Idle containership fleet shrinks to 380,000 TEU

THE worldwide idle containership fleet has fallen from 1.17 million TEU at the beginning of April to 380,000 TEU currently, based on Alphaliner's records.

This is attributed to demand for vessels outstripping the supply of newbuildings delivered in the last three months. The second quarter is also expected to see over 410,000 TEU of new capacity delivered.

The current idle fleet represents 2.8 per cent of the total cellular fleet with more than 1.2 million TEU being absorbed over the last three months.

"New service launches continue as carriers cope with the dramatic surge in volumes in this period and the coming summer peak season. Capacity has also been absorbed through slow steaming. Certain loops which have been stretched earlier in the year but which skipped some sailings are now fully manned. But slow steaming has diminished in recent weeks.

"The new problem of an acute container shortage has forced some carriers to reverse slow steaming in some loops, in efforts to reposition empty containers to the Far East. In addition some 55,500 TEU of vessel capacity is currently employed repositioning empties to the Far East," said Alphaliner.

As a result, the carrier-controlled idle fleet now stands at 55 vessels for 158,000 TEU, while the non-operating owner idle fleet stands at 137 ships for 223,000 TEU.
(Source:www.schednet.com)