2011 large ship orders dwarf 2008-2010

2011 large ship orders dwarf 2008-2010    Fifty-two containerships of 10,000 TEUs or larger have been ordered since the beginning of 2011, dwarfing the number of such orders over the last three years, according to research from Braemar's Seascope division.
   Only 10 such vessels were ordered in 2010, and none in 2009, while 30 were ordered in 2008. The height of mega-size vessel orders came in 2007, when 114 ships 10,000 TEUs or larger were ordered, many coming online this year.
   'This year's containership orders add 765,000 TEUs to the post-Panamax boxship order book,' Braemar said. 'As of August 30, the total number of vessels of this size on order reached 158 ships, totaling 2.13 million TEUs, which represents 48 percent of the fully cellular order book.'
   Nearly half the capacity comes from Maersk Line's order for 20 18,000-TEU ships, but a handful of other lines have ordered sizable capacity as well. American Shipper has explored this trend in its September issue, 'Top 20 container lines.'