AXS Alphaliner estimates 115 boxships in layup

AXS Alphaliner estimates 115 boxships in layup About 2.2 percent of the world containership capacity is idled –115 ships with 270,000 TEUs of capacity — said AXS Alphaliner.
      In its Nov. 24 newsletter, the information service said the total is about double the 150,000 TEUs in layup a month ago. Seventy of the 115 ships are charter market vessels awaiting employment.
      “With the closure of further services announced for December, the idle ships figure will continue to rise progressively in the coming weeks,” Alphaliner predicted. “With no improvement in sight, the idle ship figure may rise to 400,000 TEUs by the end of January.' That would be about 3.2 percent of the world fleet, a similar percentage to the level of layups reached in 2002, though it noted the world fleet was much smaller then.