Layups equal to 3.5 percent of world containership fleet

Layups equal to 3.5 percent of world containership fleet About 165 containerships, with capacity of 430,000 TEUs, are idle, according to a Dec. 21 count by the information service AXS Alphaliner, up from 300,000 TEUs two weeks earlier.
   Alphaliner said there has been a surge in layups in the past two weeks as several Far East-Europe loops have been suspended or closed.
   In its weekly newsletter, Alphaliner said the 3.5 percent share of the fleet in layup is now equal to that which was idled 'at the deepest of the 2002 lows.'
   Elsewhere in its weekly report, Alphaliner said world liner fleet capacity has reached the 13 million TEU mark, and predicts it will reach 14 million TEUs within eight months.