Alphaliner: New services soaking up capacity

Alphaliner: New services soaking up capacity    Idle containership capacity has fallen to about 1 million TEUs or 7.5 percent of the world containership fleet, its lowest level since February 2009, Information service Alphaliner said in its weekly newsletter.
Furthermore, the number of idle ships with more than 5,000 TEUs capacity is expected to fall to below 20 units by June as demand for ships rises “with the introduction of new linehaul services for the peak season,” the firm's newsletter said Monday. That’s down from a peak of 82 idled big ships in March 2009.
   Demand for tonnage is also expected to absorb large new ships coming out of shipyards during the first half of the year. But the information service it said with more than 100 ships topping 5,000-TEU expected for delivery this year, “idle capacity could rise again at the end of the peak season.”