Containership layups exceed 1.4 million TEUs

Containership layups exceed 1.4 million TEUs About 484 containerships with 1.4 million TEUs in capacity are in layup, reports the latest survey by the information service AXS Alphaliner.
   The company said that 11.3 percent of the world cellular fleet is in layup as of Monday.
   AXS-Alphaliner said that while the number of ships being idled is growing, the pace of layups has slowed.
   “It now remains to hope that the next peak season, which should kick off in May or June, maintains the positive momentum, if — and it is a big if — consumer confidence rebounds.” AXS-Alphaliner said fruit exports from the southern hemisphere will have a positive effect, employing 20 ships with 35,000 to 40,000 TEUs of capacity in aggregate,
   AXS-Alphaliner noted about half the ships in layup, around 243, are charter market ships awaiting employment and have total capacity of just 370,000 TEUs. In contrast the other 241 ships are either owned or chartered and controlled by carriers and have total capacity of 1.04 million TEUs.
   “The ratio of charter market ships awaiting an employment is increasing. This is logical since carriers discharge their chartered ships one after the other as charters expire. Thus, non-operating owners bear the brunt of the overcapacity crisis,” AXS Alphaliner said.