THE average size of containerships plying the Asia-South America trade has grown in the past few years to 6,200 TEU for a total of 155 vessels in operation, up from 5,000 TEU for 180 vessels.
Asia-South America cargo surge as average ship size rises to 6,200 TEUTHE average size of containerships plying the Asia-South America trade has grown in the past few years to 6,200 TEU for a total of 155 vessels in operation, up from 5,000 TEU for 180 vessels.
Half of the fleet is less than five years old, compared with the equivalent figure a year ago of 40 per cent. These newer ships also account for half of the reefer slots available on the route.
Lloyd's List predicts that over the next few years larger, newer ships of up to 13,000 TEU currently on order will be deployed on the Asia-South America route.
This is mainly due to the deployment of ultra-large containerships on the main east-west trades leaving the super postpanamax fleet, between 8,000 TEU and 14,000 TEU, to cascade onto north-south routes including Asia-South America.
There are currently 149 super postpanamax ships on order. Of these, at least 43 per cent will be operated by Asia-South America carriers - CMA CGM, CSCL, Hanjin, Hamburg Sud, MSC, Cosco, CCNI, Evergreen and CSAV.
So far this year, 31 ships of this size have been delivered and four of these are operating Asia-South America routes. The others are deployed on the main east-west trades, with a few serving the Europe-South America route.
Infrastructure investment, however, is required in South America to enable ports to handle larger containerships and for intermodal services to handle higher cargo volumes.
According to a study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, between 2016 and 2019 vessels of an average size of 13,000 TEU will arrive at the east and west coasts of South America.
In preparation for larger ships, Chile's Terminal Pacifico Sur Valparaiso has purchased cranes with 62-metre outreaches and safe lift of 65 tonnes under a twin lift spreader. These can accommodate ships 62 metres abeam.
The use of reefer containers is an important part of the South America-Asia trade for transporting fresh fruit and vegetables. There are a total of 120,000 reefer slots on board box ships on this trade.
CSAV, Hamburg Sud, Maersk and MSC contribute the most reefer slots at 60 per cent on this route.