| GLOBAL TRADES |
Idle global containership fleet surges to 1.24 million TEU, says Alphaliner
THE global fleet of idle containerships has swelled to a five-year high of 306 ships with a total capacity of 1.24 million TEU as of November 16, representing 6.3 per cent of the world’s fleet, according to data from Alphaliner.
The average size of idled ships has reached a new peak of 4,050 TEU as a growing number of vessels above 7,500 TEU are without work.
The majority of these ships have been idled as a result of void sailing programmes and service withdrawals implemented by carrier alliances on the Asia-Europe route since September and are expected to be out of action for between two and five months, reported IHS Media.
“With Asia-Europe demand expected to remain weak, while the trans-Pacific routes enter their traditional slack period, the number of idle ships is expected to increase in the coming weeks,” Alphaliner concluded.