Despite growing overcapacity numbers of lay-ups appears to slow

Time:2011-11-30 Browse:46 Author:RISINGSUN

WHILE the global idle containership fleet is expected to grow in the next few weeks, it has not appeared to do so, according to Alphaliner.

The Paris-based maritime consultancy said the pace of increase of the idle box ship fleet has slowed after a number of shipping lines chartered idle vessels over the last few weeks to join their service networks.


It noted that Maersk and MSC, the first and second largest container shipping companies in the world, have chartered several ships in the 3,000- to 5,000-TEU range, taking advantage of low charter rates on short-term commitments.


Several other ships end their rotations on suspended services, without securing alternative employment. The idle fleet stood at 443,000 TEU as of November 21.


The carrier-controlled idle containership fleet has risen to 242,000 TEU, accounting for 55 per cent of the total.