Container-carrying behemoths are still in demand

The scramble for the behemoths of the container shipping industry is not losing steam despite the ever louder warnings about overcapacity in the container shipping market amid a slowing global economy. The French line, CMA CGM, has taken delivery of its first 16 020-TEU newbuilding, the CMA CGM Marco Polo. The 395-metre-long and 53.6-metre-wide ship was built by the DSME shipyard at Okpo, and two more vessels of the same class are scheduled to join the French shipping line's fleet in April 2013. It is now the world’s biggest containership, demoting Maersk’s E-class vessels from the front rank. Next June the situation will again be contested when the mighty Danes return with the launch of their EEE-class ships, which will be able to carry 18 270 TEU, notes Alphaliner. Others are also have the megaship urge. Yang Ming is ordering five new 14 000-TEU containerships for delivery in 2015, with an option for five more ships. Yang Ming's largest vessels to date are 8 500 TEU units, although its CKYH alliance partners, Cosco and Hanjin, already operate 13 000 and 14 000 TEUers. This leaves “K” Line as the only main east-west carrier with no immediate plans to deploy ships of more than 10 000 TEU. The Japanese carrier’s largest ships are 9 500 TEU units. UASC is also reported to be in discussions with shipyards for ships of 16 000 TEU, while CSAV are seeking to order ten 9 000-TEU ships. CCNI is also believed to have secured two 9 300 TEU newbuildings from the Hanjin Subic shipyard under a long-term charter arrangement. CCNI's largest operated ships are 4 600-5 800 TEU units. “These new orders will add to the existing orderbook of 3.5 million TEU, of which almost two million TEU expected to be delivered by the end of 2013,” said Alphaliner. “The supply growth in 2013, currently estimated at 9%-9.5% after adjusting for anticipated slippage and scrapping, is expected to be the industry’s most daunting challenge next year.” By 2015, 16 carriers will operate containerships of more than 12 000 TEU, compared to nine carriers at present.