Containership orders surge in first half of 2015

Industry analyst Alphaliner reported 39 ships with capacity for more than 18,000 TEUs have been ordered in the first half of the year.    Ocean freight analyst Alphaliner said that shipping companies have ordered new ships with 1.04 million TEUs of capacity in the first half half of 2015, 60 percent more than the number of slots on ships ordered in the same period last year.
   Orders are concentrated in large ships, with 39 vessels with capacity for 18,000-21,000 TEUs ordered so far this year.
   Recent orders include Maersk’s order from Daewoo last week for 11 ships of 19,630 TEUs, plus an option for six more of the same type.
   “Eight carriers have now joined the order fray for these next-generation-ULCS, which brings into question the future of the carriers that are staying away from ordering such ships (so far), which is fast becoming de rigueur for carriers on the Far East-Europe trade,” said Alphaliner.
   Alphaliner and news organizations such as Lloyd’s List are also reporting that CMA CGM has recently ordered six 14,000-TEU ships from Hyundai Heavy Industries. The order could not be immediately confirmed.
   These ships would be the largest ships capable of transiting the new Panama Canal locks, scheduled to open next year, but they appear to be initially aimed at the Far East-U.S. West Coast trades, according to Alphaliner.