1,174,327
Less: amounts representing estimated executory costs including profit thereon, included in total minimum lease payments		(362,959)	(330,056)
Net minimum lease payments receivable		462,501	844,271
Estimated residual values of leased property (un-guaranteed)		195,238	239,002
Less: unearned income		(146,296)	(243,419)
Net investment in direct financing and sales-type leases before deferred deemed equity contribution and unamortized gains		511,443	839,854
Less: deferred deemed equity contribution		0	(86,585)
Less: unamortized gains		0	(6,738)
Total investment in direct financing and sales-type leases		511,443	746,531
Current portion		37,145	37,517
Long-term portion		$ 474,298	$ 709,014
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Number of offshore supply vessels subsequently sold | vessel	1

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INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATED COMPANIES (Details) shares in Millions		1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 Rate shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) assets Rate	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	Jun. 19, 2015 USD ($)	May. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2008 vessel
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of shares received | shares			55
Equity in earnings of associated companies				$ 33,605,000	$ 33,497,000	$ 28,200,000
Gain on sale of investment in associated company				0	6,055,000	0
Term loan facility, amount outstanding				1,666,476,000	1,732,459,000
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Due from related parties				$ 45,659,000	152,491,000
Frontline Ltd [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage | Rate			27.73%	7.03%
Equity in earnings of associated companies				$ 2,600,000	$ 0	$ 0
Proceeds from equity method investment dividends				$ 2,800,000
SFL West Polaris [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Participation in equity method investee (in hundredths)				0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
Term loan facility, principal amount								$ 420,000,000
Term loan facility, term								5 years
Term loan facility, amount guaranteed									$ 88,000,000
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets				$ 0	$ 0
Non-current assets				0	0
Total assets				0	0
Current liabilities				0	0
Non-current liabilities	[1]			0	0
Total liabilities				0	0
Total shareholders' equity				0	0
Statement of operations information [Abstract]
Operating revenues				0	22,251,000	$ 23,701,000
Net operating revenues				0	22,234,000	23,681,000
Net income				0	4,643,000	2,324,000	[2]
Interest payable to parent				$ 0	$ 6,500,000	$ 6,500,000
SFL Deepwater [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Participation in equity method investee (in hundredths)				100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Term loan facility, principal amount		$ 390,000,000
Term loan facility, term		5 years
Term loan facility, amount guaranteed				$ 80,000,000	$ 85,000,000
Term loan facility, amount outstanding				$ 221,100,000	303,300,000
Number of main assets subject of leases which includes both fixed price call options and fixed price purchase obligations				1							2
Available amount under revolving part of credit facility				$ 50,000,000	0
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets				33,735,000	44,297,000
Non-current assets				366,893,000	397,191,000
Total assets				400,628,000	441,488,000
Current liabilities				25,221,000	38,376,000
Non-current liabilities	[1]			335,881,000	371,147,000
Total liabilities				361,102,000	409,523,000
Total shareholders' equity				39,526,000	31,965,000
Due to parent				137,400,000	100,000,000
Statement of operations information [Abstract]
Operating revenues				22,424,000	24,917,000	$ 46,145,000
Net operating revenues				22,422,000	24,905,000	46,109,000
Net income				7,561,000	8,023,000	17,747,000	[2]
Interest payable to parent				$ 6,500,000	$ 6,500,000	$ 9,600,000
SFL Hercules [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Participation in equity method investee (in hundredths)				100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Term loan facility, principal amount										$ 375,000,000
Term loan facility, term		6 years
Term loan facility, amount guaranteed				$ 80,000,000	$ 85,000,000
Term loan facility, amount outstanding				256,300,000	283,700,000
Available amount under revolving part of credit facility				50,000,000	50,000,000
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets				38,936,000	38,619,000
Non-current assets				362,419,000	397,226,000
Total assets				401,355,000	435,845,000
Current liabilities				28,624,000	32,945,000
Non-current liabilities	[1]			354,025,000	391,500,000
Total liabilities				382,649,000	424,445,000
Total shareholders' equity				18,706,000	11,400,000
Due to parent				125,300,000	135,300,000
Statement of operations information [Abstract]
Operating revenues				23,315,000	24,565,000	$ 13,832,000
Net operating revenues				23,313,000	24,544,000	13,808,000
Net income				7,306,000	7,755,000	3,645,000
Interest payable to parent				$ 6,500,000	$ 6,500,000	$ 3,500,000
SFL Linus [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Participation in equity method investee (in hundredths)				100.00%	100.00%	100.00%
Term loan facility, principal amount		$ 475,000,000
Term loan facility, term		5 years
Term loan facility, amount guaranteed				$ 90,000,000	$ 90,000,000
Term loan facility, amount outstanding				353,800,000	451,300,000
Available amount under revolving part of credit facility				50,000,000	0
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets				47,580,000	44,352,000
Non-current assets				482,990,000	530,348,000
Total assets				530,570,000	574,700,000
Current liabilities				74,610,000	51,540,000
Non-current liabilities	[1]			429,577,000	513,068,000
Total liabilities				504,187,000	564,608,000
Total shareholders' equity				26,383,000	10,092,000
Due to parent				125,000,000	110,700,000
Due from related parties				23,152,000	0
Statement of operations information [Abstract]
Operating revenues				36,992,000	33,236,000	$ 0
Net operating revenues				36,990,000	33,221,000	0
Net income				16,134,000	12,413,000	(38,000)
Interest payable to parent				$ 5,600,000	$ 4,900,000	$ 0
Bluelot Shipping Company [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Participation in equity method investee (in hundredths)				0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets				$ 0	$ 0
Non-current assets				0	0
Total assets				0	0
Current liabilities				0	0
Non-current liabilities	[1]			0	0
Total liabilities				0	0
Total shareholders' equity				0	0
Statement of operations information [Abstract]
Operating revenues				0	1,171,000	$ 19,490,000
Net operating revenues				0	232,000	2,261,000
Net income				$ 0	$ 232,000	$ 2,261,000	[2]
SFL Corte Real [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Participation in equity method investee (in hundredths)				0.00%	0.00%	100.00%
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets				$ 0	$ 0
Non-current assets				0	0
Total assets				0	0
Current liabilities				0	0
Non-current liabilities	[1]			0	0
Total liabilities				0	0
Total shareholders' equity				0	0
Statement of operations information [Abstract]
Operating revenues				0	2,492,000	$ 19,624,000
Net operating revenues				0	431,000	2,262,000
Net income				0	431,000	2,261,000	[2]
Total [Member]
Summarized balance sheet information [Abstract]
Current assets				120,251,000	127,268,000
Non-current assets				1,212,302,000	1,324,765,000
Total assets				1,332,553,000	1,452,033,000
Current liabilities				128,455,000	122,861,000
Non-current liabilities	[1]			1,119,483,000	1,275,715,000
Total liabilities				1,247,938,000	1,398,576,000
Total shareholders' equity				84,615,000	53,457,000
Statement of operations information [Abstract]
Operating revenues				82,731,000	108,632,000	122,792,000
Net operating revenues				82,725,000	105,567,000	88,121,000
Net income				$ 31,001,000	$ 33,497,000	$ 28,200,000	[2]

[1] SFL Deepwater, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus non-current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include $137.4 million (2014: $100.0 million), $125.3 million (2014: $135.3 million) and $125.0 million (2014: $110.7 million) due to Ship Finance, respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions). In addition, SFL Linus current liabilities at December 31, 2015, include a further $23.2 million (2014: $nil) due to Ship Finance (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

[2] The net income of SFL Deepwater, SFL West Polaris, SFL Hercules and SFL Linus in the year ended December 31, 2015, includes interest payable to Ship Finance amounting to $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $9.6 million), $nil (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $6.5 million), $6.5 million (2014: $6.5 million; 2013: $3.5 million) and $5.6 million (2014: $4.9 million; 2013: $nil), respectively (see Note 23: Related party transactions).

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ACCRUED EXPENSES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accrued Liabilities [Abstract]
Vessel operating expenses	$ 3,676	$ 6,305
Administrative expenses	1,206	1,330
Interest expense	7,764	10,555
Accrued expenses	$ 12,646	$ 18,190

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OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Deferred and prepaid charter revenue	$ 5,549	$ 7,982
Employee taxes	152	899
Other items	11,336	211
Other current liabilities	17,037	9,092
Current liabilities relating to newbuilding contracts	$ 10,900	$ 0

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LONG-TERM DEBT (Details)		1 Months Ended																							12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2013	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($) carriers subsidiaries	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($) carriers subsidiaries	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) carriers containership subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) carriers subsidiaries	Nov. 30, 2014 USD ($) containership subsidiaries	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($) containership subsidiaries	Aug. 31, 2014 USD ($) vessel subsidiaries	Jun. 30, 2014 subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Nov. 30, 2012 USD ($) carriers subsidiaries	Oct. 31, 2012 NOK	Nov. 30, 2011	Jul. 31, 2011 USD ($) vessel subsidiaries	May. 31, 2011 USD ($) vessel subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2011	Nov. 30, 2010 USD ($) carriers subsidiaries	Mar. 31, 2010 USD ($) vessel	Feb. 28, 2010 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2008 USD ($) tankers subsidiaries	Feb. 28, 2008 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2006 vessel subsidiaries	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) carriers vessel $ / shares	Dec. 31, 2015 NOK	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) carriers	Dec. 31, 2014 NOK	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 vessel	Dec. 31, 2015 NOK carriers vessel	Dec. 31, 2014 NOK carriers	Mar. 19, 2014 NOK	Feb. 10, 2011 USD ($) $ / shares	Feb. 08, 2011 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 1,732,459,000																				$ 1,666,476,000		$ 1,732,459,000
Less : current portion of long-term debt					(182,415,000)																				(208,031,000)		(182,415,000)
Total long-term debt, non-current portion					1,550,044,000																				1,458,445,000		1,550,044,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
2014																									208,031,000
2015																									185,246,000
2016																									532,553,000
2017																									255,744,000
2018																									117,590,000
Thereafter																									367,312,000
Long-term debt					$ 1,732,459,000																				$ 1,666,476,000		$ 1,732,459,000
Three month dollar LIBOR rate (in hundredths)					0.256%																				0.613%		0.256%					0.613%	0.256%
Three month Norwegian kroner NIBOR rate (in hundredths)					1.48%																				1.13%		1.48%					1.13%	1.48%
Number of car carriers | carriers																									2							2
Book value of assets pledged under ship mortgages					$ 2,062,000,000																				$ 2,087,000,000		$ 2,062,000,000
Equity component of convertible bond issuance, net											$ 20,722,000														0		0		$ 20,722,000
US Dollar 53.2 Million Secured Term Loan Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					44,300,000																				39,900,000		44,300,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					44,300,000																				39,900,000		44,300,000
Debt amount												$ 53,200,000.0
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries												2
Number of car carriers | carriers												2
Debt Instrument, Term												5 years
US Dollar 45 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					45,000,000																				36,000,000		45,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					45,000,000																				$ 36,000,000		45,000,000
Debt amount				$ 45,000,000
Number of container vessels | containership				7
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries									7
Debt Instrument, Term									5 years
US dollar 350 Million Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member]
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Interest rate											3.25%
Debt amount											$ 350,000,000
Maturity date of debt	Feb. 01, 2018
Conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares											$ 21.945														$ 16.2456
Premium of conversion price to share price											33.00%
Common shares loaned to affiliate | shares											6,060,606
Related party share loan fee											$ 1,000,000
NOK 900 Million Senior Unsecured Bonds [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					119,277,000																				$ 85,434,000		119,277,000					NOK 758,000,000	NOK 892,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					119,277,000																				85,434,000		119,277,000					758,000,000	892,000,000
Debt amount | NOK																																		NOK 900,000,000
Amount of debt repurchased | NOK																										NOK 142,000,000		NOK 8,000,000
Maturity date of debt										Mar. 19, 2019
Redemption price of debt (in hundredths)																																		100.50%
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					125,000,000																				117,500,000		125,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					125,000,000																				$ 117,500,000		125,000,000
Interest rate																																			3.75%
Debt amount																																			$ 125,000,000
Amount of debt repurchased | NOK																										7,500,000		0
Maturity date of debt																		Feb. 10, 2016
Conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares																									$ 16.61										$ 27.05
Premium of conversion price to share price																																			35.00%
Threshold percentage of value of shares underlying each bond to principal amount of bond for the bonds to be callable (in hundredths)																																			130.00%
NOK 600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					76,487,000																				$ 63,681,000		76,487,000					565,000,000	572,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					76,487,000																				63,681,000		76,487,000					NOK 565,000,000	NOK 572,000,000
Debt amount | NOK													NOK 600,000,000
Amount of debt repurchased | NOK																										43,000,000		36,000,000
Maturity date of debt													Oct. 19, 2017
Redemption price of debt (in hundredths)													100.50%
Proceeds from resale of debt previous purchased | NOK																										NOK 8,000,000		NOK 8,000,000
Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					350,000,000																				350,000,000		350,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					350,000,000																				350,000,000		350,000,000
Floating Rate Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					1,061,695,000																				1,049,861,000		1,061,695,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					$ 1,061,695,000																				$ 1,049,861,000		$ 1,061,695,000
Weighted average interest rate (in hundredths)					4.98%																				4.22%		4.98%					4.22%	4.98%
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 210 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 171,400,000																				$ 0		$ 171,400,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					171,400,000																				0		171,400,000
Number of new vessels acquired that were partly funded by secured term loan facility | vessel																								5
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries																								5
Term of loan in years																								12 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 30 million secured revolving credit facility (February 2008) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					3,000,000																				0		3,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					3,000,000																				0		3,000,000
Debt amount																							$ 30,000,000
Debt Instrument, Term																							7 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 49 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					28,000,000																				8,000,000		28,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					28,000,000																				8,000,000		28,000,000
Debt amount																						$ 49,000,000
Number of new vessels acquired that were partly funded by secured term loan facility | tankers																						2
Available amount under revolving part of credit facility					0																				12,000,000		0
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries																						2
Term of loan in years																						10 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 43 million secured term loan facility (February 2010) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					29,100,000																				26,300,000		29,100,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					29,100,000																				26,300,000		29,100,000
Debt amount																					$ 42,600,000.0
Term of loan in years																					5 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 725 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					71,500,000																				0		71,500,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					71,500,000																				0		71,500,000
Debt amount																				$ 725,000,000
Term of loan in years																				5 years
Number of vessels against which loan was secured | vessel																				26
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 43 million secured term loan facility (March 2010) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					29,100,000																				26,300,000		29,100,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					29,100,000																				26,300,000		29,100,000
Debt amount																				$ 42,600,000.0
Term of loan in years																				5 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 54 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					38,000,000																				34,100,000		38,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					38,000,000																				34,100,000		38,000,000
Debt amount																			$ 53,700,000.0
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries																			2
Number of vessels against which loan was secured | carriers																			2
Debt Instrument, Term																			8 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 95 million secured term loan and revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					57,500,000																				22,500,000		57,500,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					57,500,000																				22,500,000		57,500,000
Debt amount																																				$ 95,000,000
Available amount under revolving part of credit facility					0																				2,500,000		0
Debt Instrument, Term														7 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 75 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					56,600,000																				50,800,000		56,600,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					56,600,000																				50,800,000		56,600,000
Debt amount																	$ 75,400,000.0
Term of loan in years																	8 years
Number of vessels against which loan was secured																	3
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 171 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					134,200,000																				122,200,000		134,200,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					134,200,000																				122,200,000		134,200,000
Debt amount																$ 171,000,000
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries																8
Term of loan in years																10 years
Number of vessels against which loan was secured | vessel																7
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US$ 167 million secured term loan facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					72,200,000																				0		72,200,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					72,200,000																				0		72,200,000
Debt amount															$ 166,800,000.0
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries															5
Number of vessels against which loan was secured | vessel															5
Debt Instrument, Term															6 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US Dollar 45 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Available amount under revolving part of credit facility					0																				9,000,000		0
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 101 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					98,700,000																				87,800,000		98,700,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					98,700,000																				$ 87,800,000		98,700,000
Debt amount								$ 101,400,000.0
Number of offshore supply vessels | vessel								6
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries								6
Number of remaining vessels relating to loan facility | vessel																									5							5
Debt Instrument, Term								5 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 20 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					20,000,000																				$ 20,000,000		20,000,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					20,000,000																				20,000,000		20,000,000
Debt amount							$ 20,000,000
Number of container vessels | containership				2
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries							2
Debt Instrument, Term							5 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 128 million secured term loan facility (September 2014) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					126,400,000																				117,900,000		126,400,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					126,400,000																				117,900,000		126,400,000
Debt amount							$ 127,500,000.0
Number of container vessels | containership							2
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries							2
Debt Instrument, Term							7 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 128 million secured term loan facility (November 2014) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					0																				121,100,000		0
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					0																				121,100,000		0
Debt amount						$ 127,500,000.0
Number of container vessels | containership						2
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries						2
Debt Instrument, Term						7 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 39 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					36,400,000																				34,000,000		36,400,000
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					36,400,000																				34,000,000		36,400,000
Debt amount					$ 39,000,000																						$ 39,000,000
Number of drybulk carriers | carriers					2																						2						2
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries					2
Debt Instrument, Term					8 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 250 million secured revolving credit facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					$ 0																				73,500,000		$ 0
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					0																				73,500,000		0
Debt amount				$ 250,000,000
Available amount under revolving part of credit facility					0																				$ 154,600,000		0
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries				17
Number of vessels sold | carriers																									3							3
Number of remaining vessels relating to loan facility | carriers																									14							14
Number of vessels against which loan was secured | carriers				17
Debt Instrument, Term				3 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 166 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					0																				$ 159,500,000		0
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					0																				159,500,000		0
Debt amount			$ 166,000,000.0
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries			8
Number of vessels against which loan was secured | carriers			8
Debt Instrument, Term			7 years
Floating Rate Debt [Member] | US dollar 210 million secured term loan facility (Maersk) [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt					0																				70,000,000		0
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Long-term debt					$ 0																				70,000,000		0
Debt amount		$ 210,000,000
Number of wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company that entered into secured term loan facility agreement | subsidiaries		3
Number of vessels against which loan was secured | carriers		3
Number of vessels delivered | carriers		(1)
Debt Instrument, Term		5 years
Interest Expense [Member]
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Amortization of deferred charges																									$ 4,100,000		$ 4,100,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | US$ 210 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Debt amount																														$ 210,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | Floating Rate Debt [Member]
Long-term Debt, by Maturity [Abstract]
Number of vessels sold | vessel																															1

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OTHER LONG TERM LIABILITIES (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) vessel	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 vessel
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Unamortized sellers' credit	$ 11,960	$ 15,042
Other items	3	2,542
Other long-term liabilities	$ 11,963	17,584
Number of offshore supply vessels acquired | vessel	6
Seller's credit received	$ 37,000
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantees, Fair Value Disclosure		$ 2,500
Deep Sea Supply BTG [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of offshore supply vessels | vessel			5

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SHARE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Common shares, authorized	$ 125,000,000	$ 125,000,000
Common shares, authorized (in shares)	125,000,000	125,000,000
Share capital, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 1	$ 1
Common shares, issued	$ 93,468,000	$ 93,404,000
Common shares, issued (in shares)	93,468,000	93,404,000	93,260,000	85,225,000

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SHARE CAPITAL, ADDITIONAL PAID-IN CAPITAL AND CONTRIBUTED SURPLUS (Narrative) (Details)	1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) employees $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) employees $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Options exercised (in shares) | shares			64,000.000	144,000
Number of officers who exercised options | employees			2	1
Number of employees exercising options | employees			3	2
Number of directors who exercised share options | employees				3
Exercised share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares			$ 10.55	$ 6.44
Premium on stock options exercised			$ 600,000	$ 800,000
Number of employees who exercised options and received cash | employees				1
Number of options exercised satisfied by cash payment | shares				80,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total intrinsic value of options exercised during the period			300,000	$ 2,900,000	$ 900,000
Equity component of convertible bond issuance, net	$ 20,722,000		0	0	20,722,000
Amortization of deferred equity contributions		$ 2,044,000	$ 2,044,000	4,520,000	$ 20,197,000
US dollar 350 Million Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Debt amount	$ 350,000,000
Conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 21.945		$ 16.2456
Premium of conversion price to share price	33.00%
Ship Finance International Limited Share Option Scheme [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Total intrinsic value of options exercised during the period				$ 1,200,000

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SHARE OPTION PLAN (Details)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016 employees $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) employees $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) employees $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares
Share options [Roll Forward]
Options exercised (in shares)		(64,000.000)	(144,000)
Other disclosures [Abstract]
Total intrinsic value of options exercised during the period | $		$ 300,000	$ 2,900,000	$ 900,000
Number of officers who exercised options | employees		2	1
Number of employees exercising options | employees		3	2
Subsequent Event [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option vesting period, minimum (in years)	3 years
Options, term (in years)	5 years
Share options [Roll Forward]
Granted (in shares)	279,000
Other disclosures [Abstract]
Number of officers who exercised options | employees	2
Number of employees exercising options | employees	3
Granted (in shares)	279,000
Number of directors granted options | employees	6
Number of officers granted options | employees	2
Number of employees granted options | employees	5
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares	$ 14.38
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Options, term (in years)		5 years
Share options [Roll Forward]
Options outstanding at beginning of year (in shares)	125,000	189,000	423,000	498,000
Granted (in shares)		0	0	0
Options exercised (in shares)		(64,000)	(224,000)	(75,000)
Forfeited (in shares)		0	(10,000)	0
Options outstanding at end of year (in shares)		125,000	189,000	423,000
Exercisable at end of year (in shares)		125,000	189,000	374,333
Weighted average exercise price [Abstract]
Options outstanding at beginning of year (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.56	$ 13.17	$ 9.99	$ 10.27
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		0.00	0.00	0.00
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		10.55	5.41	5.29
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		0.00	5.56	0.00
Options outstanding at end of year (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		12.56	13.17	9.99
Exercisable at end of year (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 12.56	$ 13.17	$ 9.22
Other disclosures [Abstract]
Intrinsic value of options fully vested but not exercised | $		$ 500,000
Options fully vested but not exercised, average remaining term (in years)		2 months 21 days
Unrecognized compensation costs related to non-vested options granted | $		$ 0	$ 0
Granted (in shares)		0	0	0
Stock Options [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Weighted average exercise price [Abstract]
Exercised (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 12.11
New Options Granted During The Year [Member]
Weighted average assumptions used to calculate fair value of options [Abstract]
Expected life of options (in years)		0 years	0 years	0 years
Minimum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option vesting period, minimum (in years)		1 year
Maximum [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Option vesting period, minimum (in years)		3 years

XML

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) shares in Millions	1 Months Ended								3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2014 USD ($) vessel	Feb. 28, 2014 contract	Nov. 30, 2013 USD ($)	May. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) vessel assets Rate	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Rate shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) vessel carriers tankers assets Rate	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) vessel assets	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) vessel	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) vessel	Jun. 05, 2015 vessel	Jul. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage															50.00%
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													$ 45,659,000		$ 45,659,000	$ 152,491,000
Loans to related parties													387,712,000		387,712,000	346,031,000
Loans to related parties - others, long-term													0		0	79,294,000
Due to related parties													$ 416,000		416,000	1,109,000
Leasing revenues earned from related parties [Abstract]
Direct financing lease interest income															34,193,000	45,363,000	$ 55,385,000
Finance lease service revenue															46,460,000	46,488,000	52,390,000
Profit sharing revenues															$ 59,607,000	$ 33,756,000	770,000
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Number of vessels leased to related parties classified as direct financing leases | assets													16		16	19
Vessels and equipment, net													$ 1,641,317,000		$ 1,641,317,000	$ 1,377,133,000
Gain on redemption of loan notes from related parties															28,904,000	$ 0	0
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares | shares														55
Time charter rate for VLCCs from July 1 2015 onwards										$ 20,000
Time charter rate for Suezmax tankers from July 1 2015 onwards										15,000
Profit sharing percent of earnings from Frontline from July 1 2015 onwards													50.00%
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter	$ 49,200,000
Compensation received on termination of charters, cash	10,500,000
Compensation received on termination of charters, notes receivable	$ 38,700,000
Term of lease/charter (in years)	8 years															15 years
Number of years charter may be extended									3 years
Notes receivable, related parties	$ 48,400,000		$ 79,000,000										$ 83,800,000		83,800,000	$ 87,500,000
Cost of Drybulk Carriers															272,000,000	61,800,000
Daily vessel management fee before July 1 2015														$ 6,500
Management fees paid, vessels															$ 56,939,000	49,170,000	54,916,000
Commission percentage paid on chartering revenues															1.25%
Administrative expenses - related parties															$ 1,032,000	965,000	439,000
Related party loans [Abstract]
Interest income, related party loans															18,672,000	24,464,000	19,575,000
Cost of jack-up drilling rig																				$ 600,000,000
Related party purchases and sales of vessels [Abstract]
Proceeds from redemption of loan notes including interest															113,200,000	0	0
Accrued interest included with loan note redemption															500,000	0	0
Gain on disposal of investment in equity method investee															0	6,055,000	0
Deep Sea and Deep Sea Supply BTG [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													0		0	1,338,000
SFL Linus [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													23,200,000		23,200,000	0
Frontline Charterers, Seadrill, Deep Sea and UFC [Member]
Leasing revenues earned from related parties [Abstract]
Operating lease income															42,900,000	26,400,000	24,000,000
Direct financing lease interest income															34,200,000	45,400,000	55,400,000
Finance lease service revenue															46,500,000	46,500,000	52,400,000
Direct financing lease repayments															35,900,000	43,100,000	47,400,000
Profit sharing revenues															59,600,000	33,800,000	800,000
Frontline Charterers [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													18,052,000		18,052,000	30,714,000
Due to related parties													229,000		229,000	196,000
Due from related parties													$ 18,100,000		18,100,000	30,700,000
Leasing revenues earned from related parties [Abstract]
Profit sharing revenues															$ 0	$ 0	0
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Number of vessels leased to related parties classified as direct financing leases | vessel													14		14			28	17
Number of vessels sold | vessel	3												2		2	11
Compensation payment received															$ 150,200,000			$ 106,000,000
Number of charters transferred to new charterer | vessel																			3
Agreed temporary reduction in daily time charter rates														6,500
Profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet																		20.00%
Increase profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet (in hundredths)																		25.00%
Non-refundable advance relating to the profit sharing agreement																		$ 50,000,000
Period of temporary reduction in daily time charter rates								4 years
Maximum daily amount to which temporary earnings-related 100% payment applies														$ 6,500
Seadrill [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													$ 0		0	$ 111,195,000
United Freight Carriers Inc [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													$ 1,639,000		1,639,000	232,000
Leasing revenues earned from related parties [Abstract]
Profit sharing revenues															$ 2,500,000	1,100,000	800,000
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet															50.00%
Number of vessels leased to related parties classified as operating leases | vessel													6		6
Frontline Ltd [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													$ 2,816,000		$ 2,816,000	9,012,000
Loans to related parties - others, long-term													0		0	79,294,000
Accrued interest on loan notes receivable with related parties													0		0	400,000
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Stated interest rate	7.25%
Frontline Shipping and Frontline Shipping II [Member]
Leasing revenues earned from related parties [Abstract]
Profit sharing revenues															19,900,000	32,700,000	0
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet								100.00%
Profit share income from July 1 2015 onwards										$ 37,300,000	$ 0	$ 0
Frontline Management [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due to related parties													143,000		$ 143,000	848,000
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Term of lease/charter (in years)															5 years
Number of container vessels operating on time charter, for which part or all management supervision was sub-contracted to a related party | vessel															12
Number of drybulk carriers operating on time charter, for which part or all management supervision was sub-contracted to a related party | carriers															14
Number of crude oil tankers | tankers															2
Number of car carriers operating on time charter, for which part or all management supervision was sub-contracted to a related party | carriers															2
Management fees paid, vessels															$ 48,000,000	48,400,000	54,200,000
Commission percentage paid for sales-type leases of Suezmax tankers (in hundredths)															1.00%
Commissions paid for sales-type leases on Suezmax tankers															$ 400,000	300,000	100,000
Administrative expenses - related parties															500,000	500,000	400,000
Management fees paid, supervision of newbuildings															100,000	2,900,000	2,400,000
Other related parties [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due to related parties													44,000		44,000	65,000
Golar Management UK Limited [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Management fees paid, provision of office facilities															0	100,000	$ 200,000
Frontline Charterers, Deep Sea and Seadrill [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Combined balance of net investments in direct financing leases													511,400,000		511,400,000	839,900,000
Combined balance of net investments in direct financing leases, short-term maturities													37,100,000		37,100,000	37,500,000
Vessels and equipment, net													499,600,000		499,600,000	198,900,000
Deep Sea [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of offshore supply vessels | vessel																	6
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													$ 0		$ 0
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Number of vessels leased to related parties classified as direct financing leases | vessel													2		2
Number of vessels leased to related parties classified as operating leases | vessel													4		4
Deep Sea Supply BTG [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Number of offshore supply vessels | vessel																	5
Frontline Management AS [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Management fees paid, provision of office facilities															$ 400,000	400,000	$ 300,000
Arcadia Petroleum Limited [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Management fees paid, provision of office facilities															100,000	0	0
Frontline Management and Frontline Management AS [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due to related parties													$ 100,000		100,000	800,000
SFL West Polaris and SFL Deepwater [Member]
Related party loans [Abstract]
Interest income, related party loans															18,700,000
Golden Ocean [Member]
Leasing revenues earned from related parties [Abstract]
Profit sharing revenues															$ 0	0	0
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Profit sharing percentage of earnings from Frontline for use of fleet															33.00%
Number of years before time charter rate is reduced									7 years
Time charter rate for Capesize drybulk carriers for first 7 years															$ 17,600
Time charter rates for Capesize drybulk carriers after 7 years															$ 14,900
Term of lease/charter (in years)									10 years
Number of vessels leased to related parties classified as operating leases | vessel													8		8
Cost of Drybulk Carriers															$ 272,000,000
Number of container vessels operating on time charter, for which part or all management supervision was sub-contracted to a related party | vessel															12
Number of drybulk carriers operating on time charter, for which part or all management supervision was sub-contracted to a related party | carriers															14
Management fees paid, vessels															$ 9,000,000	800,000	700,000
Frontline Ltd [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Ownership percentage | Rate													7.03%	27.73%	7.03%
SFL West Polaris [Member]
Related party loans [Abstract]
Loans advanced to related parties													$ 145,000,000		$ 145,000,000
Interest income, related party loans															0	6,500,000	6,500,000
SFL Deepwater [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Loans to related parties													137,437,000		137,437,000	100,036,000
Related party loans [Abstract]
Loans advanced to related parties													145,000,000		145,000,000
Interest income, related party loans															6,500,000	6,500,000	9,600,000
SFL Hercules [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Loans to related parties													125,275,000		125,275,000	135,250,000
Related party loans [Abstract]
Loans advanced to related parties													145,000,000		145,000,000
Interest income, related party loans															6,500,000	6,500,000	3,500,000
SFL Linus [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Due from related parties													23,152,000		23,152,000	0
Loans to related parties													125,000,000		125,000,000	110,745,000
Related party loans [Abstract]
Loans advanced to related parties													125,000,000		125,000,000
Interest income, related party loans															5,600,000	4,900,000	$ 0
Sale of Suezmax tanker Front Glory [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter															2,200,000
Sale of Suezmax tanker Front Splendour [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter															1,300,000
Sale of Suezmax tanker Mindanao [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter															3,300,000
Sale of VLCC Edinburgh [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter							$ 7,800,000
Sale of Front Pride [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter						$ (2,100,000)
Sale of Front Guider [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter					$ (11,700,000)
Sale of Golden Victory [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter			(37,300,000)
Sale of Front Champion [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter			(30,400,000)
Sale of Golden Victory and Front Champion [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Compensation payable (receivable) for early contract termination of charter			67,700,000
Compensation received on termination of charters, cash			10,900,000
Compensation received on termination of charters, notes receivable			$ 56,800,000
Term of lease/charter (in years)			8 years
Loan Notes [Member] | Frontline Ltd [Member]
Amounts due from and to related parties [Abstract]
Short-term portion of loan notes receivable with related parties													$ 0		0	$ 7,800,000
Minimum [Member] | NADL [Member]
Related party loans [Abstract]
Asset purchased and leased back, term of lease (in excess of 15 years)		15 years
Number of purchase options, related party | contract		4
Vessels Leased to Frontline Charterers [Member] | Frontline Management [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Daily vessel management fee															9,000
Golden Ocean [Member] | Golden Ocean Management [Member]
Related party leasing and service contracts [Abstract]
Daily vessel management fee															$ 7,000
Deep Sea [Member] | Deep Sea [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage				50.00%
BTG Pactual [Member] | Deep Sea Supply BTG [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Joint venture, ownership percentage				50.00%

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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 NOK	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Mar. 19, 2014 NOK	Oct. 31, 2012 NOK
Derivative [Line Items]
Financial instruments (short-term): at fair value		$ 0		$ 517
Derivative, Fair value [Abstract]
Liabilities		113,642		106,679
Assets		800		3,294
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Notional principal		804,800		1,094,100
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Financial instruments (short-term): at fair value		0		292
Derivative, Fair value [Abstract]
Liabilities		11,458		40,058
Assets		487		710
Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Financial instruments (short-term): at fair value		0		225
Derivative, Fair value [Abstract]
Liabilities		2,897		1,565
Assets		313		2,584
Interest Rate Swap 1 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Notional principal		213,158
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 122,632
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		1.96%	1.96%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		2.22%	2.22%
Interest Rate Swap 2 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Mar. 31, 2008
Maturity date		Aug. 31, 2018
Notional principal		$ 36,972
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 24,794
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		4.05%	4.05%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		4.15%	4.15%
Interest Rate Swap 3 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Apr. 30, 2011
Maturity date		Dec. 31, 2018
Notional principal		$ 41,956
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 23,394
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		2.13%	2.13%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		2.80%	2.80%
Interest Rate Swap 4 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		May 31, 2011
Maturity date		Jan. 31, 2019
Notional principal		$ 62,535
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 34,044
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		0.80%	0.80%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		2.58%	2.58%
Interest Rate Swap 5 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Aug. 31, 2011
Maturity date		Aug. 31, 2021
Notional principal		$ 100,000
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 100,000
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		2.50%	2.50%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		2.93%	2.93%
Cross Currency Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative, Fair value [Abstract]
Liabilities		$ 87,642		63,083
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Notional principal	[1]	76,136	NOK 450,000,000
Cross Currency Interest Rate Swap [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative, Fair value [Abstract]
Liabilities		11,645		$ 1,973
Interest Rate Swap 7 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Notional principal		$ 174,789
Notional principal, at maturity | NOK			NOK 153,804,000,000
Interest Rate Swap 8 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		May 31, 2012
Maturity date		Aug. 31, 2022
Notional principal		$ 154,100
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 79,733
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		1.76%	1.76%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		1.85%	1.85%
Interest Rate Swap 9 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Notional principal		$ 73,938
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 69,713
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract Two [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date	[1]	Oct. 31, 2012
Maturity date	[1]	Oct. 31, 2017
Notional principal	[1]	$ 105,436	NOK 600,000,000
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)	[1]	5.92%	5.92%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)	[1]	6.23%	6.23%
Interest Rate Swap 11 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Feb. 28, 2013
Maturity date		Dec. 31, 2017
Notional principal		$ 48,767
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 32,142
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		0.81%	0.81%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		0.82%	0.82%
Interest Rate Swap 12 [Member] | Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Mar. 31, 2013
Maturity date		Apr. 30, 2023
Notional principal		$ 100,000
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 100,000
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		1.85%	1.85%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		1.97%	1.97%
Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract 3 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date	[1]	Mar. 19, 2014
Maturity date	[1]	Mar. 19, 2019
Notional principal	[1]	$ 151,008	NOK 900,000,000
Fixed Interest Rate		6.03%	6.03%
Interest Rate Swap 14 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Dec. 28, 2016
Maturity date		Dec. 27, 2021
Notional principal		$ 108,375
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 70,125
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		1.86%	1.86%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		3.33%	3.33%
Interest Rate Swap 15 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Jan. 06, 2017
Maturity date		Jan. 06, 2022
Notional principal		$ 110,500
Notional principal, at maturity		$ 70,125
Fixed interest rate range, low end (in hundredths)		1.56%	1.56%
Fixed interest rate range, high end (in hundredths)		3.09%	3.09%
Interest Rate Swap 16 [Member] | Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Interest rate swaps [Abstract]
Inception date		Sep. 21, 2015
Maturity date		Mar. 21, 2022
Fixed Interest Rate		1.67%	1.67%
NOK 600 million senior unsecured floating rate bonds due 2017 [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt amount | NOK						NOK 600,000,000
NOK 900 Million Senior Unsecured Bonds [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt amount | NOK					NOK 900,000,000

[1] These swaps relate to the NOK600 million and the NOK900 million unsecured bonds, and the fixed interest rates paid are exchanged for NIBOR plus the margin on the bonds. For the remaining swaps the fixed interest rate paid is exchanged for LIBOR, excluding margin on the underlying loans.

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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Fair Value and Carrying Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Non-derivatives:
Available for sale securities	$ 199,594	$ 73,656
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719	75,210
Floating Rate NOK Bonds due 2019	79,549
Derivatives:
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	800	3,294
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642	106,679
Long term payables, non-designated swap contracts	14,500	3,500
Long term receivables, non-designated swap contracts	300	2,600
Carrying Value [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Available for sale securities	199,594	73,656
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,681	76,487
Floating Rate NOK Bonds due 2019	85,434	119,277
Derivatives:
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	800	3,294
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	0	517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642	106,679
Fair Value [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Available for sale securities	199,594	73,656
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719	75,210
Floating Rate NOK Bonds due 2019	79,549	108,542
Derivatives:
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term receivables	800	3,294
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	0	517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642	106,679
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Unsecured convertible bonds	118,021	124,375
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Unsecured convertible bonds	117,500	125,000
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Unsecured convertible bonds	118,021	124,375
Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Unsecured convertible bonds	378,315
Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member] | Carrying Value [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Unsecured convertible bonds	350,000	350,000
Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member] | Fair Value [Member]
Non-derivatives:
Unsecured convertible bonds	378,315	335,563
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivatives:
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	$ 0	$ 200

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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Fair Value Hierarchy) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	May. 29, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets:
Available for sale securities	$ 199,594		$ 73,656
Interest rate/currency swap contracts - long term receivables	800		3,294
Total assets	200,394		76,950
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719		75,210
Floating Rate NOK Bonds due 2019	79,549
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642		106,679
Total liabilities	753,246		750,886
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member]
Assets:
Available for sale securities	199,594		49,913
Total assets	199,594		49,913
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719		75,210
Floating Rate NOK Bonds due 2019	79,549
Total liabilities	639,604		643,690
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member]
Assets:
Interest rate/currency swap contracts - long term receivables	800		3,294
Total assets	800		3,294
Liabilities:
Swap Contracts, Short Term Payable, Fair Value Disclosure			517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642		106,679
Total liabilities	113,642		107,196
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member]
Assets:
Available for sale securities		$ 25,925	23,743
Total assets	0		23,743
Liabilities:
Total liabilities	0		0
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member]
Liabilities:
Unsecured convertible bonds	118,021		124,375
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member]
Liabilities:
Unsecured convertible bonds	118,021		124,375
Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member]
Liabilities:
Unsecured convertible bonds	378,315
Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member] | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member]
Liabilities:
Unsecured convertible bonds	378,315		335,563
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]
Assets:
Available for sale securities	199,594		73,656
Interest rate/currency swap contracts - long term receivables	800		3,294
Liabilities:
Floating rate NOK bonds due 2017	63,719		75,210
Floating Rate NOK Bonds due 2019	79,549		108,542
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – short-term payables	0		517
Interest rate/ currency swap contracts – long-term payables	113,642		106,679
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | 3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member]
Liabilities:
Unsecured convertible bonds	118,021		124,375
Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member]
Liabilities:
Unsecured convertible bonds	$ 378,315		$ 335,563

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FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Changes in the fair values of the asset with Level 3 valuation) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Feb. 10, 2011
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance as at December 31, 2014	$ 73,656
Balance on sale of notes at May 29, 2015	199,594	$ 73,656
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance as at December 31, 2014	23,743
Interest income, receivable in form of unlisted second lien loan notes - see (a) below	2,182
Balance on sale of notes at May 29, 2015		$ 23,743
Interest Income [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Recurring Basis [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Interest income, receivable in form of unlisted second lien loan notes - see (a) below	$ 2,200
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Interest rate					3.75%
US dollar 350 Million Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2018 [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Interest rate				3.25%
Sales Revenue, Net [Member] | Customer Concentration Risk [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Concentration risk, percentage	33.00%	37.00%	38.00%

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COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) vessel	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Book value of assets pledged under ship mortgages		$ 2,087.0	$ 2,062.0
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Contractual commitments under newbuilding contracts		$ 261.9	$ 85.0
Number of container vessels contracted to be chartered in | vessel		2
Term of lease or charter	8 years		15 years
Contractual commitments relating to chartering-in agreements		$ 406.1	$ 0.0
Initial payment amount due on delivery		30.0
SFL West Polaris and SFL Deepwater [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Revolving credit facility, amount drawn		831.2
SFL West Polaris and SFL Deepwater [Member] | Financial Guarantee [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Guarantee on loan facility		$ 250.0

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CONSOLIDATED VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) variable_interest_entities	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of variable interest entities | variable_interest_entities	26
Estimated residual values of leased property (un-guaranteed)	$ 195,238	$ 239,002
Variable Interest Entities With Assets Accounted for as Direct Financing Leases [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of variable interest entities | variable_interest_entities	2
Carrying value of vessels	$ 44,300
Unearned lease income	9,000
Estimated residual values of leased property (un-guaranteed)	5,900
Outstanding loan balance	23,900
Outstanding loan balance, current portion	$ 4,800
Variable Interest Entities With Assets Accounted for as Operating Lease Assets [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Number of variable interest entities | variable_interest_entities	24
Carrying value of vessels	$ 609,600
Outstanding loan balance	309,900
Outstanding loan balance, current portion	$ 30,000

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SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (Details)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) employees $ / shares shares	Jun. 30, 2015 Rate shares	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) employees $ / shares Rate shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) employees $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($) Rate	Nov. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 10, 2011 USD ($)
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Term of lease or charter	8 years				15 years
Proceeds from issuance of short-term and long-term debt				$ 595,305,000	$ 733,632,000	$ 705,347,000
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares | shares			55,000,000
Derivative, Notional Amount				$ 804,800,000	$ 1,094,100,000
Number of officers who exercised options | employees				2	1
Number of employees exercising options | employees				3	2
Options exercised (in shares) | shares				64,000.000	144,000
Premium on stock options exercised				$ 600,000	$ 800,000
Shares issued				675,000	927,000	128,915,000
Share capital
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Shares issued				$ 64,000	$ 144,000	$ 8,035,000
Stock Options [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Options exercised (in shares) | shares				64,000	224,000	75,000
Exercised share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares				$ 10.55	$ 5.41	$ 5.29
Granted (in shares) | shares				0	0	0
Options, term (in years)				5 years
Frontline Ltd [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Ownership percentage | Rate			27.73%	7.03%
3.75% Senior Unsecured Convertible Bonds Due 2016 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt amount									$ 125,000,000
Interest rate									3.75%
US dollar 210 million secured term loan facility (Maersk) [Member] | Floating Rate Debt [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt amount								$ 210,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Term of lease or charter		5 years
Business Acquisition, Equity Interest Issued or Issuable, Number of Shares | shares		11,000,000
Derivative, Notional Amount							$ 68,900,000
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate | Rate							1.2625%
Dividend declared | $ / shares		$ 0.45
Number of officers who exercised options | employees		2
Number of employees exercising options | employees		3
Premium on stock options exercised		$ 400,000
Granted (in shares) | shares		279,000
Number of directors granted options | employees		6
Number of officers granted options | employees		2
Number of employees granted options | employees		5
Options, term (in years)		5 years
Option vesting period, minimum (in years)		3 years
Option Indexed to Issuer's Equity, Strike Price | $ / shares		$ 14.38
Subsequent Event [Member] | Share capital
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Shares issued		$ 36,575
Subsequent Event [Member] | Stock Options [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Exercised share price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 12.11
Subsequent Event [Member] | Deep Sea [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		7.25%
Term of loan notes		6 years
Subsequent Event [Member] | Sale of offshore supply vessel Sea Bear [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Revenue		$ 19,600,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | US dollar 210 million secured term loan facility (Maersk) [Member] | Floating Rate Debt [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of short-term and long-term debt		70,000,000
Subsequent Event [Member] | US$ 210 million secured term loan facility [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Debt amount		$ 210,000,000