Newbuilds go directly into layup

Newbuilds go directly into layup    Some new containerships are coming out of shipyards without charters as a growing proportion of ships in layup come from non-operating owners that depend on carriers to charter their ships, ship information service AXS Alphaliner said.
   The latest issue of the Alphaliner weekly newsletter said 10.3 percent of the world’s container fleet is in layup with 6 percent of that coming from carriers and 4.3 percent from non-operating owners. Back on March 2, Alphaliner estimated 10.7 percent of the world’s container fleet was in layup, with about 8.2 percent coming from carriers and only 2.5 percent from firms chartering their vessels to liner companies.
   The 340 ships with aggregate capacity of 546,000 TEUs in layup from non-operating owners on June 8 is “the highest level recorded since Alphaliner began tracking the idle vessel fleet. German owners appear to be worst hit, as carriers have sought to return excess tonnage,” Alphaliner said. Another 193 ships with aggregate capacity of 769,000 TEUs in operator fleets are idle, it added.
   AXS Alphaliner also said a number of new ships that have been delivered by the yards in recent weeks have remained charter free.