Containership operating costs fell 9% in ?09

Containership operating costs fell 9% in Æ09    Global ship operating costs fell for the first time since 2002 as last year's global recession cut owners' spending on repairs, insurance and naval stores, Bloomberg reported Wednesday, based on analysis by consultant Moore Stephens LLP.
   The Moore Stephens report said running costs in 2009 declined 2 percent for every ship type except reefer vessels that transport refrigerated cargo. The largest drop in operating costs came from the containership segment dropping 8.9 percent to $7,473 per day.
   The only cost to increase was crewing, which showed its largest gain since the first study was published in 2000. The data were derived from a survey of 2,550 vessels.
   Drewry Shipping Consultants, in a report released in August, said that while costs fell in 2009, they are likely to rise 1.7 percent to 2 percent this year, with increased costs in manning and maintenance likely.