<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000919574-15-000025.txt : 20150105
<SEC-HEADER>0000919574-15-000025.hdr.sgml : 20150105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150105161826
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000919574-15-000025
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	6-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150131
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150105

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ship Finance International LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001289877
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DEEP SEA FOREIGN TRANSPORTATION OF FREIGHT [4412]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		6-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32199
		FILM NUMBER:		15505038

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD
		CITY:			HAMILTON, HM 08
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000-0000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		441-295-9500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14 PAR-LA-VILLE ROAD
		CITY:			HAMILTON, HM 08
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000-0000
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">FORM 6-K</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">WASHINGTON, D.C.&#160; 20549</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-16</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">For the month of January 2015</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Commission File Number:&#160; 001-32199</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Ship Finance International Limited</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: center">(Translation of registrant's name into English)</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Par-la-Ville Place, 14 Par-la-Ville Road, Hamilton, HM 08, Bermuda</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Form 20-F [X]&#160; &#160; &#160;&#160; Form 40-F [&#160; ]</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): [&#160; ].</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Note</font>: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): [&#160; ].</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Note</font>: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS FORM 6-K REPORT</div>

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<div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12pt; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN-TOP: 12pt">Attached to this report on Form 6-K as Exhibit 1 is a press release dated December 30, 2014 of Ship Finance International Limited announcing that Seadrill Limited has exercised a purchase option for an ultra-deepwater drilling unit.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">SHIP FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">(registrant)</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Dated: January 5, 2015</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">By:</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&#160;&#160;<font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif"> /s/ </font><font style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">Ole B. Hjertaker</font></div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">&#160;&#160;Ole B. Hjertaker</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&#160;&#160;Ship Finance Management AS</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">&#160;&#160;(Principal Executive Officer)</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: right">EXHIBIT 1</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: center">SFL - Sale of the ultra-deepwater drillship "West Polaris"</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Press release from Ship Finance International Limited, December 30, 2014</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE:SFL) ("Ship Finance" or the "Company"), today announced that Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill") has exercised a purchase option for an ultra-deepwater drilling unit.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ship Finance acquired the West Polaris in 2008 and it was chartered to a subsidiary of Seadrill on a long-term bareboat charter where Seadrill was granted certain purchase options, first time in 2012. The purchase option price is $456 million and the transaction will be effected as a sale of the shares in the asset-owning subsidiary.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ship Finance will receive approximately $108 million in net cash proceeds from the sale, and we do not expect a material book impact from the transaction. The cash proceeds are expected to be reinvested in new assets, and the sale of West Polaris is not expected to impact the dividend capacity going forward.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Following this transaction, we will have two ultra-deepwater drilling rigs on charter to Seadrill, and next purchase options will be in November 2016 and February 2017 for the West Hercules and the West Taurus, respectively.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">The Board of Directors</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ship Finance International Limited</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Hamilton, Bermuda</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Questions can be directed to Ship Finance Management AS:</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer: +47 23114011</div>

<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Andr&#233; Reppen, Senior Vice President: +47 23114055</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">About Ship Finance</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Ship Finance is a major ship owning company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SFL). Including newbuildings and adjusted for the sale of assets, the Company will have a fleet of 69 vessels, including 19 crude oil tankers (VLCC and Suezmax), two chemical tankers, 14 drybulk carriers (including one cquisition), 24 container vessels (including four newbuildings), two car carriers, six offshore supply vessels, two jack-up drilling rigs and two ultra-deepwater semi-submersible drilling rigs. The fleet is one of the largest in the world and most of the vessels are employed on long-term charters.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">More information can be found on the Company's website: www.shipfinance.org</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">This press release may contain forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Ship Finance management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Ship Finance believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, Ship Finance cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions.</div>

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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman', serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this presentation include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, 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 United States Securities and Exchange Commission.</div>

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