Scotland sees idled containerships

Scotland sees idled containerships    Three Maersk vessels and two other containerships are to be idled off the West Coast of Scotland in yet another sign of how deep the demand slump for containerized goods has gotten.
   The vessels are “stationed in the Firth of Clyde near Largs awaiting a final decision from Maersk bosses in Copenhagen as to whether to sail up to Loch Striven, north of Bute, to moor for at least six months,” according to a report over the weekend in Scotland’s Sunday Herald.
   Two further ships from an unnamed carrier have also contacted Clydeport about laying up vessels as well, the report said. It is the first time anchorages in Scotland have been used for idled vessels since the oil crisis in 1973.
   Maersk earlier this year indicated they could lay up as many as 25 vessels to account for reduced demand for services. The company has rationalized services on key east-west trades, most notably combining forces with rival CMA CGM on transpacific loops.