LONDON shipbroker Clarkson's research has determined that a statistical border exists between 8,000-TEU plus ships and 12,000 TEU ships and that it will be a factor in considering roles for these two classes.
"The time is ripe to split the 8,000-TEU sector, and provide statistics for two new size segments," said the report's summary.
"Since there are no ships between 11,660 TEU and 12,400 TEU, using 12,000 TEU as the dividing line seems appropriate. More importantly, distinct areas of demand have emerged," said Clarksons.
"Mega ships up to 18,400 TEU have been ordered this year, while the 2015 Panama Canal expansion has contributed to surging interest in ships of 8,000 to 12,000 TEU, their deployment prospects differ.
"The largest are destined for the Far East-Europe main lane, where economies of scale are most valuable, and multiple port calls can keep utilisation levels high," the report said.
"But 8,000-12,000 TEUers are increasingly uncompetitive on the Far East-Europe trade, but do have viable deployment options, including the transpacific and north-south trades," said Clarksons.
The 8,000-TEU plus class now accounts for 80 per cent of the capacity on order, and 32 per cent of containerships afloat, accounting for 5.5 million TEU, while the 12,000-TEU plus class has passed the two million TEU mark, said the report.
"It is clear that the main driver of fleet growth over the last few years has been the rapid expansion of the 8,000-TEU plus sector. Indeed, 8,000 TEU plus fleet capacity has grown 138 per cent since the start of 2010, compared to capacity growth of just nine per cent in the sub-8,000-TEU fleet over the same period," said Clarkson analysts.
At the start of December there were 250 of the 8,000-TEU plus ships on order, with a total capacity of 2.9 million TEU, or 53 per cent of fleet capacity in the sector, they said.
This includes 146 ships totalling 1.34 million TEU on order in the 8,000 to 11,999 TEU sector. That's 37 per cent of the total capacity on order and 104 ships of a combined 1.59 million TEU in the 12,000 TEU plus sector, or 43 per cent of the total orderbook.
At the start of December 2013, the 8,000 to 11,999-TEU fleet stood at 397 vessels of a combined 3.5 million TEU, accounting for 21 per cent of overall fleet capacity.
"If the entire orderbook in the size range were delivered overnight, the sector would reach 272 ships of 4.9 million TEU," the report said.
At the same time, there are only 150 ships of 12,000 TEU plus afloat out of a total of 5,125 containerships. "However, they constitute two million TEU - 12 per cent of overall fleet capacity. If the entire orderbook in this largest size sector was delivered at once, the 12,000-TEU plus fleet would reach 254 ships, totalling 3.6 million TEU."
WORLD SHIPPING
17 December 2013 - 22:37
Time to split 8,000+ TEUers and 12,000+ TEUers in terms roles: Clarkson
LONDON shipbroker Clarkson's research has determined that a statistical border exists between 8,000-TEU plus ships and 12,000 TEU ships and that it will be a factor in considering roles for these two classes.
WORLD SHIPPING
17 December 2013 - 22:37
Time to split 8,000+ TEUers and 12,000+ TEUers in terms roles: Clarkson
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